A Love Supreme
A Love Supreme | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | January 1965 | |||
Recorded | December 9, 1964 | |||
Studio | Van Gelder (Englewood Cliffs) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 32:47 | |||
Label | Impulse! | |||
Producer | Bob Thiele | |||
John Coltrane chronology | ||||
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A Love Supreme is an album by American
A Love Supreme was released by Impulse! Records in January 1965. It ranks among Coltrane's best-selling albums and is widely considered as his masterpiece.
Composition
A Love Supreme is a
The album begins with the bang of a gong (
In the fourth and final movement, "Psalm", Coltrane performs what he calls a "musical narration".
A Love Supreme was categorized by Rockdelux as modal jazz, avant-garde jazz, free jazz, hard bop, and post-bop.[11]
Other performances
An alternative version of "Acknowledgement" was recorded the next day on December 10 with tenor saxophonist
Reception and legacy
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Down Beat | [15] |
Record Mirror | [16] |
Released in January 1965 by
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [26] |
Pitchfork | 10/10[27] |
Q | [28] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [29] |
Tom Hull – on the Web | A+[30] |
A Love Supreme was widely recognized as a work of deep spirituality and analyzed with religious subtext, although cultural studies scholars Richard W. Santana and Gregory Erickson argued that the "avant-garde jazz suite" could be interpreted otherwise.
A Love Supreme has appeared on professional listings of the greatest albums. In 2003, it was ranked number 47 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time;[7] maintaining the rating in a 2012 revised list,[35] re-ranking at number 66 in a 2020 reboot of the list.[36] NME ranked it number 188 on a similar list ten years later.[37] The manuscript for the album was included in the National Museum of American History's "Treasures of American History" collection at the Smithsonian Institution.[38] In 2015, the album was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry due to its "cultural, historic, or artistic significance."[39] It is Coltrane's second album to be included after Giant Steps in 2005.[40] It was included in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[41] It was voted number 85 in the third edition of Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000).[42]
According to Joachim-Ernst Berendt, the album's hymn-like quality permeated modern jazz and rock music.[43] As Christgau explains, the record was "adored by American hippies from the Byrds and Carlos Santana on down, and served as theme music to Lester Bangs's wake at CBGB".[2] Musicians such as Joshua Redman[44] and U2,[45] who mention the album in their song "Angel of Harlem",[46] have mentioned the influence of the album on their own work. Both Santana and fellow guitarist John McLaughlin have called the album one of their biggest early influences and recorded Love Devotion Surrender in 1973 as a tribute.[47] "Every so often this ceases to be a jazz record and is more avant-garde contemporary classical," said Neil Hannon of the band The Divine Comedy. "I love the combination of abstract piano that's all sort of 'clang', and weird chords with wailing saxophone over the top."[48]
In The Penguin Guide to Jazz, Richard Cook and Brian Morton gave A Love Supreme a rare "crown" rating but asked whether it was "the greatest jazz album of the modern period..or the most overrated?" Miles Davis, Coltrane's former bandleader, said the record "reached out and influenced those people who were into peace. Hippies and people like that". Jazz critic Martin Gayford later elucidated Davis' comments: If a listener is "in the mood", he wrote, "it's majestic and compelling; if you're not, it's interminable and pretentious." In Gayford's own appraisal for The Daily Telegraph, he argued that it "marked the point at which jazz—for good or ill—ceased for a while to be hip and cool, becoming instead mystical and messianic".[21] Christgau, writing in 2020, said, "it's meditative rather than freewheeling, with each member of his classic quartet instructed to embark on his own harmonically mapped excursion and the title set to a chanted four-note melody you could hum in your sleep. I'm on my fourth consecutive play with no signs of tune fatigue as I write, plus my wife loves it. All true, all remarkable. But how much you value it, I expect, depends on how much faith you place in your own spirituality." He concluded that the next time he will listen to the album "may well depend on who dies when".[2]
Track listing
All tracks composed by John Coltrane and published by Jowcol Music (
Original LP
- Side one
No. | Recorded | Take number | Title | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | December 9, 1964 | 90243 | Part 1: "Acknowledgement" | 7:47 |
