A Love Supreme

Truly a surpeme album.

An absolute work of genius, a gorgeous composition executed to perfection. I don’t know how many of these actually need to be heard before one dies, but if any of them do, it is this record. I’ve heard it hundreds of times and it’s still as fresh as the first time

Very smooth. A 5?

Great jazz! Enjoyed

What a great album; if you are to own one jazz album, this is it.

Great

Very smooth jazz album with appropriately great drumming and sax playing. It's mostly instrumental, which allows the spotlight to shine on that sax and those drums.

Listening feels like looking up the side of a towering skyscraper. Supreme indeed!

A masterpiece.

Pretty good for jazz. Aggressively attacking the symbols the whole album

Heady, Haunting

I listened to this on my way to work this morning, and didn't quite gel with it - which felt disappointing. I used to play sax many years ago and Coltrane is a legend... I had high expectations that were not met. I was all ready to pick apart the form and enjoy each player's solo and do all the usual melodic/chordal jazz things, and instead what I got was none of that. There's no structure, no system, no regular changes... just 33 minutes of through-composed modal/free jazz. In retrospect, I shouldn't have been surprised... the guy was a pioneer. I could tell it had some real raw emotional gold I wasn't seeing just under the surface, and certainly all the players have technical chops out the wazoo, but despite that I just didn't... get it? Connect with it? More than that, I couldn't work out what on earth I was going to rate this thing. So I did something I haven't yet done for any other album on this list: reserved my judgement for the time being, and listened a second time. First I did a bit of research. I wanted to understand - even on a surface level - what it was supposed to be. I had no idea that the last movement had words! On my second listen, I could hear the motifs more clearly; the deep acknowledgement of the love of the almighty, the screeching wails of a sinner desperately crying out to his lord... during that last movement I had the words of his prayer in front of me, following along with the saxophone as it called out to God. I am so glad I took the time to dig a little and listen again. This is a true masterpiece, that just needed me to pay closer attention to reveal its depth.

Lovely piano in pt. 1 Brass is gorgeous Very calming 7 mins is a bit long but worth it I think and it’s easy to do other things alongside the song— the time flies by Pt 2 A bit pacier than part one, more of a dance song than a sit and talk one Excellent saxophone (? I think) part Like the slowing down and acoustic at the end Pt 3 Again pacier than part two, lovely speedy sax and piano parts rushing into each other (pursuance, I suppose) Pt 4 Contrasts nicely to 3, slows down considerably— fits the title psalm well Builds up a little but never too much Darker tones perhaps than the others Heavy piano in the middle with a slow sax riff melting over the top Almost sounds like deliberate choking on the highest notes about 1:30 from the end Overall an incredible saxophonist

YEAH

Nice jazz easy listening without being too boring

I already have this album on my playlist. A true classic by a legend.

John Coltrane's **A Love Supreme** is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential jazz albums of all time. Recorded on December 9, 1964, and released in 1965, it represents a pinnacle of Coltrane's artistic and spiritual journey. This review examines the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with its strengths and weaknesses. ## 1. 🎵 Lyrics and Vocal Elements While *A Love Supreme* is primarily an instrumental album, it features a notable vocal component in the first movement, "Acknowledgement." Coltrane and his band members chant the phrase **"A love supreme"** as a mantra, repeating it with increasing intensity. This simple yet powerful refrain serves as the album's core spiritual message, reflecting gratitude and devotion to a higher power . In the final movement, "Psalm," Coltrane's saxophone playing is intended to mirror the words of a **poem** he wrote, included in the liner notes. The poem expresses thankfulness and praise to God, and Coltrane's saxophone phrases follow the rhythm and inflection of the text, effectively making his instrument "speak" the lyrics . This innovative approach blurs the line between instrumental music and vocal expression. ## 2. 🎷 Music and Composition *A Love Supreme* is structured as a four-part suite: - **"Acknowledgement"** introduces the iconic four-note motif, which Coltrane explores in all 12 keys, symbolizing the universality of divine love . - **"Resolution"** features a melodic and rhythmic drive, with Coltrane's saxophone and McCoy Tyner's piano creating a sense of determination and peace. - **"Pursuance"** includes a dynamic drum solo by Elvin Jones and showcases the band's improvisational prowess, blending intensity and technical mastery . - **"Psalm"** is a slow, meditative piece where Coltrane's saxophone mimics the cadence of his devotional poem, offering a solemn and uplifting conclusion . The album seamlessly combines **modal jazz**, **free jazz**, and **spiritual influences**, with the quartet (Coltrane, Tyner, Jones, and bassist Jimmy Garrison) operating at peak creativity. The music is both intellectually complex and emotionally accessible, making it a landmark in jazz history . ## 3. 🎛️ Production Quality The album was recorded at **Van Gelder Studio** in New Jersey, with engineer Rudy Van Gelder capturing the performance with clarity and depth. The production is minimalist yet powerful, allowing the raw energy and emotion of the quartet to shine through . However, some critics note that the **stereo mixing** is unconventional, with Coltrane's saxophone hard-panned to the left channel and the other instruments predominantly on the right. This can feel unbalanced, especially to modern listeners accustomed to centered mixes . Despite this, the production effectively conveys the intimacy and intensity of the performance. ## 4. ✨ Themes and Spirituality *A Love Supreme* is Coltrane's **spiritual declaration** to God, reflecting his gratitude and devotion after overcoming heroin addiction in 1957 . The album's four movements represent stages of spiritual awakening: - **Acknowledgment** of a higher power. - **Resolution** to pursue a righteous path. - **Pursuance** of that goal. - **Psalm** as a celebration of divine love . Coltrane's spirituality was eclectic, drawing from Christianity, Islam, Eastern religions, and universalist ideas . This inclusivity resonates deeply with listeners across cultural and religious backgrounds. ## 5. 📀 Influence and Legacy The album's impact extends far beyond jazz: - It influenced **psychedelic rock** artists like The Doors, Carlos Santana, and The Byrds, who incorporated its modal experimentation and spiritual themes into their work . - It inspired the formation of the **Saint John Coltrane African Orthodox Church** in San Francisco, which uses the album as part of its liturgy . - It remains a **benchmark for artistic integrity**, inspiring musicians across genres to explore spirituality and improvisation . ## 6. ️✅ Pros and Cons ### Pros: - **Spiritual and emotional depth**: The album transcends musical boundaries to offer a profound listening experience. - **Innovative composition**: Coltrane's use of modal jazz and thematic development set new standards for jazz suites. - **Timeless influence**: Its impact on music and culture remains relevant decades after its release. - **Cohesive performance**: The quartet's synergy is unparalleled, making every moment feel essential . ### Cons: - **Unconventional mixing**: The hard-panned stereo separation may distract some listeners . - **Challenging accessibility**: The album's abstract and spiritual nature may not resonate with all audiences . - **Lack of traditional structure**: Those expecting melodic hooks or familiar jazz patterns may find it disorienting. ## 7. 🏆 Conclusion *A Love Supreme* is a masterpiece that transcends genres and eras. Its blend of musical innovation, spiritual depth, and emotional resonance makes it a timeless work of art. While its production and abstract nature may pose minor challenges, its strengths overwhelmingly solidify its place as a landmark album in music history.

