Blues & Roots came about after Atlantic producer Nesuhi Ertegun asked Charles Mingus to make a whole album in the spirit of Haitian Fight Song, because critics were saying he did not swing enough. Mingus wrote in the sleeve notes that he had grown up clapping his hands in church, but that by now he wanted to do more than just swing. The result, recorded in February 1959 and originally released on Atlantic in 1960, is full of gospel and blues forms: Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting, Moanin' with Pepper Adams's baritone sax up front, and E's Flat Ah's Flat Too. The line-up included Jackie McLean, John Handy, Booker Ervin, Jimmy Knepper and Horace Parlan.

This edition is an LP on blue vinyl.