2. | December 9, 1964 | 90244‒7 | Part 2: "Resolution" | 7:22 |
- Side two
No. | Recorded | Take number | Title | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | December 9, 1964 | 90245‒1 | Part 3: "Pursuance"/Part 4: "Psalm" | 17:53 |
2002 deluxe edition
- Disc one
No. | Recorded | Take number | Title | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | December 9, 1964 | 90243 | Part 1: "Acknowledgement" | 7:43 |
2. | December 9, 1964 | 90244‒7 | Part 2: "Resolution" | 7:20 |
3. | December 9, 1964 | 90245‒1 | Part 3: "Pursuance" | 10:42 |
4. | December 9, 1964 | 90245‒1 | Part 4: "Psalm" | 7:05 |
- Disc two
No. | Recorded | Take number | Title | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | July 26, 1965 | n/a | Introduction by André Francis | 1:13 |
2. | July 26, 1965 | n/a | "Acknowledgement" (Live) | 6:11 |
3. | July 26, 1965 | n/a | "Resolution" (Live) | 11:36 |
4. | July 26, 1965 | n/a | "Pursuance" (Live) | 21:30 |
5. | July 26, 1965 | n/a | "Psalm" (Live) | 8:49 |
6. | December 9, 1964 | 90244‒4 | "Resolution" (Alternate take) | 7:25 |
7. | December 9, 1964 | 90244‒6 | "Resolution" (Breakdown) | 2:13 |
8. | December 10, 1964 | 90246‒1 | "Acknowledgement" (Alternate take) | 9:09 |
9. | December 10, 1964 | 90246‒2 | "Acknowledgement" (Alternate take) | 9:22 |
The Complete Masters (2015)
- Disc 1 – The Original Stereo Album, Impulse! AS-77
- "Acknowledgement" – 7:42
- "Resolution" – 7:20
- "Pursuance" – 10:41
- "Psalm" – 7:05
- – Original Mono Reference Masters
- "Pursuance" – 10:42
- "Psalm" – 7:02
- Disc 2 – Quartet Session, December 9, 1964
- "Acknowledgement" (vocal overdub 2) – 2:00
- "Acknowledgement" (vocal overdub 3) – 2:05
- "Resolution" (take 4/ alternate) – 7:25
- "Resolution" (take 6/ breakdown) – 2:13
- "Psalm" (undubbed version) – 6:59
- – Sextet Session, December 10, 1964
- "Acknowledgement" (Take 1 / alternate) – 9:24
- "Acknowledgement" (Take 2 / alternate) – 9:47
- "Acknowledgement" (Take 3 / breakdown with studio dialogue) – 1:26
- "Acknowledgement" (Take 4 / alternate) – 9:04
- "Acknowledgement" (Take 5 / false start) – 0:34
- "Acknowledgement" (Take 6 / alternate) – 12:33
- Disc 3 – Live at Festival Mondial du Jazz Antibes, July 26, 1965
- Introduction by André Francis and John Coltrane – 1:13
- "Acknowledgement (Live)" – 6:12
- "Resolution (Live)" – 11:37
- "Pursuance (Live)" – 21:30
- "Psalm (Live)" – 8:49
Disc 3 is included only with the "Super Deluxe Edition" version of this release.
Personnel
The John Coltrane Quartet
- John Coltrane – bandleader, liner notes, vocals, tenor saxophone[49]
- Jimmy Garrison – double bass
- Elvin Jones – drums, gong, timpani
- McCoy Tyner – piano
Additional personnel
- Archie Shepp – tenor saxophone on alternate takes of "Acknowledgement"
- Art Davis – double bass on alternate takes of "Acknowledgement"
- mastering
- Bob Thiele – production and cover photo[50]
- George Gray/Viceroy – cover design
- Victor Kalin – gatefold illustration
- Joe Lebow – liner design
Reissues
- Erick Labson – digital remastering(CD reissue)
- Kevin Reeves – mastering (SACD)
- Michael Cuscuna – liner notes, production, and remastering (deluxe edition)
- Joe Alper – photography (CD reissue)
- Jason Claiborne – graphics (CD reissue)
- Hollis King – art direction (CD reissue)
- Lee Tanner – photography (CD reissue)
- Ken Druker – production (deluxe edition)
- Esmond Edwards – photography (deluxe edition)
- Ashley Kahn – liner notes and production (deluxe edition)
- Peter Keepnews – notes editing (deluxe edition)
- Hollis King – art direction (deluxe edition)
- Bryan Koniarz – production (deluxe edition)
- Edward O'Dowd – design (deluxe edition)
- Mark Smith – production assistance (deluxe edition)
- Sherniece Smith – art coordination and production (deluxe edition)
- Chuck Stewart – photography (deluxe edition)
- Bill Levenson – reissue supervisor (SACD)
- Cameron Mizell – production coordination (SACD)
- Ron Warwell – design (SACD)
- Isabelle Wong – package design (SACD)
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Italy (FIMI)[51] | Gold | 25,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[53] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
See also
- 1965 in jazz
- "Angel of Harlem" – a 1989 U2 song referencing the album
- A Love Surreal – an album by Bilal
- Blue World, an album recorded between Crescent and A Love Supreme released in 2019
- Concept album
- Love of God
References
- ^ "10 Essential Spiritual Jazz Albums". Treble Zine. April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Christgau, Robert (April 8, 2020). "Consumer Guide: April, 2020". And It Don't Stop. Substack. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- OCLC 1645522. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Kahn 2002
- ISBN 978-1-107-00241-8. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
- ^ Porter, 231–249.
