Jazz Thelonious Monk's first sessions as a bandleader were recorded between 1947 and 1952, and released on as a series of 78 RPM singles. These singles were then compiled in later years, with additional performances from the sessions, into LP album formats. As Monk's reputation and fame grew, the sessions were recompiled again and again into more complete configurations. That conversion, like many of the digital updates, has met with its own controversy, with many purists preferring the LPs, imperfections and all, to the scientifically true.