Released by Verve in 1958 three years after Parkers untimely death at the age of 34 'Swedish Schnapps' compiles two complete 1951 sessions from which the master takes had previously been released as 78rpm singles, and later put together on the 1955 Clef Records LP The Magnificent Charlie Parker (MG C-646).

While one date features Red Rodney (the regular trumpeter from Parkers quintet during that time), the other is a reunion session featuring drummer Max Roach and, more importantly, trumpeter Miles Davis (who had left Bird s group more than a year before). On that same day, Miles would record his first studio session for Prestige and would play the piano on I Know from Sonny Rollins first date as a leader.

An album consisting primarily of variations on the blues, Swedish Schnapps also includes Birds definitive reading of Lover Man, a song he insisted on recording again after the tormented 1946 Dial version was issued against his will. Four tunes presenting Bird soloing with larger groups have been added as a bonus (the Cole Porter tunes that complete both sessions can be found on Birds Nest LP 840109).