John Coltrane-Black Pearls-"Preview Copy" LP-EXC+ 1964 Stereo-Prestige 7316-NR

$

25

John Coltrane

Black Pearls-LP

Prestige 7316 - stereo 

1964 33 1/3 rpm vinyl LP, by John Coltrane. Music for this LP was actually recorded in 1958, but not released until 1964. Copy at hand is technically a second pressing, with the 'deep groove' vinyl blue trident-on-right label. The very first copies of this LP came out with the black & yellow label, but very few were made this way because Prestige switched to the blue label design the very same year. Looking at our scan, you'll see the words, 'preview copy', which marks this as a promo. This means that when this copy was made Prestige was still actively promoting the LP, which would likely still be in 1964. 

Track listing:

Side one

"Black Pearls" (Coltrane) – 13:13

"Lover, Come Back to Me" (Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg) 7:27

Side two

"Sweet Sapphire Blues" (Bob Weinstock) – 18:13

Personnel:

John Coltrane – tenor saxophone

Donald Byrd – trumpet

Red Garland – piano

Paul Chambers – bass

Art Taylor – drums

AllMusic.com review by Lindsay Planer:

"As is often the case with an artist as prolific as John Coltrane, not every release can be considered as essential. Black Pearls seems a bit ambiguous when placed in a more historical context. It was only three days later that Coltrane participated not as a leader, but rather a member, of the Miles Davis Sextet that recorded "Stella By Starlight" and "On Green Dolphin Street." There is an obvious disparity between these three mostly improvised and lengthy jams and the Davis session. This is in no way to insinuate that Coltrane's performance is anything less than par. Black Pearls indeed captures Coltrane at the height of perfecting the intense volley that would garner the name "sheets of sound." Featuring Donald Byrd (trumpet) and the Red Garland Trio -- Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), and Art Taylor (drums) -- this is the same quintet that had mightily contributed to Lush Life and The Believers, as well as The Last Trane. This session would be their last together. The title track is a mid-tempo bop number that quite frankly fails to make a great melodic impact. It's not until Coltrane's indomitable solo that a direction is found and, for a short while, remains focused. Once the reins are passed to Byrd, Garland, Chambers, and to a lesser extent Taylor, the song meanders through some fairly vapid changes. Fortunately, the soloing from Byrd is more direct and is able to build and support Coltrane's equally impressive display. The difference is immeasurable as no holds are barred from Garland or Taylor -- who is arguably at his prime. All told, this performance is well worth the price of admission. At 18-plus minutes, "Sweet Sapphire Blues" (penned by Prestige Records owner Robert Weinstock) is the longest track on Black Pearls. It is in essence a 12-bar blues jam. Coltrane's double- and triple-time solo is primal within this setting. The overemphatic backbeat allows for more group interaction, yielding a full and well-rounded union among the musicians that was sadly absent from the opening track."

Glossy front cover has a nice clean surface, but 3 of the 4 corners show some wear. Back shows slight wear & the promo marking we have discussed. Cover grade is Excellent.

Disc (blue label, medium heavy vinyl with 'deep groove', 'van gelder' is stamped in dead wax) is clean with good gloss, showing a few light marks only. Disc grade is Excellent Plus. Vinyl plays clean with only very minor surface noise and rich, clear sound!

Ships for $3.99 Media Mail in the U.S.A., $23.75 for all other countries (except Canada $16.50, and Mexico $21.75-difference to be refunded by PayPal).

Classic John Coltrane disc & a promo to boot! Offered for a LOW minimum with no reserve.

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