John Coltrane-A Love Supreme *****

While running the risk of blabbing on way to long about an album so obviously great I loose sight of what is important...hearing the darn thing, so I'll be brief.

I for the longest time put off checking out Coltrane, and finally bought A Love Supreme and it changed music for me forever. The way I listened to it, what I listened to it, and most importantly how I listened to it.

As many have said it is an album designed for praise, not singularly of God but that of bigger things and more enlightened things. Something that frees you really. That was what Coltrane wanted, and album so uplifting that it takes you through your whole entire life, and every emotion you have ever felt in one single listen. This is not played out that way in any linear sense but in a metaphorical way told by way of his sax, Tyners piano, Jimmy Garrisons bass, and Elvin's incendiary percussion.

Played as a four part suite as Coltrane gift to God in thanks for all he has Coltrane gave the greatest gift anyone would ever hope to receive. 'Acknowledgement' begins with a flowing sax line from Coltrane that becomes instantly recognizable and will fill your head forever more. Played almost like a hymn with the album title chanted over and over again for a together effect. Elvin Jones' begins 'Pursuance' with possibly the worlds only non boring drum solo which segues perfectly with the rest of the piece which features Coltrane and Tyner soloing almost as a dual. 'Pursuance' and 'Psalm' close the album. They both play better and feel right when played one before the other as the album is supposed to be played for an uplifting effect.

A Love Supreme became the last acclaimed Coltrane album. After this he began to experiment more and more and some say lose the soul his music once had. Others say he only then hit his creative peak. Either way there is no denying the absolute power and sensitivity of A Love Supreme, an album unparalleled by any other. Just like John Coltrane himself.

The sound quality and performance of the extra tracks doesn't add anything to the original recording.

I did not know it was possible to improve on this masterpiece but it has been done! Everything about this edition is even more beautiful than the first. The extra CD with the different takes are as mind blowing as the original. I wasn't as crazy over the live version as I was over the alternate takes of the other parts of the suite.

What is there for me to explain about the music that hasn't been explained? Other than that this is the best spiritual experience I get from listening to music.

The packaging is one of the most beautiful design jobs I have seen in a CD set. The booklet artwork is amazing, the mostly black and high contrast colors for everythig else like the CDs and inside covers are perfectly designed . The design is in perfect balance visually. Top it off with the beautiful plastic jacket sleeve, this was an awesome edition of the masterpiece.

It is difficult to listen to this sublime and indefinable work without shedding tears of joy and wonderment. It is one of the greatest metaphysical revelations through music in the XXth century: this was indeed Coltrane's purpose, and he achieved it in his unique and inestimable way.

Since A Love Supreme is indefinable, it is also `uncommentable'. It deserves not the praise or punctuation of critical eyes, and perhaps not the ecstasy applaud of audiences: our praise and awe, and reverence and love present themselves above all else in the form of silence; and this suffices.

One of the 20th century's greatest and most important works got better in this edition. The highs are crisper, the articulations clearer, and the lows more distinct than either the LP or earler CDs.

That said, I think the ancillary material (on disc 2), while interesting for JC fans, provides little improvement on the studio version. The live version from France (Summer '65) is unfocussed, ragged, and sounds like they're trying to find a groove (and never do) throughout the performance. While it pressage's John's "free form" period, this doesn't serve the piece well. Second, the 2 sextette cuts may be historically interestng, but the sound quality is poor and the playing sounds crowded.

The 2 alternate takes are not really alternates as they so closely match the final version.

Should you buy this CD? Yes, for the quality of the reissued studio version, but not for the additional material.