John Coltrane - The Classic Quartet: Complete Impulse! Studio Recordings (8 CDs)

[Freetoojazz]

This box set was release in 1998, but i bought it last summer. I listen it twice and i like everything on this. It's all chronological. If you want to listen it like the way some albums were setting, you have to program your compact disc player.

A friend of mine who begin to listen jazz music, like some of Coltrane and ask me, for the pleasure, to choose one song on each disc that i like the most. Before i made my list, here the setting of the box set:


DISC 1
1. Greensleeves - (mono) 2. It's Easy To Remember 3. Inchworm, The
4. Big Nick 5. Out Of This World 6. Soul Eyes 7. Miles Mode 8. Tunji
9. Nancy 10. What's New 11. Up 'Gainst The Wall
12. Too Young To Go Steady 13. All Or Nothing At All
14. I Wish I Knew

DISC 2
1. You Don't Know What Love Is 2. Say It Over And Over Again 3. Vilia
4. After The Rain 5. Dear Old Stockholm 6. Your Lady
7. Alabama (take 4) / Alabama (take 5) 8. Lonnie's Lament
9. Drum Thing, The 10. Wise One

DISC 3
1. Crescent 2. Bessie's Blues 3. Love Supreme Part I: Acknowledgment, A 4. Love Supreme Part II: Resolution, A
5. Love Supreme Part III: Pursuance, A
6. Love Supreme Part IV: Psalm, A 7. Nature Boy - (1st version)
8. Nature Boy 9. Feelin' Good 10. Chim Chim Cheree

DISC 4
1. Brasilia 2. Song Of Praise 3. After The Crescent
4. Dear Lord 5. One Down, One Up 6. Welcome
7. Last Blues, The

DISC 5
1. Untitled Original 90314 2. Transition
3. Suite: Part I: Prayer And Meditation: Day / Part II: Peace And After /
Part III: Prayer And Meditation: Evening / Part IV: Affirmation / Part V: Prayer And Meditation: 4 A.M.
4. Living Space 5. Dusk Dawn

DISC 6
1. Vigil 2. Untitled Original 90320 3. Dearly Beloved
4. Attaining 5. Sun Ship 6. Ascent 7. Amen

DISC 7
1. Love 2. Compassion 3. Joy 4. Consequences
5. Serenity 6. Joy - (second version)

DISC 8
1. Crescent - (previously unreleased, first version) 2. Bessie's Blues - (previously unreleased, first version, incomplete) 3. Song Of Praise - (previously unreleased, first version)
4. Love Supreme Part II: Resolution, A - (previously unreleased, alternate take) 5. Feelin' Good - (previously unreleased, alternate take)
6. Dear Lord - (previously unreleased, alternate take, breakdowns)
7. Living Space - (previously unreleased, alternate take, breakdowns)

If you had this box or know all this piece, don't hesitate to compare. I'm sure that everybody would made a different list.

Here my choice:

1- The Inchworm
2- Lonnie's Lament
3- Nature Boy (first version)
4- Song of Praises
5- Living Space
6- Ascent
7- Joy (second version)
8- Dear Lord (alternate takes, breakdowns)

What yours?

[Chris D]

Wow. Tough task. Here's my quick take:
1. Miles' Mode
2. Alabama (take 4)
3. Acknowledgement
4. One Down, One Up
5. Living Space
6. Sun Ship
7. Joy
8. Crescent (first version)

[Freetoojazz]

Originally Posted by Chris D

Wow. Tough task. Here's my quick take:
1. Miles' Mode
2. Alabama (take 4)
3. Acknowledgement
4. One Down, One Up
5. Living Space
6. Sun Ship
7. Joy
8. Crescent (first version)

First at all, you made a good choice! The more difficult for me was about the disc 6. I ask myself a lot of time which song i like the most. I hesitate between Sun Ship and Ascent. I made my decision on Ascent, but my choice is fragile. If you ask me tomorrow which one i like, maybe i'll say Sun Ship.

