Ballads is a jazz album by American saxophonist John Coltrane released in January 1963 by Impulse! Records. It was recorded in December 1961 and 1962, and released with catalogue number A-32 (mono) and AS-32 (stereo). Critic Gene Lees stated that the quartet had never played the tunes before. "They arrived with music-store sheet music of the songs" and just before the recordings, they "would discuss each tune, write out copies of the changes they'd use, semi-rehearse for a half hour and then do it". Each piece was recorded in one take, except for "All or Nothing at All".
In 2008, the album was a recipient of the Grammy Hall of Fame award.
Track listing
Original
- "Say It (Over and Over Again)" (Jimmy McHugh)â 4:18
- "You Don't Know What Love Is" (Gene DePaul)â 5:15
- "Too Young to Go Steady" (Jimmy McHugh)â 4:23
- "All or Nothing at All" (Arthur Altman)â 3:39
- "I Wish I Knew" (Harry Warren)â 4:54
- "What's New?" (Bob Haggart)â 3:47
- "It's Easy to Remember" (Richard Rodgers)â 2:49
- "Nancy (With the Laughing Face)" (Jimmy Van Heusen)â 3:10
2002 deluxe edition
Disc two
- "They Say It's Wonderful"
- "All or Nothing at All" - Alternate take
- "Greensleeves" - Alternate take
- "Greensleeves" - Alternate take
- "Greensleeves" - Alternate take
- "Greensleeves" - Master take
- "Greensleeves" - Alternate take
- "It's Easy to Remember" - Alternate take
- "It's Easy to Remember" - Alternate take
- "It's Easy to Remember" - Alternate take
- "It's Easy to Remember" - Alternate take
- "It's Easy to Remember" - Alternate take
- "It's Easy to Remember" - Alternate take
- "It's Easy to Remember" - Alternate take
Personnel
Production
References