Any John Coltrane fans here? Advice on Box set?

[scottmandue]

Really getting into jazz and want to bulk up my CD collection with some box sets.

I'm in a quandary as to which Coltrane set to buy.

Fearless leader

Interplay

Side steps

Anyone have any of these sets and how do you like them?

Live long and prosper.

[Jagshund]

I've been meaning to buy both ss and a ray charles set that looks like an old record player case- can't even remember the name of it now. I hate buying jazz on iTunes because picking and choosing songs often takes them out of context. Like listening to one song from 'Dark Side of the Moon.' However, I think Side Steps focuses more on his support work rather than him playing the lead.

I also highly recommend Chet Baker's 'Deep In A Dream' if you don't have it already.

[scottmandue]

Who is ss? And yes will check out the Ray Charles and Chet Baker (Ray Charles was my first jazz vinyl album)

[jyl]

What Coltrane albums do you already have? IMO you should build a Coltrane collection from his important albums, before considering these box sets.

The albums have cohesion, are a picture of Coltrane at a particular stage of his development. He was a restless, searching, exploring musician whose sound was constantly changing, and part of the pleasure of listening to Coltrane is hearing that journey. The Coltrane of Blue Train is very different from the Coltrane of Crescent, is very different from the Coltrane of Ascension or of A Love Supreme.

The box sets, I just glanced at the song lists, seem like the thing to get if you are trying to fill in random holes in what is already a pretty solid Coltrane collection.

Anyway, tell me which Coltrane albums you have and we can go from there. PM me.

[ramonesfreak]

big fan here. im wondering why specifically your are looking at these sets...are you looking for a place to start?

i would say all three of the sets look great. personally, ive always preferred the earlier work, compared to the later free jazz...

if your looking for a place to start, i would start with giant steps, my favorite things, blue train, lush life and the gentle side of coltrane....start early and work towards the end of his life

unless you like dissonance and wailing...which i do...just prefer bop

my favorite coltrane record is Africa Brass Volumes I and II...to me its his finest and the large band is unusual and kicks *ss

[ramonesfreak]

from africa/brass... to me its the perfect blend of old and new coltrane melded into one album

[Jagshund]

Sorry. SS= Side Steps. Also check Miles Davis.

[1967 R50/2]

Originally Posted by jyl

What Coltrane albums do you already have? IMO you should build a Coltrane collection from his important albums, before considering these box sets.

I second that opinion. But if you already have his more famous works, let me say Fearless Leader is a helluva box set. I listen to it all the time.