Jak na jazz bardzo fajne

I enjoy this album more now after having listened to a lot of music and reading about the story behind this album. It's actually really inspiring. The instrumentation of course is great here aswell 9/10 Favourite: Pt. I - Acknowledgement Least Favourite: None

Somewhere along the way I have repeatedly tried giving Coltrane a go and I found myself very resistant except when he was more or less a sideman. But for whatever reason, A Love Supreme totally hit for me this time. I was expecting the be bop and modal workouts to turn me off or sound atonal, but I was all in from the jump. It’s a singular work, not a note out of place, etc.

Absolutely love jazz, wonderful album

100% classic, played by a master.

Beautiful album!

Coltrane's magnum opus. A perfect record in every conceivable way.

9/10

another arguably iconic and quite experimental jazz album. a suite, split into four parts... the album was recorded in only a day after coltrane experienced a spiritual awakening of sorts. modal jazz is a kind of jazz that, surprise surprise is based off of modes and scales, changing and hopping from one set to the next, and you can feel that even if you're not musically inclined. it's definitely all over the place when it comes to where the chords go, but that doesn't make it bad... in fact, quite the opposite. it's transcending jazz, this mere quartet pretty much whisking you away to the clouds. historically significant and an album that people do like in this day and age... i like it.

A perfect all-time classic

Wonderful album. Part IV!!

This is technical and beautiful and really well done. Great album.

An amazing and fulfilling slice of music.

A classic, one of my favorites. You really can’t go wrong with Coltrane.

Im to tired and lazy to write a full thing but this is one of my favourite albums of all time and im glad it’s here. Best jazz you’ll ever hear John Coltrane the goat. Favourite songs ALL OF THEM in giving this a 9.7 4.8/5

Masterpiece.

Up until about 10 years ago, I was jazz agnostic. I didn't know many jazz albums and it wasn't ever anything I would reach for. But over the last decade, I have really come to appreciate jazz and it is now maybe 20-25% of my overall listening. This one doesn't need any more praise than it already gets, and deservedly so! My favorite Coltrane album is more than likely Olé, but we are splitting hairs - this deserves to be one of the first jazz albums someone should listen to, and is so obviously a 5 star album that it shouldn't need to be said.

Amazing

No notes. If you like Jazz, hell, if you don't, you listen to this. A masterpiece.

Can't believe I used to hate jazz. Or mustard.

GOATED

I like jazz

Loved all 4 records and played it on repeat all day

Flawless. Just weird enough to stand out from most basic jazz classics, deliriously expressive, but still wholly accessible.

John Coltrane was clearly on another level when he composed this deeply intimate spiritual odyssey. The playing all around is superb and the compositions, while not as melodic as some of Coltrane’s other work, convey a sense of journey, with a beginning, middle and end, as well as a kind of conflict and, in the Part IV Psalm, a coming to peace with it. There are some iconic moments that make you sit up and take notice and function like signposts in the wilderness.

Come on. It’s perfect. Never will happen again. The magic of it all lining up. Everything from the cover art (which Coltrane always had down) to the production to the playing.

I know this album and along with Kind of Blue (on which Coltrane also appears), this is quintessential modal jazz. Liked Songs Added: A Love Supreme, Pt. I - Acknowledgement A Love Supreme, Pt. III - Pursuance

This album just made love to my brain and cuddled me after

A classic! Chose introduction (part 1) and psalm (part 4) for the playlist.

Oh yess jazzy times. finally, amazing, masterpiece

Unmatched

An amazing early offering of the magic of Coltrane. It takes a little time for the album to build but it is one long composition that ends in a crescendo. No doubt that this is indeed one of the greatest jazz albums of all time.

I did not know John Coltrane and I don't listen to much jazz, but I should listen more of that because I enjoyed that album. I especially liked the drum solos in the parts 2 and 3.

There's a reason it's considered such a classic. I'm not an expert in jazz, but you can out this on and just bathe in the vibes. Perfection

Elvin 🙏🏻

Beautiful listen.

Very jazzy!

Exceptional

Listening to this album is very soothing. It almost feels like you're sitting on a leather chair with a smoking pipe next to a fireplace. It really gives off a very calming vibe. I've heard the name John Coltrane but never really listened to this music, also didn't know this was an instrumental album but I think it defiantly works as an instrumental album. Good album and would definitely listen to this again! Favorite Tracks: Acknowledgment, Resolution Rating: 5/5

This is immaculate.

Pretty fantastic.

Awesome smooth jazz

I like the parts where it sounds like the drummer and his drumset are falling down a set of stairs. This is another one that I heard again and again how groundbreaking and great it is. And yeah, it’s pretty great. He is an absolute wizard on the saxophone.

This is a wild album. I feel like I need a few more listens to really get it.

My first album! Just recently started playing jazz, but I haven’t listened to too much of it. This was absolutely amazing.

Это шикарно.

Come on, how could anyone not love this?

This is an amazing piece of work by 4 premier artists who were on another level. The fact that it was done in one take with little to no practice is insane. Beautiful work

One of the most beautiful things humans have ever made, full stop, and on par with the Sistine Chapel as a work of Christian art.

