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A Love Supreme

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

John Coltrane recorded A Love Supreme in a single session, on 9 December 1964, at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs. He played with his quartet: pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones. Impulse! released the record in January 1965. It is a through-composed suite in four parts: Acknowledgement, Resolution, Pursuance and Psalm. Coltrane plays tenor saxophone throughout.

The first part begins with the stroke of a gong and cymbal work. Garrison then plays a four-note motif on double bass, on which Coltrane varies. That motif becomes the chanted words a love supreme, with Coltrane accompanying himself through overdubs. In Psalm he performs a poem from the liner notes without words, on saxophone. The record is regarded as a work of deep spirituality, was nominated for a Grammy in 1966 and is Coltrane's best-loved album. By around 1970 about 500,000 copies had been sold, far more than his usual print run.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to the beginning of Acknowledgement and notice the four-note motif on the double bass, and hear how it returns later as the chanted words a love supreme.

Track list

  1. 1A Love Supreme, Pt. 1: Acknowledgement7:43Apple Music ↗
  2. 2A Love Supreme, Pt. 2: Resolution7:19Apple Music ↗
  3. 3A Love Supreme, Pt. 3: Pursuance10:43Apple Music ↗
  4. 4A Love Supreme, Pt. 4: Psalm7:04Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

Categories: Albums and songs