John Coltrane Giant Steps: The Stereo & Mono Versions 180g 2LP (Vinyl)

One Pressing Limited Edition 180g Virgin Vinyl Double LP!
Classic Original Album In Both Its Stereo & Mono Versions!
First Time Ever On A Single Set!

Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time - Rated 103/500!

In the late 1950s, it was common for big labels to record performances simultaneously in Mono and Stereo, and then release both versions at the same time, with different reference numbers. This was explained at the time by the fact that Stereo was still a very recent innovation, and not everyone had sound systems capable of reproducing the new technology. The Stereo albums were slightly more expensive than their Mono counterparts. Over time, the Mono versions were condemned to oblivion, and only recently some music fans began to value these long forgotten masters, which capture classic performances from a different aural point of view.

"History will undoubtedly enshrine this disc as a watershed the likes of which may never truly be appreciated. Giant Steps bore the double-edged sword of furthering the cause of the music as well as delivering it to an increasingly mainstream audience. Although this was John Coltrane's debut for Atlantic, he was concurrently performing and recording with Miles Davis. Within the space of less than three weeks, Coltrane would complete his work with Davis and company on another genre-defining disc, Kind of Blue, before commencing his efforts on this one. Coltrane (tenor sax) is flanked by essentially two different trios. Recording commenced in early May of 1959 with a pair of sessions that featured Tommy Flanagan (piano) and Art Taylor (drums), as well as Paul Chambers -- who was the only bandmember other than Coltrane to have performed on every date. When recording resumed in December of that year, Wynton Kelly (piano) and Jimmy Cobb (drums) were instated -- replicating the lineup featured on Kind of Blue, sans Miles Davis of course. At the heart of these recordings, however, is the laser-beam focus of Coltrane's tenor solos. All seven pieces issued on the original Giant Steps are likewise Coltrane compositions. He was, in essence, beginning to rewrite the jazz canon with material that would be centered on solos -- the 180-degree antithesis of the art form up to that point. These arrangements would create a place for the solo to become infinitely more compelling. This would culminate in a frenetic performance style that noted jazz journalist Ira Gitler accurately dubbed 'sheets of sound.' Coltrane's polytonal torrents extricate the amicable and otherwise cordial solos that had begun decaying the very exigency of the genre -- turning it into the equivalent of easy listening. He wastes no time as the disc's title track immediately indicates a progression from which there would be no looking back. Line upon line of highly cerebral improvisation snake between the melody and solos, practically fusing the two. The resolute intensity of 'Countdown' does more to modernize jazz in 141 seconds than many artists do in their entire careers. Tellingly, the contrasting and ultimately pastoral 'Naima' was the last tune to be recorded, and is the only track on the original long-player to feature the Kind of Blue quartet. What is lost in tempo is more than recouped in intrinsic melodic beauty." - Lindsay Planer, allmusic.com

Features:
• 180g Pure Virgin Vinyl
• Collector's Edition Double LP
• One Pressing Limited Edition
• Stereo & Mono versions
• Newly remastered
• Deluxe inner sleeves
• Import

Musicians:
John Coltrane, tenor sax
Tommy Flanagan, piano
Paul Chambers, bass
Art Taylor, drums
On "Naima":
Wynton Kelly replaces Tommy Flanagan on piano
Jimmy Cobb replaces Art Taylor on drums

Selections:
LP 1: The Stereo Version
Side A:
1. Giant Steps
2. Cousin Mary
3. Countdown
4. Spiral
Side B:
1. Syeeda's Song Flute
2. Naima
3. Mr. P.C.
LP 2: The Mono Version
Side A:
1. Giant Steps
2. Cousin Mary
3. Countdown
4. Spiral
Side B:
1. Syeeda's Song Flute
2. Naima
3. Mr. P.C.