Melancholy backed with Solitude was among the very first releases on Alfred Lion’s then-new Blue Note label. Recorded in 1939, it showcases Meade “Lux” Lewis’s signature boogie-woogie and blues-inflected piano style in a solo setting. “Melancholy” is a reflective, slow blues with richly voiced chords, while “Solitude” moves with a loping rhythm and dynamic touch that reveal Lewis’s command of the keyboard.

Track List:

A — Melancholy
B — Solitude

The preview below is from the original 1939 78 rpm—not indicative of the quality of the reissue.