The question is really, is this worth the money? Yes, it is. In fact, if you are just delving into coltrane for the first time. Don't buy an album, with Trane more than anyone else, there is no definitive album. So save up a little money, and start here. You may SAVE alot of money by starting with this.

By the end of Disc 7, the listener is fully immersed in Coltrane's adaptation and revolution of free jazz. The second (or alternate) version of "Joy" from First Meditations comes at you without any warning, and once you're hit, you are momentarily transfixed by the elements which made the classic quartet truly Classic: awesome timing, unrelenting drive, power, control, and, of course, Coltrane's multiphonics, overblowing and rapid-fire solos. This contrasts with Coltrane's playing at the start of Disc 1 where the listener is greeted by the warm melody and smooth, harmonic interpretation of "Greensleeves."

These recordings are essential (if not this box set) and belong in every jazz and music lover's collection. I enjoy this collection because it collects every track recorded during these formative years, both for Coltrane and for the Impulse! Label, and organizes them in chronological recorded order. As you listen to this set, it is as if you are right there in the studio with Coltrane, session after session, listening to the artist create his masterpieces. However, on a similar note, by presenting all of the tracks in chronological order, the initial flow of the original albums is lost. I find that I enjoy the individual albums more than having all of Coltrane's work lumped together, chronological or not. There is a much more personal and emotionally responsive flavor in listening to each album separate from another.

This set is for completists and novices alike. Aside from Disc 8, appropriately titled "Works in Progress" which presents the listener with John Coltrane at work on polishing his art, there is nothing new here. This set is invaluable for encapsulating the string of albums released in 1965, beginning with The John Coltrane Quartet Plays and ending with the final quartet piece, First Meditations, which would be expanded in many ways, both sonically and artistically, within the coming year (but not featured here).

In fact, everything released here can be found on the previously released albums: Coltrane, Ballads, Live At Birland, A Love Supreme, Crescent, The John Coltrane Quartet Plays, Dear Old Stockholm, Living Space, Transition, Sun Ship, and First Meditations (plus some material from Infinity, which is extremely difficult to find). In fact, Impulse! has recently begun releasing the individual albums (such as Coltrane and Ballads) in Deluxe Edition 2-CD collections with supplementary material from the original sessions. And the Deluxe Edition of A Love Supreme, with the extended live version, is not to be missed. Suffice it to say, then, this set truly is not "The Complete Recordings."

It goes without much implication that this truly is John Coltrane, one of the twentieth century's musical geniuses, and without Coltrane, much of popular music would not be quite the same. Even during his time, during the 1960s, several future giants, such as Jimi Hendrix, Sly Stone, and Jerry Garcia, would boast that it was John Coltrane who inspired them to play music in the manner they did. And Coltrane's music is not to be missed. If you don't invest into this set, which is reasonably priced for the amount of music you receive, at least check out the individual albums which make up this collection. They are absolutely invaluable.

complete studio recordings for impulse by what is arguably the best jazz group of all time. well, i've owned it for about 18 months and have not even begun to exhaust it. the only problem (isn't this always the problem with box sets?) is the packaging, which is big and cumbersome and it's hard to figure out what's what because they don't put the track listings on the cds themselves and the box is too big to carry around with you and it's in a really unusual order, which is the chronological order they were recorded in, not the order in which they were released, so different albums get broken up, which i think is the best way to do it, but is still confusing. regardless, no doubt a top rating.