[LeMo]

DISC 1
- Miles Mode

DISC 2
- After The Rain

DISC 3
- Crescent

DISC 4
- One Down, One Up

DISC 5
- Transition

DISC 6
- Sun Ship

DISC 7
- Joy (second version)

DISC 8
- Living Space - (previously unreleased, alternate take, breakdowns)

[Freetoojazz]

Originally Posted by LeMo

DISC 1
- Miles Mode
DISC 2
- After The Rain
DISC 3
- Crescent
DISC 4
- One Down, One Up
DISC 5
- Transition
DISC 6
- Sun Ship
DISC 7
- Joy (second version)
DISC 8
- Living Space - (previously unreleased, alternate take, breakdowns)

It's hard to have a consensus, but it seems that :

Miles Mode;
One Down, One Up;
Sun Ship;

made some good impression on you and Chris D.

I bought the latest from Coltrane One Up, One Down: Live at the Half Note and i prefer the live version instead the studio version (in the box set). If i didn't heard this version, maybe i will choose this one for the disc 4.

[LeMo]

Originally Posted by Freetoojazz

I bought the latest from Coltrane One Up, One Down: Live at the Half Note and i prefer the live version instead the studio version (in the box set).

It's a gem.

[Freetoojazz]

Originally Posted by LeMo

It's a gem.

Yes, it is precious to me! Do the Coltrane's family have others tapes like this in their box? Please, give it to the humanity!

[john williams]

1) Out Of This World

2) Lonnie's Lament

3) Crescent

4) Welcome

5) Transition

6) Sun Ship

7) Love

8) Dear Lord

[Scott Dolan]

Using JBW's fine list from above, I'll make two changes:




1) Out Of This World

2) Your Lady

3) A Love Supreme Part II: Resolution

4) Welcome

5) Transition

6) Sun Ship

7) Love

8) Dear Lord

[Surfer]

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

Using JBW's fine list from above, I'll make two changes:


2) Your Lady

I always thought this song never got its due because it was sort of an afterthought on the Birdland disk, but listen to the interplay between Elvin and then when McCoy comes in. McCoy never sounded as light and nimble. That song is one of my favorites.

[Erik Lund]

Disc 1: Out of This World (might be my favorite of all 8 if I had to pick just one)

Disc 2: Wise One

Disc 3: ...Crescent - (I just LOVE Garrison and Jones on this one. Pursuance is a close second)

Disc 4: Toss up between Song of Praise and Welcome - probably Welcome. (and "Last Blues" I have always thought of using at my own funeral...Sad but happy...I dunno)

Disc 5: Transition (I might have to relisten to this disc to pick a definite track)

Disc 6: You all have it wrong! it is:

AMEN - this track fuckin' blows away 99% of all studio tracks. Just amazing

Disc 7: Need to listen to this disc to remember which one is my favorite (don't have it at this apartment I am typing from)

Disc 8: Ummm...Either Dear Lord or Crescent - can't remember...

[john williams]

Originally Posted by Surfer

I always thought this song never got its due because it was sort of an afterthought on the Birdland disk, but listen to the interplay between Elvin and then when McCoy comes in. McCoy never sounded as light and nimble. That song is one of my favorites.

Yes, Your Lady nearly got my vote. Lonnie's Lament only got my vote in the end because of the stunning melody that bookends the track. I always wondered why Trane chose only to play the melody and not solo. The second time Coltrane plays it at the end still gives me goosebumps. Anyway, I listened to Crescent the other night so LL was fresh in my mind. I never thought of Your Lady as an afterthought and after Afro-Blue it's my favorite track on the Birdland album and one of my favorite Trane soprano tunes.


The only two disks I found easy to pick from were 1 (OOTW) and 7 (Love). The rest I could have picked 2 or 3 favorites. That box is like the holy grail for me and I am still staggered by the wealth of extraordinary materiel therein; particularly from 1965.

[Scott Dolan]

Originally Posted by Surfer

I always thought this song never got its due because it was sort of an afterthought on the Birdland disk, but listen to the interplay between Elvin and then when McCoy comes in. McCoy never sounded as light and nimble. That song is one of my favorites.

And that effortless groove that Elvin is laying down throughout that piece is one of the best he ever played, IMO.

It is right up there at the top of my list, as well.

[Scott Dolan]

JBW, I actually think Crescent is the superior album from '64. ALS got all the attention, but the earlier album is much better, IMO.

[Surfer]

Originally Posted by JBW

I never thought of Your Lady as an afterthought and after Afro-Blue it's my favorite track on the Birdland album and one of my favorite Trane soprano tunes.

I find that most people mention the first two tracks as the standouts, and also because Your Lady comes after Alabama, maybe it just seems like it isnt getting its due.