+fast and upbeat +love the chanting of 'a love supreme' +jazzy in the best way possible +dont know how to analyze jazz help +interesting section around 23 min where it slows down and only one instrument plays +transition to psalm is gorgeous -my con is that there are no cons for me +album cover is so cinematic

Yeah, it is perfect. I still like "My Favorite Things" more though.

I played tenor sax in high school jazz band. Coltrane is THE guy.

Do I even need to say anything?

I’ve listened to this album many times, an absolute classic and am always happy to revisit

Very nice.

Enjoyed it

Magnífico

Solid, love me some jazz

i also liked this one as a fan of jazz. no real standouts but all were super chill. enough said. pretty perfect. 5/5.

Sounds great, wish it was longer

Easy 5/5. Absolutely legendary jazz album from an absolute jazz legend. This is truly one of the greatest albums ever made, from start to finish.

Coltrane fuses two nascent branches of the blooming jazz family tree in the early 60s, elevating the playful, spaced-out cosmic spirituality and afro-futurism of Sun Ra, and imbuing it with the unapologetically chaotic, avant garde free jazz of both Ornette Coleman and Eric Dolphy, bringing a level of seriousness, sophistication, and technical mastery to a genre he nearly single-handedly pioneered with this release: spiritual jazz. This is, without a doubt, one of the most important and impressive records ever created. Coltrane's quartet during this era had no small part in the excellence on display here. McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones were already virtuoso's on their respective instruments, and Coltrane enlisted Rudy Van Gelder to record and engineer this record at his studio — Gelder being the most prolific, important recording engineer in jazz history was able to capture the raw, powerful nature of the quartet with his precise, spacious production techniques, cementing the final recording as a true masterpiece.

A Jazz album that is a mini symphony that tells a personal story of John Coltrane. Jazz albums don't only need to be a highlight of an artists work and that is why this is received as one of the greatest jazz albums. Great solos toward the end by the band. Best to listen in one sitting since its a short and sweet four songs.

Simply put, one of the best Jazz albums of all time. It doesn't take much to hear why either. The sonic intensity of the playing on this album is mesmerizing, and the intro "acknowledgment" sums this theme up of a burning intense love perfectly. Sporadic/unpredictable doesn't even cut the grass, it's more like thermonuclear level jazz playing. The tightness, the ferocity, spiritual jazz is an indescribable medium. Coltrane is a literal canonized saint because to some, works like this prove he was able to work in tandem with the divine. Master storyteller without saying a word, and one that stretches far beyond language at that. Merely felt. An album about love, heat, reconciliation and possibly in that carries a grand tone of redemption and triumph. Brutally perfect album. Even for 65, it sounds older and as ephemeral as time itself. Coltrane forever.

A masterpiece. All components are perfect but the drums are such a delight to hear. Parts three and four are heavenly.

Spiritual jazz masterpiece

Amazing great WOW

Amazing. One of the most beautiful, transcendent albums ever recorded. Incredible soloing on all instruments obviously, but stunning comping all the way through as well. Santana says when he enters a new hotel room on tour he plays this album to cleanse the energy, I totally get it.

I mean, there's a reason why I have a son named Coltrane. 5/5

coffee

A pleasure to revisit this superb recording. An absolute gem!

Amazing. Known this one for a while. Tremendous long form jazz.

The absolute best

A suitably weighty choice for album number 500.

Incredible

Sublime.

Thrilling masterpiece.

Classic Coltrane! Superb.

Beautiful and brilliant. Coltrane usually plays too many notes for my liking, but he's in great form here. This album is sublime.

The man

How beautifully they collectively sense each other out and give each other space lmao Marco XD

Excellent jazz album. Thoroughly enjoyable to listen to.

A unique piece of music that goes beyond jazz. Coltrane may be the most brilliant player of all time but his composing skills are what makes him a music genius. I feel like one needs to find the right place and time to listen to this masterpiece, give it their full attention and let the music cleanse their soul.

Incredible album! I love the intention and message behind the recording process.

I love it!

A great album I’m familiar with. The piano work on this album is excellent.

Beautiful, made me want to listen to more jazz.

This is a perfect album. It is daunting. Do not listen to with screaming kids - it will make it worse.

I was disappointed that it ended so quickly. I enjoyed it so much that I had to listen to it a second time! I like that this recording is angular but doesn't go too far out like some of his later recordings. A true jazz classic.

Esse disco tem gosto de uísque 5/5

Even people who don't like jazz would give this 5 stars.

Very good.

Undeniable. Such a beautiful record.

A spiritual experience from beginning to end, John Coltrane’s masterpiece.

I love jazz in most of its forms, especially experimental, so I'm biased. Jazz is storytelling in its most primal elements. This is what I heard from Coltrane. There is this air of the instruments fluttering around the opening track Acknowledgement like a bird in the fresh morning. Slowly, flower heads unfurl, motifs emerge that ground the listener in the music and allow them to see the direction and purpose behind the seemingly random instrumental flight. Then just when you're starting to Get It, See It, out comes Coltrane with "A Love Supreme" - and could it be any more obvious where these melodies are going? Just after the realization hits, the joyful chaos is guided to rest by a graceful bassline, and the listener is left basking in the emotional experience, lingering in a new desire for flight. Once you have Acknowledged your life's new pull, you can dive into the journey towards the heart of the issue in Resolution. Along the journey you face discomfort and fear, but also new relationships, both within and without yourself. You change, you grow, out of the conflict and into assuredness. The second track feels much more like safety of being underground at nighttime. You fall asleep in this close dark space, rid of any anxieties of the future. Your waking is abrupt, urgent with the energy of Pursuance percussion. You are immediately hot on the trail, bounding out of your den with renewed energy and scampering nimbly through the landscape. At first it is imperceptible, but gradually you notice you've been running uphill, and by the time you become aware, you're at a wondrous elevation. It's too late to turn back - you're out of breath, you've come this far already, and you push on through your second and third wind. The air is getting thinner. Your movements are getting less and less controlled. With a final breathless push, you shift an entire mountain and emerge panting onto the rocky peak plateau, with the entire world stretching around you as far as you can see. As the blood returns to your brain and the sun re-turns towards the horizon, the knowledge of how far you have travelled starts to hit you. Was the sun over your shoulder when you sprinted away from last night's shelter? Can you find your way back? It feels so different up here, exposed, raw. And now, feet and lungs aching, your breath forms the shape of a Psalm as you realize you are not alone. When your eyes first opened to acknowledgement, when you gained strength in resolution, when you sprinted through pursuit, you were never alone. Your voice cries out with the saxophone, trying to make sense of this Being you've witnessed, why your heart has been so closed to Their Presence this entire time. With you is the guide you've been aching for. It doesn't matter which way you turn down the mountain to continue life's neverending flow - you walk every cardinal direction with blessed feet. The open sky, once so tender and bare, forever now folds around you like a cloak. THIS is the type of music you should listen to before you die.

