My Ten Favourite JOHN COLTRANE Albums | Ranked 

I'm 76, Andy. I saw Coltrane live five or maybe six times, including with Archie Shepp in Chicago. I bought each Trane album as it came out. I was also devoted to Ornette and wound up serving as his baby sitter (for obnoxious nephew from O's sister, ABBie.) I'm a drummer/keyboardist. You're speaking my language, my friend.

Crescent is my favorite Coltrane album. Underrated.

Always great to see a presentation about 'Trane! 1- A Love Supreme 2- Kulu se Mama 3-The complete Village Vanguard Box(1961) 4- Ole' 5-Africa/Brass 6-Coltrane Plays the Blues 7- Concert in Japan!! Heavy! 8- Ascention 9- Meditations 10- Live in Antibes

The 'Village Vanguard' box is an absolute killer. Love it, and can't recommend it enough. It's always a bit cliché to say that a great artist died too young, but it's hardly a stretch to believe that Coltrane was only beginning the next chapter when he departed, and had sooooo much more to say.

Crescent is my favourite

Your early biography of Coltrane omitted perhaps the most momentous incident in his musical journey. In November, 1948 he joined Cleanhead Vinson's band. Up until then, he had been playing alto saxophone. The vacancy in Vinson's band was for a tenor. He might not have swapped to tenor if he didn't take that gig. Denis Sandole and Earl Bostic also deserve a mention. Coltrane learned a lot during his formative time with them.

No collection of Coltrane recordings is complete without either Selflessness or Newport '63. The version of My Favorite Things is absolutely perfect and mind-blowing.

It's interesting to me that as he explored the outer limits of harmony, Coltrane went back and immersed himself in the tradition. In 1963 he released two albums of a more traditional bent, both of which were gorgeous: Duke Ellington and John Coltrane, in which the two leaders are accompanied by drums and bass, and then the John Coltrane and Johnny Hartmann album, which features the classic Coltrane Quartet. For me, these records establish definitive versions of very well known songs (In a Sentimental Mood, Lush Life) and Coltrane's mastery of the tradition is clearly deepened by his work outside it. Something to chew on as we ponder what might have been. Great job, as always, Andy.

I fell in love with John Coltrane's Tenor with Kind of Blue by Miles Davis. I've been a Coltrane devotee since the late '80s, and my passion for his music has grown yearly. Thank you for a passion-filled episode!

"The John Coltrane Quartet Plays" from 65 is my favorite. Not the catchiest title, but that record embodies everything I love most about Coltrane perfectly.

My sincere thanks for your work on this, and your genuine enthusiasm and desire to share!

Hi Andy-Great Video. Since it's relevant to this discussion I'm going to re-post (cut and paste with a few edits) a story from my youth that I've left in a few RU-vid comments sections before, including (I think) one of yours a few years ago: "The most epic listening session, however, was in college, around 1975 or 76. I like many musical genres, but by that time the music I listened to most frequently was jazz and of course the great saxophonist John Coltrane was a musical hero to me and several friends. We concocted a plan to listen to all the John Coltrane albums we could get together, in chronological order, in one marathon session, which we called "The Coltrane Lock-In". I think there were four of us that were the main participants. Between all of us, and borrowing a few more albums from some other friends, we put together about 30 Coltrane albums, or maybe a few more. The entire lock-in lasted just a little under 24 hours. The core group of us were there for the entire time, but I lived in a communal house and several other friends and housemates would come in and listen for an hour or two, then pop in the room the following morning and say: "Are you guys really still at it?"...LOL. We heard the incredible evolution of Coltrane as an artist through his roughly 10 year career as a solo artist, starting with his late fifties hard bop period on Prestige and Blue Note records ("Blue Trane", "Black Pearls", "Bahia" etc.). Then onto his stuff on Atlantic records with the ground breaking "Giant Steps" as well as "Coltrane Plays the Blues", "My Favorite Things", "Coltrane Jazz", "Ole" etc., and then into his increasingly spiritual and unbelievably powerful records from the early and mid sixties on the Impulse label like "Africa Brass", "Crescent", "Impressions", "Live at Birdland", "Coltrane", "Live at the Village Vanguard", "Ballads", "Selflessness", the majestic masterpiece "A Love Supreme" etc., etc. The final six or seven records were the very wild, so-called free jazz stuff from the last couple years of his life (1966 and 67) like "Ascension", "Meditations", "Live in Seattle" etc., ending with the somewhat somber but beautiful "Expressions". About half way through the Lock-In one or more of the core participants may, or may not, have ingested some very strong mind-altering substance that may, or may not, have aided in our understanding the avant garde music of Coltrane's late period. Anyway, it was time very well spent...LOL."