Also its too short. Dont they fade it out?

[john williams]

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

JBW, I actually think Crescent is the superior album from '64. ALS got all the attention, but the earlier album is much better, IMO.

I completely agree. I'd listen to Crescent quite a few times a year but I can't remember the last time I played ALS. In fact I change my vote for disk 3 from Pursuance to Crescent.

[Scott Dolan]

Originally Posted by Surfer

I find that most people mention the first two tracks as the standouts, and also because Your Lady comes after Alabama, maybe it just seems like it isnt getting its due.

Also its too short. Dont they fade it out?

Yes, it does. Shame................



JBW, glad to hear we're in the same camp(though no sursprise, we usually are when it comes to music). But, I stand by Resolution. It's one of the best pieces he ever played. That particular tune is better than anything on Crescent. It's just that the rest of the album falls short.

[Scott Dolan]

Originally Posted by Surfer

I find that most people mention the first two tracks as the standouts, and also because Your Lady comes after Alabama, maybe it just seems like it isnt getting its due.

Also its too short. Dont they fade it out?

Another point: I've always been surprised that he didn't pursue that tune live. It would have been a perfect vehicle for what the Quartet was doing at the time.

God knows I'd gladly trade in a couple thousand of the MFT versions(including that hour long travesty on Live In Japan) for a few live versions of Your Lady.

[Freetoojazz]

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

Using JBW's fine list from above, I'll make two changes:

1) Out Of This World

2) Your Lady

3) A Love Supreme Part II: Resolution

4) Welcome

5) Transition

6) Sun Ship

7) Love

8) Dear Lord

I'm happy that you and JBW have choosen the same track for the last disc (Dear Lord). Maybe i'm wrong, but i enjoy more the one with the breakdowns than the original. I have no ideas to explain why? Just a feeling!

[Freetoojazz]

Originally Posted by Erik Lund

Disc 1: Out of This World (might be my favorite of all 8 if I had to pick just one)

Disc 2: Wise One

Disc 3: ...Crescent - (I just LOVE Garrison and Jones on this one. Pursuance is a close second)

Disc 4: Toss up between Song of Praise and Welcome - probably Welcome. (and "Last Blues" I have always thought of using at my own funeral...Sad but happy...I dunno)

Disc 5: Transition (I might have to relisten to this disc to pick a definite track)

Disc 6: You all have it wrong! it is:

AMEN - this track fuckin' blows away 99% of all studio tracks. Just amazing

Disc 7: Need to listen to this disc to remember which one is my favorite (don't have it at this apartment I am typing from)

Disc 8: Ummm...Either Dear Lord or Crescent - can't remember...

First at all, you're courageous to say that if you pick up one song, you take "Out of this World". If I have to choose one, i need to think hard and i can't choose one now, maybe later! For the disc 6, i can't agree with you, because i have to listen it again to make my mind.

[Surfer]

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

God knows I'd gladly trade in a couple thousand of the MFT versions(including that hour long travesty on Live In Japan) for a few live versions of Your Lady.

My Favorite Things is one of My Least Favorite Things the quartet did. Snoozeville.

[bluenoter]

Just another big up for "Your Lady" (the one on Coltrane Live at Birdland is the only one I know, IIRC). Afterthought, hell! It's a gem. I even like the fadeout.

Edit: I see that earlier in this thread, someone described something else by saying "It's a gem," but so be it.

[Scott Dolan]

I've started a revolution!!

[Scott Dolan]

Originally Posted by Surfer

My Favorite Things is one of My Least Favorite Things the quartet did. Snoozeville.

The version of MFT from New Thing At Newport is the only one that I really like.

[Rob C]

I haven't been on a big Coltrane kick in a while (and I think I'm nearly due for one), so I haven't listened to much of this box lately. I'd have to do that to pick one from each disc. But I will say my favorite of the whole box is "Wise One". So great.

Another performance I've always loved is "The Last Blues". Can't believe that wasn't released until the 90s. I guess maybe it was too different from Trane's other output by that time. For some reason, his playing here has always reminded me of Ayler, and in fact I've wondered more than once if it could have been this track, rather than Ascension, that he was referring to in his letter to Ayler where he said he'd just recorded something and played "just like you". I've always read that was supposed to be Ascension, but I don't think Trane specified....