Exploration. Fusion before it was a thing. Quality stuff.

An album you can get lost in. Just a beautiful piece of music.

John Coltrane's passion for all spirituality was one that most churchgoers and meditators strive to reach. devotion to a higher power is tricky for me, same as devotion to anyone, but the passion and pure love Coltrane puts in his performance here can be felt no matter how much of a heathen i am. even that variation on those four simple notes from the beginning feels so careful and attentive in each go around on the third part. i used to hear that knights spent a night in a chapel praying non-stop to God to show piety and be worthy of serving the Lord. i feel like this is the musical version of that act.

Part 1 was very interesting. Slow and smooth, but with a nice sound. Great for background, or even when fully listening to it.

Huge fan of this album! Solid from start to finish. Only complaint is that the album was too short! I would have enjoyed more of that.

Supreme Album - really liked this.

this guy's pretty good at the sax

Jazz may be polarizing, but I love jazz. This is a classic, and beautifully done.

One of the best Jazz albums my dirty ears have ever laid on. Incredible. Cinema.

An absorbing and powerful blast of spiritual modal jazz. It’s impossible to not listen to this suite full through once your start. All the musicians are masterful at their instruments and interact and support each other in unique ways. It’s nimble, intense, and challenging without being overwhelming or difficult. It strikes a perfect balance of avante-garde freedom and accessibility. It’s emotional and meditative. It’s wonderful.

Amazing, I just love it. This made me love jazz.

Acknowledgement: I’m loving the sleek and sexy saxophone that Coltrane is playing here. Combined with the drums and piano, is makes for a very chaotic mix. But in a good way. Around the halfway point the sax gets very raspy (?) which I loved. And then it goes back into that 4 note melody that was at the beginning. The drums are nuts! Both chill and chaotic. Loved this first track. Resolution: Stared with some very light bass which made me turn the volume up, THEN THR TRACK EXPLODED WITH THE SAX! Caught me off guard. Lot more fluid than the last track but still amazing. This piano solo is making me tap my feet. Coltrane is a GOD on the sax. I love this one. May be better than the last track. Idk. Pursuance: Was WONDERING when Elvin Jones would get a drum solo. FUCK! I love this! This one is so energetic! McCoy Tyner is going crazy on the piano, combined with the drums, making me wanna dance. Definitely FEELS like I’m running after something, Pursuance is an apt title. Coltrane hitting those notes again.. ANOTHER DRUM SOLO???? The Love Supreme theme coming back on the BASS??? This is my favorite track so far. Definitely a 10. Psalm: The opening feels like I’ve reached the end of a long journey. Which is fitting cus this is last track on the album. They’ve switched to a new type of drum that’s very bass heavy. But it sounds awesome so I’m not complaining. Fuck this album keeps getting better and better. Just when I think it peaks, it brings in something I didn’t expect. The journey that this albums takes you through is incredible. The chaotic first track to the heavenly final one is just…. Ugh, so goood!!! Y’all gave me a great opener to this project. Uhhhhh, 10? Yeah I’m thinking 10.

Thank God for the mighty John Coltrane.

I see quite a few people have been searching this link haha!

Coltrane trades heroin and alcohol for God. The result is pretty wild, and at times restrained, chaos. This may not be very easy to get into, but it's really solid in terms of its flow song to song and the overall thematic elements.

Maravilhoso

First listen: 4 stars. Since then, I’ve listened to it many times. It’s easily a five for sure. I had never listened to a full jazz album before, and after that, I changed what I thought about the genre.

"Birdland on fifty-three The street sounds like a symphony We got John Coltrane and A Love Supreme" -- U2 With those words from Rattle and Hum, I got hooked on this jazz. I had no idea what it was. I was a member of one of those "12 CDs for a penny" clubs then (which you would just cancel and then rejoin in perpetuity to build your collection) -- and I figured hell, why not see what ol' Bono was singing about? And it was one of the best music choices a peripatetic twentysomething ever made. I loved this disc so much. Needed to chill at the end of a day? Trane. Need a great soundtrack for cooking someone dinner? You know it. Opened my mental doors for Miles and Cannonball and Mingus and Brubeck and on and on. It's a near damned perfect piece of music from front to back -- holy, sexy, and just unbelievably gifted.

A Love Supreme deserves its reputation for a multitude of reasons. For all of its spiritualization and complexity, it is pretty much one of the more, if not the most, accessible jazz record ever made. One can essentially grasp what John Coltrane and his assembled band (Jimmy Garrison, Elvin Jones and McCoy Tyner) were aiming to achieve here. The results gathered have done nothing but astound and influence practically every square surface of musical noise over the course of sixty years. Revelations either patterned after John's or conjured up on one's own experience have been soundtracked by A Love Supreme. Jazz, and all of music, would be a much less enriching place without this album. Sure, there have been wild twists and turns before this but, if one wants to draw a line in the sand, this is where to start.

A masterpiece

Nothing less than a masterpiece

No words needed

One of the best recordings EVER.

I love this album and have listened to it many many times. My 7 month old is slightly less sold on it. We settled at a 4.5 which I’m inputting as a 5.

Holy shit. Psalm.

Really nice music. A fave.

very good jazz song

A love supreme, a love supreme, a love supreme. I think I still resonate with Alice Coltrane's music more but I can see why this is an all time classic. Shit bangs

Love this album

Good chill jazz. lots of emotion.

