This is NOT a complete listing of every issue of every recording that Johnny Coles made. Please consult Tom Lord or other comprehensive discographies for further information. I have in this discography used (no doubt with errors) the following guidelines:
I have listed only US issues of standard US recordings, except when the only currently available sources for the music are non-US.
I have included non-US recordings when they are the first or only available editions for a recording. Consult Lord Discography for all other foreign issues.
I have not included stray selections in anthologies or compilation issues except when they are the only or current source for a particular performance.
I have not included open reel, 8-track or cassette tape issues, except when they are the first or only issues.
I have not included videos except when they were the only issue or the best audio source.
I have not included the unissued Duke Ellington concert performances that can be found in the Lord discography. Although they would be of interest to Ellingtonians, Coles' minimal role in the orchestra did not seem to warrant the inclusion of these performances.
I have not used session matrix numbers, and in some instances, selections are not listed in recording sequence to make the discography more easily readable. Again, consult Tom Lord or others for this information.
I have attempted to note all selections as a sideman where he solos.
I have listened to all issued recordings with the following exceptions: For All We Know and Evening Star by Earl Bostic; If Dreams Come True, a previously unissued selection from James Moody's Flute 'N' the Blues on Vogue; Steam Shuffle, the Manny Albam 45; the Caterina Valente '86 recording; the Duke Ellington Music Society 811; all the Duke Ellington Azure cassettes; the Ellington performances of Chinoserie of 11/9/71 and Soul Soothing Beach of 1/6/72. I have listened to all Library of Congress material listed, and to the Count Basie Orchestra radio broadcast.