- ^ a b c Staff. RS 500: 47) A Love Supreme Archived November 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 5, 2010.
- ^ Porter, 244.
- ^ Porter, 246–247.
- ^ Porter, 248.
- ^ Casas, Quim (December 23, 2015). "A Love Supreme". Rockdelux (in Spanish). Retrieved August 3, 2018.
- ^ A Love Supreme Deluxe Edition. 1997; Impulse! Records 314 589 945-2, back cover notes.
- ^ Porter, 249.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- Down Beat. p. 27.
- ^ Jones, Peter; Jopling, Norman (July 3, 1965). "John Coltrane: A Love Supreme" (PDF). Record Mirror. No. 225. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 1, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
- ISBN 978-1-84767-643-6.
- ISBN 0-14-102327-9.
- ^ Anon. (1982). "John Coltrane". Black Music & Jazz Review. Vol. 5. p. 25.
- ^ Porter, 232.
- ^ a b Gayford, Martin (November 9, 2002). "Sublime - if you're in the mood". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- ^ Spencer, Robert (1997). "John Coltrane: A Love Supreme". All About Jazz. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- ^ Samuelson, Sam. "A Love Supreme Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
- ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
- ISBN 0-8256-7253-8.
- ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
- ^ Richardson, Mark (November 25, 2015). "A Love Supreme: The Complete Masters". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on June 5, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
- ^ "A Love Supreme". Q. October 1995. p. 136.
- Fireside Books, pp. 182–185.
- ^ a b Hull, Tom (April 13, 2020). "Music Week". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- ISBN 978-0786435531.
- ISBN 978-0415994033.
- Rhapsody. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
- ^ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time". Rolling Stone. 2012. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
- ^ "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 22, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
- Consequence of Sound. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- ^ "A Love Supreme". National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved May 28, 2008.
- ^ "National Recording Registry Recognizes 'Mack the Knife,' Motown and Mahler". Library of Congress. March 23, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
- ^ Law, Janee (March 31, 2016). "John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, Composed in Dix Hills, Added to National Registry". Long Islander News.
- ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
- ISBN 0-7535-0493-6.
- ISBN 978-1613746042.
- ^ "The A Love Supreme Interviews" (Joshua Redman discusses John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme"), on Jerry Jazz Musician Archived January 26, 2013, at archive.today
- ^ Palmer, Robert, "A Tribute to John Coltrane's Spirit", The New York Times, September 25, 1987.
- ^ Kahn, xxii.
- ISBN 9780946719242.
- ^ Thornton, Anthony (November 1998). "Neil Hannon's Record Collection". Q (146): 67.
- ^ "Saint John Coltrane: Fifty Years of 'A Love Supreme'". religiondispatches.org. December 8, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
- ^ Jarenwattananon, Patrick (March 28, 2014). "A Love Supreme Comes Alive in Unearthed Photos". NPR.
- ^ "Italian album certifications – John Coltrane – A Love Supreme" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved December 10, 2018. Select "2017" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "A Love Supreme" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
- ^ "British album certifications – John Coltrane – A Love Supreme". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "American album certifications – John Coltrane – A Love Supreme". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
Bibliography
- ISBN 0-14-200352-2.
- ISBN 0-472-08643-X.
- Porter, Lewis (1985). "John Coltrane's A Love Supreme: Jazz Improvisation as Composition" (PDF). .
Further reading
- Richardson, Mark (November 25, 2015). "John Coltrane: A Love Supreme: The Complete Masters". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
- Whyton, Tony (2013) Beyond A Love Supreme: John Coltrane and the Legacy of an Album. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0199733236
External links
- A Love Supreme at Discogs (list of releases)
- A Love Supreme – a list of accolades at Acclaimed Music