Miles Davis & John Coltrane Centennials

[felser]

4 hours ago, gvopedz said:

The Essential John Coltrane,” a Target-exclusive limited-edition 2LP, available now.

Probably no tariffs at Target?

https://variety.com/2026/music/news/john-coltrane-estate-100-celebration-1236667036/

 

First thought was "how do you fit the Essential Coltrane on 2 LP's".  Here are the cuts - all limited to Impulse!, and they actually did a pretty good job on the selections, though everyone will have gripes about missing cuts:

 

Description

Side A

1. A Love Supreme: Part 1 – Acknowledgement 7:47
2. In A Sentimental Mood (feat. Duke Ellington) 4:16
3. Bessie's Blues 3:32
4. You’re A Weaver Of Dreams 5:34
21:09

Side B

1. Afro Blue10:46
2. My One And Only Love (feat. Johnny Hartman) 4:55
15:41

Side C

1. Crescent 8:42
2. Impressions 4:33
3. Alabama 5:07
18:22

Side D

1. My Favorite Things 17:19

[medjuck]

4 hours ago, jazzbo said:

Although the labels are all owned by Universal I believe I do think that 'fifties compilation will come out on Craft/Concord.

https://craftrecordings.com/products/john-coltrane-the-best-of-john-coltrane-lp

So Concord is now owned by UMG?

[jazzbo]

I guess probably not but in Japan the Prestige, Riverside, etc. stuff comes out on Universal I believe. On cdjpaan the "lable/distributor"is listed as UNIVERSAL MUSIC. Maybe it is just distribution but I don't remember seeing Craft or Concord listed on the back catalog reissues.

Edited February 24 by jazzbo

[JSngry]

You’re A Weaver Of Dreams 5:34
 

That one was Mercury, not impulse! And it was on a Cannonball record.

Seems like a very odd choice?

[felser]

3 hours ago, JSngry said:

You’re A Weaver Of Dreams 5:34
 

That one was Mercury, not impulse! And it was on a Cannonball record.

Seems like a very odd choice?

Yes, it sure does.  To me, "Acknowledgement". "Afro Blue", "Alabama" and the '63 Newport "My Favorite Things" have to be there (and are), but the other cuts can be debated.  If making for my own listening, I would also include, off the top of my head, "Out of This World", "Transition", "Africa", and "Spiritual", and that no doubt would fill up the four album sides.  And that still leaves out a lot of great music, including everything with Alice.  

[paulfromcamden]

I don't see the point. There are already countless compilations. Best Of..., Very Best Of..., Essential..., Introducing..., Definitive..., yada yada yada...

The studio albums are all easy to hear and there's very little that doesn't merit a listen. I don't see what another bunch of dubious compilations add.

[Big Beat Steve]

9 minutes ago, paulfromcamden said:

I don't see what another bunch of dubious compilations add.

At least ONE purpose is:

Money-making bait for starters or casual listeners that they want to lure into buying more later on. 

[mhatta]

43 minutes ago, paulfromcamden said:

I don't see the point. There are already countless compilations. Best Of..., Very Best Of..., Essential..., Introducing..., Definitive..., yada yada yada...

The studio albums are all easy to hear and there's very little that doesn't merit a listen. I don't see what another bunch of dubious compilations add.

I used to be turned off by this kind of “marketing ploy,” but I've come to think it's important to regularly remind people who don't know about them. Most jazz giants seem forgotten now or misunderstood. Better to be a nagging reminder than forgotten altogether.

[gvopedz]

1 hour ago, paulfromcamden said:

I don't see the point. There are already countless compilations. 

Every few years there is a new group of teenagers who should be (or need to be) introduced to Coltrane.

[bertrand]

On 1/30/2026 at 5:08 AM, OliverM said:

They started by reissuing the Complete Plugged Nickel set, both in CD and vinyl, with "new liner notes and track-by-track commentary by Syd Schwartz alongside Bob Blumenthal’s original essay."

Is this a limited edition CD set or can I wait until the end of the year to buy it?

[felser]

3 hours ago, gvopedz said:

Every few years there is a new group of teenagers who should be (or need to be) introduced to Coltrane.

Agreed, and many of us fit that description at some point in our past.  I remember the cheap 3 LP 'Impulse Energy Essentials' set was critical to my jazz formation when I was 18 years old (my intro to Mingus, Oliver Nelson, Max Roach, Cecil Taylor, Pharoah, Freddie Hubbard etc.), though it would be totally redundant for me now.   

[medjuck]

15 hours ago, JSngry said:

You’re A Weaver Of Dreams 5:34
 

That one was Mercury, not impulse! And it was on a Cannonball record.

Seems like a very odd choice?

Mercury is now owned by UMG.  (I've always liked that record-- I've always felt that playing with Trane upped Cannonball's solos.)

[jazzbo]

Maybe vice versa as well.

[JSngry]

1 hour ago, medjuck said:

Mercury is now owned by UMG.  (I've always liked that record-- I've always felt that playing with Trane upped Cannonball's solos.)

Understood on all counts. It's just that in terms of contexts, that cut is a bit of an outlier?

[jazzbo]

4 hours ago, bertrand said:

Is this a limited edition CD set or can I wait until the end of the year to buy it?

You should be fine. The LP set will likely disappear before the cd set.

[Late]

Any new word on Davis centennial issues/reissues?