John Coltrane A Love Supreme

John Coltrane A Love Supreme on UHQR 200g 45RPM Clarity Vinyl 2LP from Analogue Productions: Mastered from a Flat Tape Copy Made by Rudy Van Gelder in 1965 and Pressed at Quality Record Pressings

Audiophile reviews rave about saxophone master John Coltrane's immortal Impulse! records, A Love Supreme (1964) and Ballads (1963). In fact, jazz critics have lauded A Love Supreme as Coltrane's most important recording. The rave reviews which appeared in the magazines Downbeat, Jazz Hot, Jazz Podium and Swingjournal reflected this: critics all over the world, in America, Europe and Japan recognized that Coltrane's deep religious belief had influenced both his approach to life and his music-making.

A Love Supreme was Coltrane's pinnacle studio outing that at once compiled all of his innovations from his past, spoke of his current deep spirituality, and also gave a glimpse into the next two and a half years (sadly, those would be his last). Recorded at the end of 1964, Trane's classic quartet of Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, and Jimmy Garrison stepped in and created one of the most thought-provoking albums of their relationship.

The album not only enabled Coltrane to express himself with great intensity but also lent him the necessary inner peace to conceive a work of almost 40 minutes in length and to lead his quartet along the same path as himself.

The original master tape is available but it's not in the best shape. This Analogue Productions reissue is cut from a flat tape copy made by Rudy Van Gelder and used for cutting in the UK in April of 1965. Of course, the original recording was in December '64. This tape was discovered at Abbey Road and had been untouched between 1965 and 2002. So while the original tape is available, in this case this copy was the better choice as the tape has incurred less overall wear and sounds much better than the original.

Pressed at QRP, this UHQR edition is packaged in a deluxe box and includes a booklet detailing the entire process of making a UHQR along with a hand-signed certificate of inspection. You'll also receive a 12" x 12" 12-page booklet featuring liner notes by Ashley Kahn and images from the Coltrane home.