John Coltrane – My Favorite Things (Atlantic/Rhino)

A high watermark in modern-day high quality vinyl reissues

There really may be no better example of why high-fidelity vinyl exists, than this release right here.  My Favorite Things has long been considered one of the greatest albums in jazz.  Yet, the far-superior, mono mix rarely gets used, until now.  Rhino has just reissued the album for their Start Your Ear Off Right campaign for January, giving it the Rhino High Fidelity treatment, which means incredible sound, 180-gram vinyl, heavy grade album jacket – the works.

In a side by side comparison with the much more common stereo mix of this album, the mono is superior in every way.  The stereo mix is often distorted (as we noted in our 60th anniversary review here).  

The opening cut, “My Favorite Things,” is absolutely stunning.  You first hear crisp cymbals, and warm bass, then Coltrane enters with his soprano sax, and it’s clear, without being brittle.  When McCoy Tyner’s piano solo comes, there’s a warmness that can only come from analog.  The rhythm becomes hypnotic – you’re being drawn in.  Then Coltrane returns and peels off these fluid runs with so much emotion – stretching the instrument to its limits.  I love the way the bass and drums pulse near the end.  

“Everytime We Say Goodbye” gives us a chance to catch our breath – proving that Trane could still soothe, and the interplay between sax and piano is just fantastic.  Once Tyner goes into his solo, marvel at Elvin Jones’ masterful brushwork, while Steve Davis adds counterpoint on his bass.  This is a perfect example of how the mono version is far superior.  Check out any stereo version of this song – listen with headphones and you’ll hear distortion.  Not in the mono.  The vinyl really brings out the low end – it just breathes.  

“Summertime” ups the ante, as Coltrane plays the familiar melody only briefly.  The rhythm section really propels things.  Then, the song abruptly stops, and Tyner tinkles on the keys, somehow matching Coltrane’s excursions.  Just concentrating on bass and drums – there’s so much communicating here.  Jones slowly begins to swing, and Davis gets a solo that’s elastic – I love the way it continues to hit the backbeat, even during Jones’ drum solo.  

The final track, “But Not For Me,” is another standard – Coltrane on the more familiar tenor sax, and this song really does swing.  I have no idea how Tyner can comp with his left hand while trying to keep up with Coltrane on his right.  This entire band is monsterous.  The song seems to end, but Trane takes us on one last ride, rolling sheets of notes while his band grooves behind.  

This Rhino High Fidelity version is phenomenal in every way.  They’ve produced a heavy-grade gatefold sleeve that uses a rare, French cover – with all the liner notes in French too!  Don’t worry, the more familiar US album photo and English notes are inside when you open it.  There’s also an additional booklet with a large reproduction of the tape reel box, and a fine essay by Syd Schwartz.  I particularly love the many theories of how Trane got his soprano sax 🙂

My Favorite Things is hallowed music; one of the peak moments in the legendary career of John Coltrane.  This new Rhino, High Fidelity edition is extremely impressive.  If you only own one version of this classic album, this is the one to get.  —Tony Peters