Another of those albums that is above any sort of criticism. Awesome.

Che bello il jazz. 4 note e mi prende. Un po' forse ripetitivo sul finale, ma non ci sono dubbi. Vinile alla prima occasione.

Obvious classic. Easy five stars.

I’ve listened to this album for nearly 30 years and still find something new in it.

A++++++++++++++++++++++ THIS ALBUM IS A MASTERPIECE I WILL TAKE NO NOTES!!! Top 5 favorites album of all time. I don't think there will ever be a time in my life when this album doesn't swallow me up whole. When I die please bury me in A Love Supreme.

I mean, what hasn't already been said? This album paved the way, it's possibly the most famous Jazz record ever published, it's genre-defining, the copy list of praises goes on. I first listened to this album at age 14 because I got into Jazz rap (thanks Rejjie Snow) and went down the Mac Miller - Joey Bada$$ - Madlib - Duke Ellington pipeline. This record still fucks. I still enjoy it uninterruped, but honestly? There's even BETTER Coltrane Records out there: Ballads, Coltrane and Ellington, Impulse (especially). That's what makes him so good. His most famous album isn't his most accessible nor his most interesting, but it's still a solid 9 out of 10. It would be wrong to give it a 4 even though there's likely albums on here with a 4 I *personally* enjoy and listen to more. My own taste doesn't deserve to swing this rating too much. Have your 5 stars, John lad. Time to go listen to Wise One (your best track).

Any negative reviews for this album are part of an elaborate scheme by big renewable energy and big truck transportation to besmirch the name of COAL TRAIN!!!!!

The rolling drums on part three are really a stand out of the album. But the entire thing is phenomenal. Part one is such a phenomenal, deep layered opening, it's loud attention grabbing and eye opening. Part 4 is is an equally good closer, my intimate and subtle but still enthralling. Part 2 is easily the weakest, if it wasn't a Coltrane album I might say it's forgettable but it obviously isn't and probably has a hidden depth i don't fully appreciate. 9/10

If you look in a dictionary for "drum powerhouse", you'll find a picture of the liner credits of Elvin Jones' performance in this album. Just brutal.

Nice.

Stellar just stellar First jazz record. Really dig it. Another genre I need to learn more about

Arguably Jazz’ greatest triumph. I can’t add anything that hasn’t already been said about A Love Supreme. It’s sublime and can be a borderline spiritual experience listening to it.

It would take a hundred more listens to have anything at all to say

Extraordinary. Stunning. A mantra for all time. Pure expression, passion, soul and fearlessness

Cocaine jazz at its best

Love it. Supremely.

This is a stunning jazz album. It's one of the best ones out there.

Look man. It’s a five. I know it’s a five, it’s John Coltrane. I’ll get back to you when I’m done, but look at my fucking highest rated albums. I know what I’m gonna give it. I don’t need to listen to the album to give it a rating, but I’m gonna because it’s gonna kick ass. Update: FIVE. STARS.

GOAT

Wow, I am impressed, how much I did enjoyed and liked this album! :)

Solo 5 estrellas?

I don't know enough about the how and why of this album but you can just hear the mastery oozing from each note. Great solos, perfect ensemble and really makes you feel sophisticated listening to it haha

Gay

6 étoiles. Chef d'oeuvre. Fucké et digeste, l'album qui m'a ouvert les yeux au Jazz avec un J majuscule. Immense.

Un album mythique et mystique. Pour décoller et planer très haut. La basse obstinée et l'incantation de la track 1 me hantent à jamais.

A piece of art by the John Coltrane quartet. Somehow spiritual but deeply emotional. Coltrane and his peers made a record for the ages.

It'd a classic for a reason. Just great all the way through.

Superb!

What an album, a complete jazz masterclass. It's hard to decide which instrument is more impressive, drums, keyboard or the saxophone. The album is short and doesn't mess around, not even for a second. It's half an hour of action, all the way through. Is there a higher form of music than this? Highly unlikely. These people push the boundaries of music theory, virtuosity and improvisation to the very limits. Our role is just to witness what can be perceived audibly, to learn and to admire.

Coltrane defied the laws of physics and helped to define Jazz. This is an important album.

Loved this one. A jazz classic.

Even a dummy like me that does not always get jazz, gets this. 9/10 Fave track: Psalm

I love Coltrane's playing style. "Psalm" is the highlight here, but everything is great. 5 stars

‘a La supreme’? I’m sorry but we already covered that La’s album for 1001 and it only had one decent song in There She Goes. Not supreme at all! Other than that, this is a pretty blissful record with transcendent playing that holds up as one of the most essential of the Jazz genre.

absolutely goated with the sauce swag style

Ännu ett ikoniskt jazz-album, för mig inte lika viktigt som Kind of Blue men det är ändå ett album jag har lyssnat på många gånger och gärna lyssnar på igen.

Short, but oh so sweet. My only problem with this album is having the drum solo from Pursuance only in my right ear.

I rate Acknowledgment a 5 star because I really love jazz and the saxophone sounds really good and its very relaxing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I rate Resolution a 5 star because I really love jazz and the saxophone sounds really good and its very relaxing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and the bells are very good.

I wish Giant Steps was on here either instead or in addition. (God forbid we have two Coltrane albums on here, gotta make room for the NINE NEIL YOUNG ALBUMS) Anyway, this is one of those albums that is too important to talk about. It’s spiritual in a way that makes sense even to this bitter agnostic.

Again I wish I knew more about jazz but this is one of the few jazz records I own and idk I love it. Everyone knows this record but I don't care it's really cool. I'm getting the feeling there will be very little jazz on this list in general so it's just something I'm gonna try to look into on my own.

This album is perfect in a way that makes me want to stop ranking things and just allow them to exist in their magical, mystical, actual spiritual perfection. This album crawls into your synapses and massages microscopic bits that you'd long forgotten. It's soul salve. Chant with me: A love supreme. A love supreme. A love supreme.

It's torture for me to listen to any kind of free form or bebop jazz. However, I know objectively that this is a masterpiece of the genre...so it gets a 5.

My favorite piece of recorded music. Perfect in every way.

This might be the greatest jazz record of all time. I’m not religious in any way, but when I listen to music as beautiful as this, I can’t help but wonder if I’m missing something.

One of the greatest works of human creation

Man up, as they say in America

This guy can play the trumpet.

Great album

Pretty experimental, lots of cool stuff going on.

I first heard this on a slate video and now it’s one of my favourite jazz records

Only one complaint, too short

prototypical jazz classic. difficult to find any real shortcomings. maybe just not as transcendently brilliant as peak miles davis/mingus.

No notes needed

Super classic jazz album, and one of the ones I listen to the most after probably Kind of Blue. I don't have the jazz savviness to write a more in depth review about how good this is--I'm just an amateur passing fan in this category, but about as near to perfect as you can get for this style. Wild and frenetic but controlled in some chaotic way. Awesome.

Not a jazz expert or even think of myself as a jazz fan, but I do own a lot of Coltrane albums, 30 plus. So yes obviously have this and have heard it many times. Not qualified to give any in-depth analysis worth reading, there are academic books just reviewing this album for that. Can see where if you never listen to any jazz that it may perhaps seem at 1st a little jarring, but if you give it time this is just a fabulous listen, just fall into the music, the scope, the dialogue in the moment. 5 Star.

Wonderful.

so good really liked it

Absolute bonkery

This, right here, this is the good stuff.

Way more enjoyable to have on in the background than I expected.

9/10? Me agarro en um momento instropectivo (¿o el álbum me hizo estarlo?). Nunca habia escuchado jazz antes y me parece uma belleza. Descansa en paz Flaca, siempre te recordaremos.

92% Best: Acknowledgement; Pursuance Must-Hear? Yes

I think this might be my favourite Jazz record - it is almost spiritual. Him or Miles are the GOAT and this is Coltrane at the peak of his powers.

An all-time classic. Love that four-note double bass line that gets the album going.

Coltrane never disappoints.

bangers, one of the best jazz albums ever

One of the best of all time.

A stunning spiritual jazz record that has been long overdue a relisten for me. It’s an astounding work from some of the best musicians to ever do it, kicking off from one simple but gorgeous motif and then building and spreading its wings to become a soaring elegy. It flits between gospel-inspired modal jazz to driving free improv with ease, and Coltrane blares out his soul over the whole thing. There’s really not anything like it Also my good pal Harry wrote a far more comprehensive and insightful review of this album here which I’d highly recommend checking out https://medium.com/@harrycaine14/a-love-supreme-60-years-on-why-john-coltranes-ode-to-self-expression-matters-more-than-ever-b48d8665757d

Feels like running late to work while sneaking a sip of hot coffee at the crosswalk. Love the crazy high sax and winding low bass ! Good job John Coltrane

Wow. Classic.

Före: har ren lyssna ofta på albumet, e nog getad Efter: ännu också getad

I had been meaning to give this a re-listen. Drum and bass solos are amazing. Even more enjoyable than I remembered. Essential listening for humanity.

Classic

Part III is among my favorite drum solos ever. Part II is among my favorite lead melodies ever. This is one of the albums that helped me into jazz. Cannot be overstated. Supreme.

A sublime classic from the master of his craft.

Jazzy 🎷

✔️

What a wonderful album. It's built like a pursuit, reaching its highest intensity with the drums of part 3, before relaxing into the smooth, romantic melodies of part 4. Overall, an excellent jazz experience.

Excellent.

One of my favorite Coltrane albums

find this to be an amazing piece of art with wonderful diversity that demonstrate both immense talent and powerful messages that convey deep emotion to the listener.

GOAT eu prefiro o giant steps mas arrisco dizer que é o trabalho tecnicamente e sentimentalmente mais complexo dele. coltrane e bandas mandavam pra caralho sou muito fã

Blissful

Perfect

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme I always wanted to listen to this album in the past, it feels like a dream the fact that I was able to have the ability to listen to this. Makes me glad that i'm not deaf so that I can hear this from time to time. This is considered one of (if not) THE greatest albums ever made by any human for a reason. Not a single second is wasted all throughout. Definitely need a second listen for it though, but first listen it's already almost perfect. This is just perfect. 1.- Part I - Acknowledgement = 10/10 2.- Part II - Resolution = 9/10 3.- Part III - Pursuance / Part IV - Psalm = 10/10 FINAL SCORE: 9.7/10

One of the most important records ever made, John Coltrane's A Love Supreme was his pinnacle studio outing, that at once compiled all of the innovations from his past, and glimpsed at the future innovations of his final two and a half years. 5⭐️

This is not really my kind of jazz but I can recognize its importance and influence despite that.

YAYYYYYYYYYYYY 🎉 🎊 🥳 its hard to rate the songs individually cause theyre all parts of one big piece but its 1,000,000,000 out of 5

On another huge streak! Fantastic album, up there with the best Jazz ever put to record. This certainly makes the list for the "Mount Rushmore" of jazz along with Kind of Blue. Coltrane's magnum opus and a must listen if you want to rate and music whatsoever to my face

I'm always pleased when I’m handed a jazz album, even more so when it's from a master like Coltrane. I don't know what else to say except that this is a master class in mood and feel. Coltrane exudes emotion through his instrument here, pulling us along through a piece in four movements, as though it were a classical composition. It takes us to upbeat, fun places, dark, intense places, and everywhere in between. All this in just a short 32 minute runtime. This is one I'd love to listen to on vinyl, in a dimly lit room late at night, with a warm cup of tea in hand. Just sink into a couch and listen to a master perform his art. Excellent stuff Five stars. Standout Tracks: Acknowledgement, Psalm

masteriece

Improv that cannot be improved—this album stands as one of the finest examples of what 4 masters of their craft are capable of when getting in a studio together.

Coltrane's quartet bares all before the higher power of jazz, revealing a collective soul in this supreme meditation on music, faith, and spiritual transcendence.

My first time hearing this album. Words fail me. This album is one a select few that I can say has ever moved me. It evokes emotion without any overt attempt to do so, without the words we usually need to tell us how to feel. I agree with Osama, this is a fully realized piece of true art that I’ve been sending to everyone I know in an effort to have more people to talk to about this music.