Alabama is one of the most beautiful and heartfelt songs ever recorded - it makes me cry every time... ☝️😎

Crescent.

I love his stuff with Eric Dolphy, I've got the four disc Village Vanguard set. Great video 👍

On a personal note. I’m a former guitarist, and I have a copy of “Coltrane Plays the Blues,” so if I ever get back to it, I’ll have an encyclopedia of chops I can steal that sound nothing like Clapton or Hendrix.

Great Jack DeJohnette anecdote!

I was introduced to Coltrane by a young man who was obsessed with Tranes music. He was so critical of a PBS series on Coltranes life that they hired him to carry it on and gave him a late night jazz show slot on the station.When I said to him that I was having a hard time getting into and or understanding his music. He then laid out a list of Tranes music and how to procede through the list to gain understanding of what he was doing muscically. I have always been quite grateful for his time and effort spent on my behalf. Good stuff and love your site.

Nothing tops Crescent.

I was so lucky to nab Blue Train in my first purchase of jazz albums (along with Hank Mobley, Soul Station, & Art Blakey, Moanin’). It opened a whole new world to me.

One of my favourite artist, ever. 🎶

Ole is amazing! Great video Andyl

This was great. Thanks!

Glad to hear the discussion about the cadenza of Want To Talk About You. I totally dig it and play it for non-jazzers to give an example of what great jazz is all about.

Really one of your better videos, love all these albums!

Great work, Andy. love your approach in making great video analysis 👍🏾

Inspiring reviews. Always push me to listen again some beautiful records. Thank you for your work.

I love listening to your music chat, nice perspective

Hey Andy, what a superb presentation of some of your favourite Trane albums. Coltrane changed my life and led me to a life dedicated to playing the saxophone that still thankfully continues! Thank you.🙏

Great overview of the high points in the Coltrane canon! I have a good number of those classics, but not yet the Free Jazz ones. I have been listening to his Live in Seattle (1965) on which Pharoah Sanders also plays. A very challenging and difficult one to take in on one listen. In various reviews it has been described as "violent". Not sure if I am inclined to explore the Free Jazz pathway much further if it all sounds like this...unless Ascension, Meditations, or Live in Paris are a touch more accessible than "Seattle".

Terrific journey into the discography of an artist with an astounding body of work.

First Meditations. The last of the classic quartet, and I'll grant that I don't follow him much after that. The ending of Serenity is one of the heaviest things I've heard.

Thank you for this. I enjoyed your enthusiasm and plan to explore your favorites. I'm familiar with some but not all.

this brothers enthusiasm never wanes, in the moment, like he’s blowing a horn.. . great 🎶☀️☮️🐾

I think his sound in Crescent was so amazing. And the compositions. I definitely think his Impulse catalog is unequalled. A Love Supreme would top many lists. And it’s notable that his work is so consistently excellent there’s easily 5-6 records that could be #1 and no one would argue with you. Alabama is amazing and so deeply moving. I love most all the Impulse records.

Really enjoyed the part where you tell the tale of spending the art award money on the double album. More stories about when, why, where (and "how") you obtained the vinyl in the first place would be fun ... or indeed if it was a significant swap (maybe a record swap with a lad at school? --- for more recent audiences it might be worth telling that story again. It's a belter). Keep up the good work Andy. I wouldn't have listened to "Olé" unless I'd watched this video (first time listen) and as a non-jazz fan it really floated my boat. I like the scales. Thanks again dude.

