John Coltrane Quartet - Ballads

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Analogue Productions Ultra Tape reel-to-reel reissues!

Each title a 15 ips, ¼-inch 2-track (½ track) analog tape copy

Sourced from original master tapes

Transferred using ATR-modified Ampex Tape Machine with flux magnetic heads

Custom slipcase cover — highest quality tape reissue!

"My first introduction to this outstanding Rudy van Gelder recording dates back to the '90's JVC's XRCD series. Since then, I've acquired different versions on LP, each one being a step better, culminating in the 45 rpm reissue. And now we have it in the ultimate format 15-ips reel-to-tape. Here we find the aptly titled Ballads featuring a much mellower version of Coltrane, backed by the likes of McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. Or as Ashley Kahn wrote, 'In 1963 had Impulse decided to title his new album something like Coltrane Plays for Lovers Only rather than Ballads, it would have been cliché, but more accurate.' Nothing could be closer to the truth and just a great demonstration of Coltrane's incredible talent." — Myles B. Astor, Positive Feedback, 2022 Writer's Choice Awards

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.

And even the finest-sounding LPs can't match the fidelity and sonic detail captured by a master tape. Here, with our Ultra Tape 15 ips 1/4-inch analog tape copy, the music sounds its purest and most vital. The tape playback brings crystal clear fidelity to the highest and lowest freqency ranges.

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.

See all of the Ultra Tape reel-to-reel editions here.

Reel 1

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

Reel 2

1. I Wish I Knew

2. What's New?

3. It's Easy To Remember

4. Nancy (With The Laughing Face)

Customer Reviews (5.00 Stars) 1 person(s) rated this product.

Don’t Wait until it’s gone posted on 04/23/2022 5 Stars Reviewer: Tom Caselli Ballads is the album where Coltrane reins in his “sheets of sound” and plays in a more melodic style. Previously, this was low on my Coltrane list until I heard this tape. While AP’s recent vinyl reissue was stellar, this tape moves it up several levels. If you have seen the movie Vanilla Sky where Coltrane appears as a Hologram at a party, well this is a hologram for your ears. This puts you in the studio. Don’t miss out grab it now.

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