The first song "Abide With Me"—a hymn by W. H. Monk—is an austere rendition played only by the septet's horn section. The song [bad word]  My Dear" is performed only by Monk, Coleman Hawkins, Wilbur Ware, and Art Blakey. John Coltrane had joined Monk after playing with the Miles Davis Quintet, and Monk can be heard enthusiastically calling on him to take the first horn solo on the album in "Well, You Needn't" (though Coltrane's name does not appear on the front cover). All of the songs except one are [bad word] by Thelonious Monk, but some had appeared on previous albums by Monk.

The two mixes of this album (stereo and mono) are notable in that they used entirely different setups of microphones, recording the same performances. The stereo mix was recorded using microphones at a greater distance from the band, and therefore has a distinctly different sound from the mono mix.

Reception
The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001.[3]
Re-releases
The album was reissued by Original Jazz Classics on July 1, 1991.

Track listing
All songs by Thelonious Monk unless otherwise noted.

Side 

"Abide with Me" (Henry Francis Lyte, William Henry Monk) – 0:54
"Well, You Needn't" – 11:24
 [bad word]  My Dear" – 5:26

Side 

"Off Minor" – 5:07
"Epistrophy" (Monk, Kenny Clarke) – 10:46
"Crepuscule With Nellie" – 4:38

CD reissue

"Abide With Me" – 0:54
"Well, You Needn't" – 11:24
 [bad word]  My Dear" – 5:26
"Off Minor (Take 5)" – 5:07
"Off Minor (Take 4)" – 5:12
"Epistrophy" – 10:46
"Crepuscule With Nellie (Take 6)" – 4:38
"Crepuscule With Nellie (Take 4 and 5)" – 4:43

Original Jazz Classics Remasters

"Abide With Me" – 0:54
"Well, You Needn't" – 11:24
 [bad word]  My Dear" – 5:26
"Off Minor (Take 5)" – 5:07
"Epistrophy" – 10:46
"Crepuscule with Nellie (Take 6)" – 4:38
"Off Minor (Take 4)" – 5:12
"Crepuscule with Nellie (Takes 4 and 5)" – 4:43
"Blues for Tomorrow" – 13:32

Personnel

Thelonious Monk – piano
Ray Copeland – [bad word] 
Gigi Gryce – alto saxophone
Coleman Hawkins – tenor saxophone
John Coltrane – tenor saxophone
Wilbur Ware – double bass
Art Blakey – [bad word] 
Orrin Keepnews – production
Jack Higgins – recording engineering
Kirk Felton – digital remastering
Paul Weller – cover photography
Paul Bacon – cover design