John Coltrane: Fearless Leader

CD1: Straight Street; While My Lady Sleeps; Chronic Blues; Bakai; Violets For Your Furs; Time Was; I Hear A Rhapsody; Trane's Slo Blues; Slowtrane; Like Someone In Love; I Love You.
CD2: You Leave Me Breathless; Bass Blues; Soft Lights And Sweet Music; Traneing In; Slow Dance; Lush Life; Believer; Nakatini Serenade.
CD3: Come Rain Or Come Shine; Lover; Russian Lullaby; Theme For Ernie; You Say You Care; Good Bait; I Want To Talk About You; Rise 'N' Shine; I See Your Face Before Me.
CD4: If There Is Someone Lovelier Than You; Little Melonae; By The Numbers; Black Pearls; Lover Come Back To Me; Sweet Sapphire Blues.
CD5: Spring Is Here; Invitation; I'm A Dreamer, Aren't We All?; Love Thy Neighbor; Don't Take Your Love From Me; Stardust; My Ideal; I'll Get By.
CD6: Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?; Then I'll Be Tired Of You; Something I Dreamed Last Night; Bahia; Goldsboro Express; Time After Time.

The first of three scheduled instalments of Coltrane's Prestige years (originally released in a single 16 box set). This is a most highly recommended set (all three will, undoubtedly, fall under this category) for many reasons.
Having the original Prestige box divided into three instalments will ease the strain on the wallet. No more will you have to dish out the large lump sum, and then be faced with daunting task of a whopping 16 CD set. A 6 CD set is a reasonable volume to digest over a period of time, especially when each disc deserves repeat listenings.
The booklet inside is a great Coltrane reference guide. It provides some biographical information, with the occassional bit of "fluff" due to the romanticizing of the title Fearless Leader. What really makes the booklet worth reading is the writing of Coltrane scholar Lewis Porter. His in-depth analysis of the music is rarely over-done and provides the reader with many insights to the music, the sidemen, and the circumstances surrounding the recordings. The original liner notes and album covers are all included, as well as many alternate covers from foreign pressings.
And what of the music? The music is the stuff of dreams, with the chronological format allowing the listener to keep an ear on Coltrane's development. The first CD overlaps two LPs, and the progress in his sure-footedness, even his tone, seems to be evident. The sound of these recordings are excellent, with a very present and immediate sound.
Happy listening!

Price: $54.98