Changes One was recorded at Atlantic Studios in New York City between December 27 and 30, 1974, with Charles Mingus on bass and piano, accompanied by a band that included Jack Walrath (trumpet), George Adams (tenor sax), Don Pullen (piano), and Dannie Richmond (drums).
The album was released in 1975 by Atlantic Records, produced by Ilhan Mimaroglu. It is the first of two complementary volumes that capture Mingus in a period of creative renewal, blending new compositions with revisions of earlier works.
Changes One received critical acclaim for its energy and cohesion, highlighting the interaction among the musicians. It stands as one of Mingus's last major works before his death in 1979 and is considered a highlight of his final period.