Hi Andy - thank you for this fine video. I'm glad you put "Interstellar space" on your list. It's maybe my favorite free jazz album by Coltrane. It's hard to put a top 10 list, but I'll try (no particular order): - Coltrane (it was the first record by Coltrane I got) - Soultrane - Blue Train - Village Vanguard - Crescent - Love Supreme - JC Quartet Plays - Live At Birdland - Interstellar Space - JC and Johnny Hartman I left some great records out, I love a lot, but to these 10 I come back regularly.

Awesome! Looking forward to the rant! I listened to the Cannonball and Coltrane (mercury 1965) album last night, and ended it with some "miss" Della Reese.

crescent, sun ship and coltrane are probably my top 3. that cd reissue "afro blue/impressions" is outstanding

Around 1965 I was traveling around the US viewing college campuses. I had my LPs with me: Meditations, Love Supreme, Far Cry from Eric Dolphy. Etc.I'd go into dorms and put these records on people's turntables. I was quickly banished, my LPS thrown, broken, spat on. Only Antioch College came close. Not close enough. I have a novel detailing my experiences growing up as jazz. On Meditations there's a moment when Trane drops out and it's all the rhythm section. Elvin catches this Afro beat, the band follows him and we have an elegy from mCoy Tyner, something so beautiful I thought I was in heaven.

I've only heard fragments of his output and will seek out more. Really enjoyed your video, thanks.

Just seen this session and found your analysis on Coltrane both informed and interesting. You are right that everyone will have their preferred period and I can see that you prefer the free jazz period - but it is worth remembering that Coltrane had his more mellow, reflective side and therefore I missed the Johnny Hartman collaborations in your list . But hey, we are in subjective territory here! My favorite album is Crescent - for me the title track is Coltrane at his most inspired. While I was a student and my buddies were posing to The Sex Pistols, Clash etc.. my gateway drug was the very spiritually focused" The Gentle Side of John Coltrane" - not so gentle that it ignored "I Want to Talk About You" though; and I agree that is a phenomenal track, the cadenza which still echoes around my mind; very interesting to hear your thoughts on that. FWIW - the buddy who introduced me to Coltrane, another Andy, was proud that he had every Coltrane album issue up to that point. The Church of John Coltrane, eh? Really enjoying your channel, Andy, and have picked up lots of ideas and tips and the scope is really impressive.

Great video. These are my top 4 1. My Favourite Things 2. A Love Supreme 3. Soultrane 4. Crescent

Love the channel......

Thank you Sir, that you !!

Another entertaining and informative video !!! Coltrane's impact is indeed immense and everlasting. After Coltrane's time in Miles Davis' band, saxophonists from Wayne Shorter to Kenny Garrett had a great standard to meet. My most listened to albums. 1. Giant Steps 2. Ole Coltrane 3. Coltrane (62) 4. Live At Birdland 5. My Favorite Things 6. Blue Train 7. A Love Supreme 8. All Morning Long w. Red Garland Quintet 9. w. Duke Ellington 10. w. Thelonious Monk at Carnegie. Hall On the piano jazz tip, Brad Mehldau has been bringing fire to" Countdown" for many years !!!

Great choices. Although really there are no bad choices. Mine would include Blue Train, Crescent, Giant Steps, The 1963 Newport Jazz Festival, Afro Blue Impressions, and A Love Supreme.

Africa/Brass is one of my favourite albums of his. 👏

When I am over stressed after work ascenion works as mental releaser for me.

BTW, It's Crescent that gets the most play from me these days.

I struggle to enjoy the free jazz stuff (by anyone really), but I’ll give the late Trane era another try.

Well done for finding the right words to describe the intensely satisfying sonic pleasure of John Coltrane.

