The Heavyweight Champion: The Complete Atlantic Recordings cover

The Heavyweight Champion: The Complete Atlantic Recordings

John Coltrane · 1995

478 min · 86 tracks · post-bop · free jazz · hard bop

A sprawling collection of Coltrane's innovative explorations blending hard bop with modal jazz intricacies.

Why this album works

The album is notable for its extensive collection of previously unreleased material alongside classic recordings, providing deep insight into Coltrane's artistic journey. It has been recognized for preserving the legacy of one of jazz's most influential figures, influencing countless musicians across genres. The collection solidified Coltrane's status within the pantheon of jazz greats, reaffirming his impact on both contemporary and future artists.
Career context
Released in 1995, this compilation showcases John Coltrane's evolution as a pioneering jazz artist following his passing in 1967. It encompasses his work during the Atlantic Records era, highlighting both iconic tracks and alternate takes that reveal his creative processes. This album serves as a comprehensive retrospective of Coltrane's groundbreaking contributions to jazz.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 Stairway to the Stars 3:32
  • 2 The Late Late Blues 9:36
  • 3 Bags & Trane 7:26
  • 4 Three Little Words 7:30
  • 5 The Night We Called It a Day 4:22
  • 6 Be-Bop 8:01
  • 7 Blues Legacy 9:04
  • 8 Centerpiece 7:09
  • 9 Giant Steps (alternate version) 3:44
  • 10 Naima (alternate version) 4:31
  • 11 Like Sonny (alternate version) 6:03

Disc 2

  • 1 Spiral 5:59
  • 2 Countdown 2:24
  • 3 Countdown (alternate take) 4:34
  • 4 Syeeda's Song Flute 7:03
  • 5 Syeeda's Song Flute (alternate take) 7:07
  • 6 Mr. P.C. 6:59
  • 7 Giant Steps Standout 4:46
  • 8 Cousin Mary 5:48
  • 9 Cousin Mary (alternate take) 5:47
  • 10 I'll Wait and Pray 3:34
  • 11 I'll Wait and Pray (alternate take) 3:28
  • 12 Little Old Lady 4:24

Disc 3

  • 1 Like Sonny 5:54
  • 2 Harmonique 4:13
  • 3 My Shining Hour 4:52
  • 4 Naima Standout 4:22
  • 5 Some Other Blues 5:36
  • 6 Fifth House 4:41
  • 7 Cherryco 6:47
  • 8 The Blessing 7:53
  • 9 Focus on Sanity 12:13
  • 10 The Invisible 4:12
  • 11 Bemsha Swing 5:04

Disc 4

  • 1 Village Blues 5:23
  • 2 Village Blues (alternate take) 6:17
  • 3 My Favorite Things Standout 13:44
  • 4 Central Park West 4:14
  • 5 Mr. Syms 5:22
  • 6 [Exotica, untitled original] 5:22
  • 7 Summertime 11:34
  • 8 Body and Soul 5:38
  • 9 Body and Soul (alternate take) 5:59
  • 10 Mr. Knight 7:31

Disc 5

  • 1 Blues to Elvin (alternate take) 11:00
  • 2 Blues to Elvin 7:53
  • 3 Mr. Day 7:56
  • 4 Blues to You (alternate take) 5:35
  • 5 Blues to You 6:29
  • 6 Blues to Bechet 5:46
  • 7 Satellite 5:51
  • 8 Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye 5:41
  • 9 26-2 6:13
  • 10 But Not for Me 9:34

Disc 6

  • 1 Liberia 6:51
  • 2 The Night Has a Thousand Eyes 6:51
  • 3 Equinox 8:35
  • 4 Ole 18:15
  • 5 Dahomey Dance 10:52
  • 6 Aisha 7:39
  • 7 [To Her Ladyship, original untitled ballad] 8:58

Disc 7

  • 1 Giant Steps (take 1) (incomplete) 4:43
  • 2 Giant Steps (take 2) (false start) 0:14
  • 3 Giant Steps (take 3) (incomplete) 2:51
  • 4 Giant Steps (take 4) (incomplete) 1:19
  • 5 Giant Steps (take 5) (alternate) 3:40
  • 6 Giant Steps (take 6) (false start) 0:32
  • 7 Giant Steps (take 7) (incomplete) 4:12
  • 8 Naima (take 1) (incomplete) 3:20
  • 9 Naima (take 2) (incomplete) 3:24
  • 10 Naima (take 4) (false start) 0:15
  • 11 Naima (take 5) (alternate) 3:50
  • 12 Naima (take 6) (alternate) 3:38
  • 13 Like Sonny (rehearsal 1) (false start) 0:09
  • 14 Like Sonny (rehearsal 2) (incomplete) 1:34
  • 15 Like Sonny (take 1) (false start) 0:19
  • 16 Like Sonny (take 2) (incomplete) 3:08
  • 17 Like Sonny (take 3) (incomplete) 1:08
  • 18 Like Sonny (take 4) (false start) 0:07
  • 19 Like Sonny (take 5) (alternate) 8:24
  • 20 Like Sonny (take 6) (incomplete) 1:09
  • 21 Giant Steps (take 3) (incomplete) 4:06
  • 22 Giant Steps (take 6) (alternate) 4:54
  • 23 Blues to Elvin (take 2) (false start) 0:10
  • 24 Blues to Elvin (take 3) (alternate) 6:02
  • 25 Blues to You (take 2) (alternate) 5:30

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata