The album 'Thelonious' was recorded on October 15, 1953 at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Hackensack, New Jersey. It is Thelonious Monk's first studio album as a leader for Prestige Records, although he had previously recorded for Blue Note.
The quartet lineup includes Thelonious Monk on piano, Sonny Rollins on tenor saxophone, Tommy Potter on bass, and Art Taylor on drums. This album marks the beginning of the collaboration between Monk and Rollins, which would prove fundamental to the development of hard bop.
The record contains four original compositions by Monk, including 'The Way You Look Tonight' (an adaptation of the Jerome Kern standard) and 'I Want to Be Happy' (by Vincent Youmans). The original LP cover features a photograph of Monk wearing his characteristic hat.