Hey Andy! You should make a video about the music of Charles Mingus, or an album ranking for him. Cheers! Great stuff as always

Also “Coltrane,” with “out of this world,” Roscoe Mitchell told me that is where he thought Coltrane first start playing “out.”

For me, it’s A Love Supreme, Ascension, Crescent, and My Favourite Things. Totally personal choices, etc. Just the ones I spin the most. Great vid. Cheers.

Really loved this segment on this music legend. I really loved Coltrane's tune " Spiritual" which has nearly five million views on the tube. I too think he would have used electronics as he was already using a variety of instruments around the world during his free period. I think Wayne Shorter picked up "somewhere" he left off as far as fusion goes. Imagine Coltrane with an organ or electric piano sound. If you put Holdsworth solos within Mahavishnu's music of the early to mid 70's and you got the Coltrane influence.

Great vid as usual. I agree that Blue Train is the perfect intro to Coltrane and still perhaps my favoirite. How about a vid on Ornette Colman? Another truly great musician who I guess invented a new musical language I guess. I have no musical knowledge or ability but just try and keep my mind and ears open!

Great countdown, Coltrane was many things to many people.

Nice, surprised you didn't put on love supreme live in Seattle. But I like u grabbed the tougher listens cause you're a real fan, here's 2 u pal

In my jazzprogramme Blue note from the blue boat a couple of months ago I played 'I wanna talk about you' twice. First the Soultrane version and directly after that the Live at Birdland version just to demonstrate how extremely different Coltrane sounded just within less than four years. Among my favourites you didn't mention are also Sun Ship and Transition. And Paris concert (with an incredible 26 minute version of Mister P.C).And there were a couple of Impulse albums which came out in the seventies with so called rest material (studio outtakes and live material). Some albums were even double albums which also contains great stuff. Titles of these albums: The Mastery of John Coltrane: Feelin'Good and To the beat of a different drum. Listen especially to the piece Untitled 90314. It will blow you away!

A most difficult task. Mine would include: - Sun Ship (especially due to the first 2 tracks) - First Meditations - Soultrane (especially due to "Russian Lullaby," but it's a great earlier one) - Ole (his best collaboration involving Dolphy) - A Love Supreme - the live recording later on in 1965 - Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane (if it counts...it's a Monk album - but it's got "Trinkle Tinkle" and "Nutty" on it, not to mention "Ruby My Dear")

I really enjoy your analysis and perspective. Chronologically speaking Coltrane was my 2nd sax hero (after Stan Getz and followed by Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Dexter Gordon, Mike Brecker and Wilton Felder). It was gratifying that you referenced the astonishing cadenza on "I Want to Talk About You". There are several recorded versions but surely one of the best is from Newport '63 (several tracks from which appear on the Selflessness LP). This LP also contains perhaps the most iconic version of "My Favorite Things", the one featuring Roy Haynes. A tragically underrated album is "Alternate Takes" which came out years later than Giant Steps, featuring mostly alternate tracks from that session. There are ways in which some of these tracks are as good, or even better! than the original releases. On Alternate Takes: Naima has a gorgeous tenor solo whereas the original release only has piano solo; Countdown has a much longer and even more startling tenor solo; on Giant Steps the tenor solo is more swinging and melodic, though perhaps not as ferocious; and lastly there is a gorgeous ballad called "I'll Wait and Pray" with a beautiful McCoy Tyner solo plus a stunning tenor polyphonic at the end. Thanks again for the fascinating content you are creating and regards from PA, USA. P.S. the Crescent album deserves special mention.

You’re funny. “squonking inaccessible free jazz” but the astounding thing he was still able to reach a fairly large audience with that music. He still connected. As much as anything, that speaks to the kind of musician he was.

Blue Train--please, please, please push the front booklet back in the case or you're gonna get indents on the front.

That was also my first Coltrane album and it is still my favorite 35 years later. I was just hoping it would get a mention on your list, never would have guessed it would be your number one pick.

