John Coltrane - My Favorite Things - 180g Vinyl LP

Vinyl LP

Constantly recognized and forever celebrated, My Favorite Things is a landmark recording in every possible sense. The 1960 album is the first that introduced John Coltrane's legendary quartet with pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Steve Davis, and drummer Elvin Jones.

It is also the first on which he played soprano saxophone. And it absolutely re-imagined how a popular song (the smash title track) could be interpreted and spun into a completely new, absorbingly beautiful piece of art. Initially, the idea behind My Favorite Things was to have Coltrane record a set of standards that would be welcomed by the populace and marketplace.

The genesis was Coltrane's preceding The Avante Garde album, which, true to its title, found the leader exploring angular works. However, Coltrane didn't settle for a typical approach here, as his radical redoing of the title track features a scalar technique, a hybrid of Western and Eastern themes, advanced chord structures and yet, recognizable shapes and controlled melodies throughout.

It remains a marvel of modern music, its freshness immune to age. The remainder of the album is equally splendid, with Coltrane riffing on two George Gershwin tunes and displaying a trademark coolness that defined his work for Atlantic. His mates are sympathetic to the cause, the band's chemistry simply superb. This is truly a record that no music lover should be without.