I have given this a lot of thought and I think may be the greatest piece of art produced in the 20th century. A fully realized spiritual vision of an artist at his prime. I have so many interpretations and ideas about what the songs, and even some of the individual phrases represent. When o first heard this years ago I enjoyed it; but about 10 years ago I listed again and it brought me to tears. Without a doubt in my top 3 albums of all time and one I revisit weekly.

Literally what else is there to say about it but just wonderful

look, i mean there is a reason why this album is regarded as the greatest work in jazz. the musicianship is off the chain, the music is stunningly recorded and is downright beautiful and epic (in the classical sense of the word). it is jazz at its final form. expertly sculpted, crafted, performed. complex but extremely listenable. it gets a lot of hype, and it truly deserves it.

Thoughts before listening: This is one of the most universally praised albums of all time and an absolute classic of jazz. I have definitely heard this before. Review: This album sounds like organized chaos, but in a good way. All the musicians are seemingly off in their own worlds creating a cacophony of noise that is nevertheless engaging throughout. I also like how it all works as a single piece with Acts I and IV providing the intro/outro. My favorite act however is "Act III - Pursuance" as that is when the cacophony reaches its peak. This album is definitely deserving of its praise so I'll give this 5-stars.

4,50

Very chaotic jazz. Not much to say, but great playing throughout. Low 5.

Loved this album from start to finish. 4⭐️

A perfect Sunday morning album; one of my favorite John Coltrane albums. Worshipful and beautiful.

♥️♥️

I know nothing about jazz. But I know enogh to know this and 'kind of blue' by Miles Davis are considered the genre's benchmark. In fact, i love 'kind of blue'. I get it and get down to it. This is harder. Absolutely the technical proficiency of the individual musicians is undisputed, apparent and phenomenal. I need to listen to it more but my gut feeling tells me it isn't the emporer's new clothes.

Horn man blows horn very good

Sublime

#1

An all time great record!

Excellent album to work by. Love the atmosphere.

Im surprised anyway made music after this cuz its the best album ever

The saxophone is an under appreciated and under utilized instrument these days. Coltrane shows the power of the instrument and put together an excellent jazz album. Jazz in general doesn't seem to get the love it deserves any more but most people will recognize it's influence for music. I can understand why Jazz can be hard for some people but when that moment clicks and you hear it come together, few other music genres can even compare.

A perfect album!

Hasn't everything been written about this album, which is worth mentioning? I guess so. As with most great music, this is not an album most music lovers like or love from the beginning. This is like a tree which grows and every time you look at it, it gets bigger and more beautiful. And sometimes the tree takes leaps in growing and you wonder why you didn't notice something before, which is obvious and so nice now. You need to look and you need some patience but you will be rewarded. Certainly one of music history's masterpieces!

grooooovy jazz, loved it, great background for working

hypnotic and one of my favourites 5

I can't really say anything worthy here. John Coltrane is a master. Here, he is a master at work. It really doesn't get any better than this. This is THE master class in jazz perfection. There are a few people in a few life genres that master their craft and reach a level where there are no worthy comparisons. There may be other masters doing equal work, or even the occasional brilliant protoge, but there is nothing about pecking order to argue. This is a gift to everyone who hears it.

A truly profound piece of Jazz music. It’s an emotional rollercoaster. Full of Coltrane’s signature tenor sax, but he always plays in a way that doesn’t feel overbearing. Every member of the band is clear as a bell, and they’re all equally important to the overall tone and wonderful freedom expressed through music here. This is the sort of suite that one can listen to multiple times, and pick up on different beautiful details every time. I don’t believe the almost avant-garde/free jazz sections are for everyone, but it’s incredible to anyone who finds joy in that smoky post war jazz sound.

Ma tooooo! 😁 Veselje kao da nisam preslušala album već 1500 puta. Aaaapsolutno zasluženo mjesto na listi, u usporedbi sa zadnjih par albuma, ovo je raketa za na Mjesec. Remek-djelo, predivan lik, pretužna priča. Kako on može prenijeti emociju, rijetko tko može. Giant Steps mi je možda mrvicuuuu draži album, ali to su već nijanse ukusa i settinga, tako da je to kao da uspoređujem zlato sa zlatom. Tople preporuke za doku "Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary". Jedan od boljih glazbenih koji sam gledala. Bez razmišljanja 5/5, 10/10.

10/10 Dosta sam biased oko ovog albuma. Ne znam koliko puta sam ga poslušao, zadnji put prije 2 tjedna Ne znam kad je točno moj fanatizam za Coltraneom krenuo. Mislim negdje prije 5 godina kad sam pogledao doku o njemu (Chasing Trane) Iako je on vjerojatno Britney Spears u jazz svijetu (po tome koliko je popularan), to me stvarno ne smeta. Znači ono što mi Jerry Garcia napravi s gitarom, coltrane mi napravi sa svojim puhačkim sposobnostima. Kad se uzme u obzir da je cijeli album, kao što je često slučaj kod starijeg jazz-a, snimljen live, u jednom tejku, u jednom sessionu, u jednom danu.. sledi mi se krv u žilama 6 minuta u album, ja sam već otišao do centra sunca i nazad, samo te prizemlje s ovim laganim mantranjem "a love supreme, a live supreme, a love supreme" Uff Ne smeta me čak niti što je ovo de facto religiozni album, a love supreme je ljubav božja, ista ljubav koja mu je pomogla da se skine s dopa (zbog kojeg je izbačen iz Miles Davis superstar benda) Ali coltrane nije ovo pisao za jednog specifičnog boga, kao mnogi ovisnici, morao je priznati postojanje nečega većeg od sebe kako bi se uspio izliječiti. Sad, koji je to Bog nije ni bitno. Potrebno je samo pogledati imena pjesama da bi se skužio religiozni kontekst. Ono što je bitno je ova melodija na početku druge pjesme. .. Ma stvarno je remek djelo ovaj album. Tko zna koliko puta ću još ovo preslušati u životu. Jao ovo rolanje oko šeste minute treće pjesme, kakav pank jebote, totalni pank. Ma da, to je to. Prvi 10/10

This album to me is something like a mood ring - whatever feeling I bring into it, it reflects back to me in countless shades, and because of this it sounds new and different every time. At times frenetic, at times meditative, always cool as fuck. Timeless and unequivocal. 10/10

Always been a fav.

