John Coltrane - A Love Supreme

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John Coltrane Quartet — A Love Supreme

Analogue Productions' UHQR, the pinnacle of high-quality vinyl!

45 RPM Ultra High Quality Record release. Limited to 10,000 copies.

Mastered by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound from a second-generation tape copy created by Rudy Van Gelder

Pressed at Quality Record Pressings using Clarity Vinyl®

Includes a 12" x 12" 12-page booklet featuring liner notes by Ashley Kahn and images from the Coltrane home

My Top 10 Audiophile and Vinyl Record Album Purchases of 2023. Kenny's Audiophile Record Reviews. YouTube video.

Video — Understanding John Coltrane A Love Supreme UHQR 45 RPM Copy here

""To my ears, the new UHQR has a slight edge over the others. That edge arises from the clarity and definition of all the instruments, how Coltrane's saxophone pops, and balance that's the best of all the versions I've heard. Is this UHQR the final word on 'A Love Supreme,' at least on vinyl? If history serves, the answer is an emphatic 'No.' ... to my ears, this UHQR entry has nosed into the lead." — Robert Baird, Revinylization No. 47, Stereophile, Oct. 17, 2023

"Acoustic Sounds' UHQR 45rpm double-LP vinyl reissue of Coltrane's 'A Love Supreme' is a wonder, better-sounding than any previous edition, including the original pressing." — Fred Kaplan, X

"...you will surely appreciate the sonic differences between the Verve Acoustic Sounds 33 1/3 edition, which is really good with this UHQR, which is, to say it in technical terms 'insanely better' and the proverbial 'window into the studio' when the session was recorded. In what ways? Every way, actually. You'll hear it from the opening tam-tam hit-especially if you've been playing this album for fifty years! The background quiet is noticeably better than even the quietest regular QRP pressing. Tyner's piano appears in three dimensional space, Jones's stick work on cymbals and woody rim shots startle. The difference between this version and every other one including Smith's cut from the same tape at the same time is not subtle and if your system has the resolution you'll immediately hear it and be glad you made the $150 investment. I know I am! ... if this album is meaningful to you and you want by far the best sounding version ever released, this is it." — Music = 11/11; Sound = 11/11 — Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com. To read Fremer's full review click here.

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.

You're about to experience A Love Supreme at its peak of vinyl perfection — in UHQR format on Clarity Vinyl, with the added bonus of a double 45 RPM cut by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound. Ryan's cut has his characteristic clarity and transparency all set against Quality Record Pressing's usual noiseless backgrounds on 200-gram flawless records. Each UHQR will be packaged in a deluxe box and will include a booklet detailing the entire process of making a UHQR along with a hand-signed certificate of inspection. This will be a truly deluxe, collectible product.

For this 45 RPM 2LP edition you'll also receive a 12" x 12" 12-page booklet featuring liner notes by Ashley Kahn and images from the Coltrane home.

The original master tape is available but it's not in the best shape. This LP was 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, so only a handful of months later. This tape was discovered at Abbey Road and had been untouched between 1965 and 2002. So while the original tape is available and while we would always opt for the original whenever we can, in this case this copy was the better choice as the tape has incurred less overall wear and sounds much better than the original.

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.

Music

 

Sound

 

Ratings from Michael Fremer @ trackingangle.com/

Side 1

Part I - Acknowledgement (7:39)

Side 2

Part II - Resolution (7:22)

Side 3

Part III - Pursuance (10:45)

Side 4

Part IV - Psalm (7:05)

Customer Reviews (5.00 Stars) 11 person(s) rated this product.

I’ll keep the 33, but this is A UHQR SUPREME posted on 04/10/2024 5 Stars Reviewer: Preston No need to repeat or paraphrase anyone else. The 33 was great, this is other worldly.

The definitive version of a masterpiece posted on 11/22/2023 5 Stars Reviewer: Chris G. I've always been torn on how I feel about the UHQRs - they are SO expensive, and do I really need to spend that much on a record I probably already have? But then along comes the UHQR of "A Love Supreme", John Coltrane's seminal masterpiece, the culmination of a master's life's work, and quite possibly my all-time favorite jazz album. So I somewhat reservedly plunked down my money, and boy was I not disappointed. The clarity, the detail, the liveliness of it all breathed new life into this well-known classic. My attention is drawn to subtle details I've never noticed before in hundreds of listens to this album. A triumph and a must-have for any jazz lover, indeed.

Best Jazz record on my Collection posted on 09/30/2023 5 Stars Reviewer: Carlos Lopez I tried hard to get into this album, but then again reviews were right on point. Incredible sound quality.

Shockingly good posted on 09/13/2023 5 Stars Reviewer: Travis This record was life-changing, and this pressing did it again. Even my partner, who normally doesn't hear differences in quality, sat straight up in her chair about 30 seconds in and was blown away. My first UHQR, and by far the best sounding album in my collection. Has me ordering a couple more albums and a higher end phono preamp to keep squeezing more out of my system.

SUPERB!!! posted on 08/26/2023 5 Stars Reviewer: Derek D There isn’t a lot you can say. I’ve heard many editions of this title. Nothing come close to this, not even by a small amount. UHQR is the pinnacle of vinyl reissues.

A remarkable restatement of a classic piece of jazz posted on 08/16/2023 5 Stars Reviewer: Gordon Johnson As a 45rpm lover I held out in the hope of this title, A Love Supreme attaining the UHQR line. Now that it’s here on glorious Clarity and along with a flat profile, it is pleasing to say that I’m not in any way disappointed. The content we all know so well shines here, the wonderful mastering that appears on the 33rpm standard copy is notched up by virtue of the platform. Flipping sides is no big deal and I don’t find the flow is interrupted at all for the album. Each break, between tracks allows a short reflection on what was heard and what is to come. The Clarity vinyl allows this record to shine, thus in turn highlighting that flat profile. If you don’t own a 45rpm cut of this as yet here is the chance to rectify that, you won’t be disappointed.

Definitive edition! posted on 08/14/2023 5 Stars Reviewer: Michael Jacobson I've had many versions of this LP over the years, including Japanese presses and Acoustic Sounds' previous double 45 edition. This one is the one to get. The dynamic range and clarity are exemplary; this is the most "live" sounding version of the album I've yet heard!

Was it necessary? Of course it was! posted on 08/13/2023 5 Stars Reviewer: Johnnymics Yes I have the 33 1/3 and it does sound wonderful. This just happens to be one of the greatest jazz albums of all time. It’s well deserving of the UHQR treatment. My copy checks all of the usual boxes. Flat, dead silent, well packaged. A must have whether you’re an audiophile or just plain lover of jazz music.

Final Upgrade, Definitive ALS posted on 08/11/2023 5 Stars The music needs no introduction or review - powerful, transcendent, pure Coltrane. Along with the 33rpm Acoustic Sounds Verve stereo, this UHQR 45rpm stereo has earned it's place as the edition I'll reach for during focused, immersive listening sessions. The air that surrounds the group, the wide soundstage, the detailed separation of players - all in service of the music. Yes, you will have to get up and flip this record. But yes, it's worth it. The pressing was centered, quiet, flat, well done. The booklet inside the box is also beautifully done - liner notes, pictures of John & Alice, their home, and of John's handwritten poetry which became the poem on the original gatefold. This will be my keeper copy!

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