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.
Contents
Track listing
Original
"Say It (Over and Over Again)" (Jimmy McHugh)– 4:18
"You Don't Know What Love Is" (Gene DePaul)– 5:15
"Too Young to Go Steady" (Jimmy McHugh)– 4:23
"All or Nothing at All" (Arthur Altman)– 3:39
"I Wish I Knew" (Harry Warren)– 4:54
"What's New?" (Bob Haggart)– 3:47
"It's Easy to Remember" (Richard Rodgers)– 2:49
"Nancy (With the Laughing Face)" (Jimmy Van Heusen)– 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
John Coltrane – tenor saxophone
McCoy Tyner – piano
Jimmy Garrison (#1–6, 8), Reggie Workman (#7; Disc 2, #3–14) – bass
Elvin Jones – drums
Production
Rudy Van Gelder – recording engineer
Jim Marshall – photography