A certain Brazilian musician once said that in music "You have to be gentle as a lamb and quick as a rattlesnake". I couldn't find a better phrase to define the perfect mix between subtlety and lightness that exudes from this album. All the instruments are very well intertwined, as if they were tied with a sailor's rope. Everything is very subtle and fast, which makes me believe that this is one of the most sonically sophisticated albums I've ever heard from the 60s. Although the instrumentals are perfect, that's all! I have a rule that makes me never give an instrumental album full 5 stars, as I believe that vocals are a vital part of the connection between the artist and the listener. Be it the simplest vocals to the most orgasmic screams in the style of Pink Floyd's The Great Gig In the Sky, vocals are essential on any album, even if it has instrumental tracks. However, I'm going to leave this stupid rule of mine aside for a day, because everything I said will fall apart in front of this album. 5 Stars!

Brother, 30 minutes of peak saxophone play has healed my soul.

Reminds me of the SF airport

The first time I listened to this album I was about 15 and trying really hard to like the jazz records I was supposed to, and looking back I understand I just wasn't ready to listen to something so left field that requires context to really appreciate. But I kept listening and every single time I listen to this album the experience feels more profound than the last. I believe the day that Coltrane truly clicked for me was when I read two things, "when he plays I hear him speaking to god" and "I watched him in black and white but when he plays I saw colours". And I don't think there's a better encapsulation of why this is so important than those, this is spiritual music. So sure, maybe there's some weird kind of religious guilt that made me internalise the god statement, but this album changed the way that I understood music. I started thinking about it as simply another medium for art instead of something to immediately please me. A tool to understand the world around me and worlds I will never be a part of, and I dare say in the years since I suffered through this record for the first time it and its flow on effects have imbued my life with more colour than I understood to be possible.

Jazz ist nicht unbedingt mein Genre. Diese Challange gibt einem die Chance, die Musik-Komfortzone zu verlassen. Aber dieses Album macht es einem sehr leicht diese Zone zu verlassen. A Love Supreme! A Love John Coltrane.

I understand why this is an all time great. Not my style, but clearly amazing.

One session. One idea. One thought, flawlessly executed.

If you don't rate this a five I don't want to know you bc you know nothing about music and have terrible taste.

Pure joy

This album requires your full attention but it’s worth it

The raw emotion and power conveyed in this masterwork is astounding. It is a prayer, a conversation, a deeply spiritual vision quest. And it has a humility about it that gives it gravitas while inviting you to come along. I feel bad for the people that can’t appreciate it, as I do for myself and my inadequate understanding of what was created here. 6

I don’t often listen to jazz (I think this would be classed as jazz?), but this might make me listen to it more. I really enjoyed it, it felt raw, spontaneous, alive. I kind of wish the album was longer, though!

Amazing album!!! One of the greatest piece of music of human kind!!!!

I always find with jazz I love it and think it’s an incredible or I think it’s fucking wank. This is a masterpiece

Part I - Acknowledgement Part II - Resolution Part III - Pursuance Part IV - Psalm

Top three best ever. Beyond essential. Imperative. Every home needs one.

Magnificent. Healing, uplifting, spiritual jazz

The supreme most album, indeed, yet achieving that through simply effective progression and even (gasp) subtlety, sans grandiose spiritual concepts or journeys. Makes me want to chill by the fireplace with a whisky in my hand.

Recorded in one session. The chops on this album are fantastic. If you only have a few jazz albums, chances are it's this one and Kind of Blue. This is definitely a heavy hitter in the genre. I think I'll listen to Welcome by Santana after this.

This is exactly the type of jazz I like: freestyle to an extent, but not overly chaotic or abstract. Really gorgeous work.

Classic. Supreme, like the title says.

what more can be said about one of the most highly-regarded jazz albums of all time. A timeless classic.

A beautiful album.

Den här var fem stjärnor fet

i actually did relisten to this a while back when i was having another brief Coltrane Period and tbh it wasnt fully hitting me then...its hitting me now, but i can kinda see why my reaction fluctuates sometimes. coltrane's music is kinda unique among the group-focused world of jazz in that his records tend to be utterly dominated by His Specific Voice, honestly because in part he kinda cant help it, he's probably the most compelling voice to ever touch his instrument. this is not to underestimate the importance of the musicians he played with (especially the legendary quartet material) but it does mean that listening to a coltrane record kinda calls for a Different Mode of listening then a lot of other jazz, which i cant always readily slip into. this record is ofc as poetic and cathartic and immersive a demonstration as any as to Why people decided it was a good idea to just let coltrane take u wherever he wanted to go...tho elvin jones especially creates a sort of Cascading Waterfall backdrop thru much of the record which ive always loved. just in general a lot of coltrane deserves a revisit from me...its one of the most rewarding discogs out there, and tbh even tho i loved it when i was last exploring it, my jazz tastes were mostly in the attention-grabbing avant garde half of his career, and i owe a lot of those early records full appreciation now that i have become appropriately obsessed with the Fundamentals of the genre

Amazing. Complex. Intellectual. Perfect.

Glorious.

This is such a classic jazz album. A definite must listen for everyone.

Cool

An excellent showcase of musicianship. Each song toes a delicate line between chaotic and calming so eloquently. And I actually think each track gets stronger than the last. A great album to sit and listen to, to appreciate music

own

A jazz classic. Good inatrumentation, well performed, great playing, it’s all good!

Do you like Jazz?

10/10, no notes

I know nothing about the making of music so I don't know why this caught me to the extent that it did but this is an easy 5/5 Takes me back to the time I fell down a flight of stairs as a teenager.

Amazing.

Hoy toca volver a una raíz, a uno de los orígenes. Casualmente, luego de recomenzar terapia. Creo haber escuchado éste disco o tal vez fue otro. El jazz es un género que me llama la atención, mas no he ahondado como sí lo he hecho en otros géneros. Respecto a lo musical, Coltrane era una bestia. Increíbles las idas y vueltas que da con el saxo y con la banda acompañándolo y dándolo todo. Una genialidad de disco.