Oh, I agree with you about Meditations. I think it is my favorite. A Love Supreme broke through my deep religious skepticism. It was more than mere art for me. I can almost hear it all in my mind right now. Funny, I have never heard your No 1. I have something great to look forward to. My first Coltrane single cut was Double Clutching with Kenny Dorham and Cecil Taylor. I heard Trane's solo many many times. It was made during his deep searching phase. Loved Kenny and Cecil but I think they all came together for this one session date and they seemed to be just getting used to each other. I could write reams about Cecil but Coltrane was the elder stateman of the Avant Garde. Thank you for your fine analyses.

Dear mr.Edwards i am a german jazz maniac.I own estimately 90 records from THE GREATEST J.C.All these are my favourite things.

My 10 Favorite Favorite Coltrane Albums( Chronologically) 1. Stardust/ Standard Coltrane 2. Black Pearl's 3.Blue Trane 4. Coltrane's Sound 5. Avante Garde with Don Cherry 6. Complete Africa Brass Sessions 7. John Coltrane/ Johnny Hartman 8. A Love Supreme 9. Live in Japan 10 . Interstellar Space

Muy interesante. Now i can start listening to j.c.

That was effing great, thank you. Without "Naima", we would not have "Starless" by KC. Side note, I would not complain if you did an Eric Dolphy video. This is, of course, presuming that you are an Eric Dol[phy nerd, Cheers.

Would love to see a video dedicated just to A Love Supreme.

"Soultrane"? "My Favorite Things"? "Olé"? "Coltrane´s Sound"? "Meditations"? It's a mystery to me how you can overlook the "My Favorite Things" album

The Father : John Coltrane The Son : Pharoah Sanders The Holy Ghost : Albert Ayler

Thank you especially for this one and generally for sharing your passion for music, Andy! I’ve enjoyed a dozen of JC’s albums for years, but now I’m tempted to get the lot! To have some guidance and recommendations like this as to the ‘must haves’ is a big help on how to make the journey.

Funny enough Sea of Tranquility did a ranking of Coltrane this past Sunday. I include my ranking below that includes ones with him as sideman. Interestingly, another crossover to SoT is that I will (spoiler alert) include your album with Rain tomorrow in my favorite albums of 2023! Love the album and "spun" it many times this year. Cheers Andy! 1. Kind of Blue (with Miles Davis) 2. My Favorite Things 3. A Love Supreme 4. Giant Steps 5. Blue Train 6. Round About Midnight (with Miles Davis) 7. Milestones (with Miles Davis) 8. Live at Birdland 9. Duke Ellington & John Coltrane 10. Coltrane Plays the Blues Bubbling under: Crescent

While love supreme is my top, interstellar space is so cool! It sounds like two psychotic geese trying out murder each other!

Maybe it's sentimental but my favorite remains Giant Steps

1. Crescent 2. Coltrane 3. A Love Supreme 4. Giant Steps 5. Blue Train 6. Ole 7. My Favorite Things 8. Soultrane 9. Kulu Se Mama 10. Africa/Brass

Newport ‘63 and second self titled record belong in the conversation as well. Pretty hard to pick just 10.

Can you make a written note list of your top 10, when you do these things?

Since Ascension came out and was all of a sudden replaced with an other Ascension I do not know which one is which one. So it is hard to Rank Ascension. Actually I love Africa/Brass the most.

Cosmic music album changed my life!

My favourites by Coltrane are: Blue Train, Love Supreme and My Favourite Things.

I would begin with The Cats as the first’classic’.

How can this even be approached without living on a mountain alone for five years.

Meditations is my favorite.

Coltrane on Impulse records 1962 is not even on the list. It is of course out of this world.

Brilliant video, Andy. Have you heard the recent release, John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy - Evenings At the Village Gate (1961 recordings). Recorded by the house soundman to test the club's new sound system.

