Mingus Ah Um

One of the two Mingus albums from the short lived 59 Columbia period (the other one being Mingus Dynasty), it's arguably Mingus greatest achievement at splicing in one release high quality music, guts, and mainstream "acccessibility".
With smash titles like Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (an elegy for the recently passed Prez), or the censored Fables of Faubus (look Orval Faubus), and with the usual "Mingus trained" strong line-up in excellent form, it's an excellent beginner's choice and an absolute obligation for anybody serious and not serious at music.

Buyers will likely find late reissues containing three additional tracks, and featuring the nine original tracks in unedited form.
These who can afford it will probably go for the bargain and buy the 3 cd set The Complete 1959 Columbia Recordings.