Lover Man, recorded July 29, 1946, is one of the most infamous recordings in jazz history, documenting Charlie Parker in a state of severe personal distress during his troubled stay in Los Angeles. The ballad, composed by Jimmy Davis, Ram Ramirez, and James Sherman, is performed in D-flat at approximately 63 BPM in a 32-bar AABA form with a swing feel. Only Jimmy Bunn's brief quarter-chorus piano solo is cataloged as an improvised solo on this track, as Parker's anguished performance blurs the line between solo and melody statement. The session, produced by Ross Russell for Dial Records, has been the subject of considerable controversy, with many arguing it should never have been released given Parker's condition. Nevertheless, the recording possesses a raw emotional power that has made it a touchstone for discussions about art created under duress. Shortly after this session, Parker suffered a breakdown and was committed to Camarillo State Hospital. Despite its difficult origins, Lover Man became one of Parker's best-known recordings and remains a compelling, if painful, document.
