John Coltrane - Ballads

Acoustic Sounds Series reissues from Verve/Universal Music Enterprises!

Monthly releases highlighting the world's most historic and best jazz records!

Mastered by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound from the original analog tapes

180-gram LPs pressed at Quality Record Pressings!

Stoughton Printing gatefold old-style tip-on jackets

Series supervised by Chad Kassem CEO of Acoustic Sounds

Click to see the Acoustic Sounds Series

"(Ballads) is an album that will never go out of style and never be unwelcome on any jazz lover's turntable. ... I compared this Ryan K. Smith cut with an original pressing (so happy to have) and with the out of print double 45 RPM ORG Music version cut by Bernie Grundman aboutt a decade ago. ... Ryan's cut has his characteristic clarity and transparency all set against QRP's usual jet black backgrounds ... Ryan's new cut is a 100% top to bottom success and is easy to recommend." — Music = 11/11; Sound = 10/11 - Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com. Read Fremer's entire review here.

Seeking to offer definitive audiophile grade versions of some of the most historic and best jazz records ever recorded, Verve Label Group and Universal Music Enterprises' new audiophile Acoustic Sounds vinyl reissue series utilizes the skills of top mastering engineers and the unsurpassed production craft of Quality Record Pressings. All titles are mastered from the original analog tapes, pressed on 180-gram vinyl and packaged by Stoughton Printing Co. in high-quality gatefold sleeves with tip-on jackets. The releases are supervised by Chad Kassem, CEO of Acoustic Sounds, the world's largest source for audiophile recordings.

John Coltrane's immortal Impulse! records, A Love Supreme (1964) and Ballads (1963) both have drawn rave reviews since their original release. A.B. Spellman, former administrator for the National Endowment for the Arts, once described Ballads as "some of the most sensitive, heartfelt music that any lover ever sang on a horn." Put simply, most guys don't play the saxophone like John Coltrane.

The intense passionate Coltrane interpretation of standards such as "All Or Nothing At All," "What's New," "It's Easy To Remember" and the Sinatra classic "Nancy (With The Laughing Face)" are the essence of Ballads. When asked why attempt such an undertaking, Coltrane replied "Variety."

While it may have been a short detour by Trane before he exploded off into the nether regions of jazz music a few years later, it is still a fantastic document of one of the premier jazz groups of the 1960s.

Recorded December 21, 1961 and September 18 & November 13, 1962 at Rudy Van Gelder Studios.

"It's impossible to sleepwalk through tracks like "You Don't Know What Love Is" and "I Wish I Knew" and impart them with even a fraction of the emotional heft that the Quartet achieves. This is the type of jazz album in which the music just washes over the listener with it's restrained grace and beauty, and while it may not have the adventurousness that some listeners think Trane should have had each and every time he recorded, I'd say it shows off a side of him that only makes us appreciate his more bold and daring albums even more." — The Jazz Record

 

Music

Sound

Ratings from Michael Fremer @ AnalogPlanet.com

1. Say It (Over and over Again)

2. You Don't Know What Love Is

3. Too Young to Go Steady

4. All or Nothing at All

5. I Wish I Knew

6. What's New?

7. It's Easy to Remember

8. Nancy (With the Laughing Face)

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

Nice Record posted on 11/19/2024 5 Stars Reviewer: David This record is a beautiful listen. Invest a little money and get a lot of satisfaction. Everything is top quality. The packaging, the pressing, the sound… it’s all good. Three thumbs up!

5 Stars posted on 02/21/2022 5 Stars Reviewer: Gene The recording rates an 11/10 for both sound quality and music, one of the best Acoustic Sounds has ever made. I own well over 200 Acoustic Sounds albums including box sets. I can see why this was made into a Reel to Reel. Dead quiet vinyl is why QRP is the best pressing plant in the world. Chad has always done everything right, pressing, album jackets and sound. That is why I Have been a customer since they first opened

Home Run posted on 02/09/2022 5 Stars Dead quiet vinyl, incredible acoustics…this is an absolute no-brainer for any fan of Coltrane. I’m continually impressed with the Acoustic Sounds series, bravo!

Superb! posted on 06/08/2021 5 Stars Reviewer: Ian C. Not only is the music timeless but this mastering and pressing gives it the presentation it deserves. Highly recommended!

QRP, RKS ,AS Combo a match made in heaven posted on 12/06/2020 5 Stars 5 stars defenitive version,,, look no further another winner

Nice! posted on 11/30/2020 5 Stars Reviewer: Anthony This is one of Coltrane more accessible offerings, music for people who didn't know they liked Coltrane. Perfect for late night, red wine and good company. Beats my original in every way I can imagine. Well done!

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