Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders was originally released in 1959 by West Coast jazz label Contemporary Records.

Rollins is backed by a who's who of the labels players, including Hampton Hawes (piano), Barney Kessel (guitar), Leroy Vinnegar (bass) and Shelly Manne (drums).

This edition, released as part of the Acoustic Sounds Series, features (AAA) lacquers cut from the original master tapes by Bernie Grundman and is pressed at RTI on 180-gram vinyl, and presented in a tip-on jacket.