The 16 CDs in this compendium represent nearly everything that John Coltrane recorded for the Prestige label during a 32-month period between May 7, 1956, and December 26, 1958. What's missing are Coltrane's contributions to the mid-'50s Miles Davis band, which are on the equally exhaustive and highly recommended Davis Chronicle box set released in 1990.
Otherwise, listeners are treated to the sessions that produced the seminal long-players Coltrane, Cattin' with Coltrane and Quinichette, Traneing In, Soultrane, Lush Life, Settin' the Pace, Standard Coltrane, Stardust, The Believer, Black Pearls, Bahia, and The Last Trane -- all of which highlight the artist as either a leader or co-leader. Not included in that list are an additional 19 albums that boast Coltrane's involvement as a support musician. The music is presented primarily in a chronological fashion -- commencing with a pair of May 1956 outings with pianist Elmo Hope and tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins. Wrapping things up are five tunes cut the day after Christmas of 1958 alongside trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. Coltrane's legend is ingrained in the grooves of such indispensable entries as "How Deep Is the Ocean?" flanked by tenor saxophonists Zoot Sims, Hank Mobley, and Al Cohn -- as originally heard on Tenor Conclave. There is also the Tadd Dameron-commanded "Soultrane" and the definitive "The Way You Look Tonight," during one of the many Mal Waldron confabs, plus "Undecided," sporting Red Garland at the helm. And who could forget the Great American Songbook selections "Lush Life," "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Lover," "Russian Lullaby," "Why Was I Born?," "Lover Come Back to Me," "Stardust," and "Time After Time"?
Disc 1
01. Tenor Madness (12:18)
02. Weeja (11:11)
03. Polka Dots and Moonbeams (8:39)
04. On It (9:04)
05. Avalon (9:41)
06. Tenor Conclave (8:20)
07. How Deep is the Ocean? (15:04)
Disc 2
01. Just You, Just Me (9:29)
02. Bob's Boys (11:04)
03. Mating Call (5:36)
04. Soultrane (5:24)
05. Gnid (5:09)
06. Super Jet (5:54)
07. On a Misty Night (6:22)
08. Romas (6:53)
09. Soul Eyes (17:30)
Disc 3
01. Anatomy (11:55)
02. Interplay (9:40)
03. Light Blue (7:51)
04. C.T.A. (4:41)
05. Eclypso (7:56)
06. Solacium (9:10)
07. Minor Mishap (7:25)
08. Tommy's Time (11:58)
Disc 4
01. Dakar (7:09)
02. Mary's Blues (6:48)
03. Route 4 (6:55)
04. Velvet Scene (4:54)
05. Witches' Pit (6:43)
06. Cat Walk (7:12)
07. Pot Pourri (6:37)
08. J.M.'s Dream Doll (8:40)
09. Don't Explain (6:58)
10. Falling in Love With Love (11:38)
Disc 5
01. Blue Calypso (8:59)
02. The You Look Tonight (8:25)
03. From This Moment On (6:15)
04. One By One (9:41)
05. Cattin' (7:23)
06. Anatomy (8:52)
07. Vodka (9:07)
08. Sunday (6:58)
Disc 6
01. Straight Street (6:19)
02. While My Lady Sleeps (4:42)
03. Chronic Blues (8:13)
04. Bakai (8:42)
05. Violets For Your Furs (6:17)
06. Time Was (7:29)
07. I Hear A Rhapsody (5:59)
08. Trane's Slow Blues (6:03)
09. Slowtrane (7:19)
10. Like Someone In Love (4:57)
11. I Love You (5:29)
Disc 7
01. Dealin' [Take 1] (10:01)
02. Dealin' [Take 2] (10:19)
03. Wheelin' [Take 1] (10:26)
04. Wheelin' [Take 2] (11:24)
05. Robbins' Nest (15:34)
06. Things Ain't What They Used to Be (8:25)
Disc 8
01. You Leave Me Breathless (7:24)
02. Bass Blues (7:45)
03. Soft Lights and Sweet Music (4:41)
04. Traneing In (12:33)
05. Slow Dance (5:26)
06. Our Delight (6:20)
07. They Can't Take That Away From Me (10:26)
08. Woody'n You (6:50)
09. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) (6:14)
Disc 9
01. Undecided (6:52)
02. Soul Junction (15:31)
03. What Is There To Say ? (5:58)
04. Birk's Works (7:36)
05. Hallelujah (6:32)
06. All Morning Long (20:18)
Disc 10
01. Billie's Bounce (9:24)
02. Solitude (8:32)
03. Two Bass Hit (8:50)
04. Soft Winds (13:47)
05. Lazy Mae (16:09)
06. Under Paris Skies (7:47)
07. Two Sons (5:21)
Disc 11
01. Clifford's Kappa (9:16)
02. Filide (7:15)
03. Paul's Pal (7:15)
04. Ammon Joy (13:16)
05. Groove Blues (9:34)
06. The Real McCoy (8:34)
07. It Might As Well Be Spring (11:31)
Disc 12
01. Lush Life (13:55)
02. The Believer (13:49)
03. Nakatini Serenade (11:04)
04. Come Rain Or Come Shine (8:45)
05. Lover (7:59)
06. Russian Lullaby (5:34)
07. Theme For Ernie (4:55)
Disc 13
01. You Say You Care (6:16)
02. Good Bait (12:09)
03. I Want To Talk About You (10:55)
04. Lyresto (5:45)
05. Why Was I Born? (3:14)
06. Freight Trane (7:21)
07. I never Knew (7:07)
08. Big Paul (14:05)
Disc 14
01. Rise 'n' Shine (7:15)
02. I See Your Face Before Me (9:58)
03. If There Is Someone Lovelier than You (9:21)
04. Little Melonae (14:06)
05. By The Numbers (12:06)
06. Black Pearls (13:11)
Disc 15
01. Lover Come Back To Me (7:26)
02. Sweet Sapphire Blues (18:17)
03. Spring Is Here (6:57)
04. Invitation (10:23)
05. I'm A Dreamer, Aren't We All (7:02)
06. Love Thy Neigbor (9:25)
07. Don't Take Your Love from Me (9:15)
Disc 16
01. Stardust (10:43)
02. My Ideal (7:35)
03. I'll Get By (8:13)
04. Do I love You Because You're Beautiful? (5:14)
05. Then I'll Be Tired Of You (9:30)
06. Something I Dreamed Last Night (10:51)
07. Bahia (6:17)
08. Goldsboro Express (4:45)
09. Time After Time (7:43)
