DISC 1:
1. Part 1 - Acknowledgement
2. Part 2 - Resolution
3. Part 3 - Pursuance
4. Part 4 - Psalm
DISC 2:
1. Introduction By Andre Francis
2. Part 1 - Acknowledgement - Live
3. Part 2 - Resolution - Live
4. Part 3 - Pursuance - Live
5. Part 4 - Psalm - Live
6. Part 2 - Resolution - Alternative Take
7. Part 2 - Resolution - Breakdown
8. Part 1 - Acknowledgement - Alternative Take
9. Part 1 - Acknowledgement - Alternative Take
The 1960's are now looked on in many quarters as
an overrated era. The hype has been stated about these years so many
times that some people are led to believe that this was a true golden
age and subsequent decades have paled in comparison. Nevertheless,
it cannot be denied that this period was highly significant in a political,
social, moral and musical sense. In all areas of popular art culture
major changes were taking place and, certainly in the world of Jazz
and Pop certain milestone recordings were being made. The three that
spring immediately to mind are The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds ," The
Beatles' "Sergeant Pepper" and John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme". It
is an amazing fact that all of these diverse and yet groundbreaking
recordings took place in a total timespan of under four years. It
could easily be argued that all of these artists made better records
in many ways, but there is a certain indefinable quality inherent
in all of these discs that has touched listeners , not only at the
time of their first release, but in all of the following years. Perhaps
this is what makes certain albums timeless and quite justifiably puts
them into the "Classic " category.
It is perhaps easiest to deal with disc 2 first as
this is the extra material not available on the original issue. Tracks
1 - 4 are from a live version of the work recorded at Antibes in 1965.
This is the only known live documentation of "A Love Supreme" - it
is not clear whether Coltrane played the suite in public on any other
occasions. In this version the performance of the piece is some fifteen
minutes longer than on the original album. Coltrane apparently was
not entirely satisfied with this version, feeling that it did not
take off sufficiently. To my ears, it is a very fine rendition, if
I had not heard the original first I would have said it was representative
of his better pieces from this era. It certainly holds its own with
the other live recordings from this time. One interesting fact is
that this version has been around for many years on different boot-leg
albums. Any listener who is familiar with these will be amazed by
the quality of the remastering- it is superb and almost sounds like
a newly discovered version in comparison to the previous manifestations.
The alternative take and the breakdown on "Resolution"
are bonuses, but the real surprise comes with the augmented versions
of "Acknowledgement." Coltrane obviously enjoyed working with other
saxophone players in the latter part of his career ( he recorded and
performed extensively with both Eric Dolphy and Pharoah Sanders )
and he saw Archie Shepp as a young talent with his own voice ( see
" The New Thing At Newport ").
It would be difficult to begin to describe the music
on disc 1 ( for those who need this there is a more than adequate
analysis in the extensive and beautifully produced booklet which accompanies
this issue ). I feel that some things are better if they retain a
certain air of mystery about them and feel that this suite is one
such work. Understanding the nuts and bolts of the construction is
not what this is about. It is far easier to be swept along by the
passion and devotion which is always present here. This was, after
all, John Coltrane's gift to God.
The production of this issue is magnificent, as is
the packaging. This represents a modern music milestone and is an
absolute essential for the follower of late 20th century popular culture.
Assuredly no Coltrane collection could be truly representative without
it. This is, without doubt, my re-issue of the year.
Dick Stafford