This release presents the complete original LP The Bridge (RCA Victor LPM2527), which marks Sonny Rollins' first album after his three-year long self-imposed musical exile. It was all recorded in a piano-less quartet format, with Jim Hall on guitar, plus Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Ben Riley on drums (replaced by Harry T. Saunders on just one track). The other two studio tunes recorded by the quartet in 1962, and two alternate versions of songs from the LP taped at Ralph J. Gleason's "Jazz Casual" TV show shortly after making the album have been added as a bonus.

1 WITHOUT A SONG 7:29
2 WHERE ARE YOU? 5:12
3 JOHN S. 7:43
4 THE BRIDGE 5:59
5 GOD BLESS THE CHILD 729
6 YOU DO SOMETHING TO ME 6:51
7 IF EVER I WOULD LEAVE YOU 1204*
8 THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES 9:12*
9 THE BRIDGE [alternate version] 5:17*
10 GOD BLESS THE CHILD [alternate version] 5:49*

***** DOWN BEAT original review
"At the risk of being unable to give Rollins a higher numerical rating when he surpasses this album (and I have every confidence that he will) this set still has to be placed in the superlative class." (Ira Gitler)