My list would be different: A LOVE SUPREME BALLADS CRESCENT GIANT STEPS TRANSITION COLTRANE (1962) MY FAVORITE THINGS FIRST MEDITATIONS COLTRANE'S SOUND LIVE AT BIRDLAND

Very good selection, even though I am very familiar with Trane's recordings after "Transition" (1965). I would would have include "Coltrane's Sound" and "Ole" to my list, but then what about "Jazz", "Soultrane", "Plays the Blues", and "Africa/Brass"(Which sounds like no other Trane albums). For an immense artist like Coltrane, you can only do a top 20 or maybe top 15 albums !....

Loved it! But where was Crescent?

Check out the posthumously released " TRANSITIONS "

IMO I Want to Talk About You recorded at Newport is to me the better version . The John Coltrane Qt Plays as well as Transition are 2 of my personal favorites.

Ranked? Come on, Man!

I’m going with Sun Ship, Africa Brass and (surprise surprise) Love Supreme.

A fantastic overview Andy. To the point, passionate and so informative. Totally about the music and “why.” And not once did you mention the best recorded version of each album to buy! (That has become extremely tiring to watch as YTers “sell” their wares). Keep them coming fella. Cheers from Oz

top 10 forms of breakfast you can have.

Coltrane’s Sound is my fav. Thanks for the vid, loved it!

My responses to your choices: 10) Blue Train - This is a fine choice. One of those albums that's essential and a great introduction to the man's music. There's nothing more accessible than "Blue Train" and "Moment's Notice." Sometimes, "Moment's Notice" is my favorite song to listen to. A great introduction to Blue Note records, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones and Lee Morgan. 9) The Major Works Of John Coltrane - mmm...I think I would have preferred "My Favorite Things." "Ascension" is as free as anything that's ever been recorded. I'm not necessarily sure I enjoy it all that much, though. Nor do I love "Om" all that much. The other tracks - "Kulu Se Mama" and "Selflessness" are fine enough, but they don't stand out like so many other works from 1965. "The Major Works of John Coltrane" is NOT for a beginning listener at all. I think it's for those listeners who need to know/hear those nexus points where things change, whether you're a historian or a curious musician, or whether you just like to listen to crazy shit. I don't find it all that enjoyable to listen to. 8) Live In Paris - I may have heard this. I don't remember it, too well. I love the Quartet in 1965, though. In a career of peaks together, this might have been their peak year. 7) Interstellar Space - Excellent record. I'm not always a fan of the post-Quartet years, but I do love this record. 6) Live At The Village Vanguard - One of my first purchases. The original 3-track album is great. The 4-disc box set is A LOT of music to listen to. I'm a little bit mixed on these recordings. I love his version(s) of "Impressions" from these dates. You can probably assemble several great records out of these recordings, but I don't know that I love it all. 5) Giant Steps - Of course. Perfect. Essential. Recorded within a month of Kind of Blue. That's mind-blowing. As you said, an excellent place to start. 4) Impressions - Yep. Excellent version of "Impressions." "After The Rain" is excellent (recorded in 1963). I quite enjoy "India." Wouldn't be in my Top 10, but it's a great record to listen to. 3) Meditations - Yep. Love it. It's hand-in-hand with "First Meditations" with just the quartet, but you're right about "The Father, The Son & The Holy Ghost." Essential Coltrane. (I wouldn't start here if I were a beginner, but if you've listened to "Blue Train," "Giant Steps," "My Favorite Things," "one of those live from 1963 albums, and "A Love Supreme," you'll want to get here eventually.) 2) A Love Supreme - Yep. Again, perfect. Essential. What else is there to say? I guess I prefer the live version that was recorded around the time of your "Live In Paris" album, but only because it's longer and more fiery. 1) Live At Birdland - It sounds like I had a similar experience to yours. One day, my friend Scott puts in the video of "The World According To John Coltrane" and it changed my life. The next day, I went to the used record store, traded in 20 now-completely-irrelevant discs and picked up: Blue Train, Giant Steps, My Favorite Things, Live At The Village Vanguard, Live At Birdland, Miles And Coltrane (a live show from 1958) and The Gentle Side of John Coltrane. Probably the best day at a record store ever.

Kulu Se Mama