impulse! (jazz label active during the 60s‐70s, now property of Universal Music Group, mainly used as a reissue label)

~ Label

Annotation

"The new wave of jazz is on impulse!"

One of the mythic names in the jazz industry, impulse! has been known as "the house that Trane built".
The first activity period under ABC is the glorious one - covering the 60s until 1974 - with an emphasis on free jazz.
New production eventually faded out during the late 70s, though ABC continued to print reissues.
Sold to MCA in 1979, it was almost silent until being folded in under GRP in 1990, which eventually became the Verve Music Group. It has since been mainly reissuing its own stuff only - with a few exceptions: a handful of remix releases and commercial jazz stuff, a few new releases by artists with ties to the former impulse!, and a serie of new compilations and anthology box sets.
This reissue campaign intensified starting 1995, with enhanced/remastered reissues, etc.

Sleeves have a distinctive black and orange design, and sparse liner notes.
Note the label name is correctly capped as "impulse!" (see logos for symetry between "i" and "!").
Catalog numbers were as follow:
* First period: A # (mono) AS # (stereo) AQ # (quadraphonic, not all releases) with # from 1 to 100, then appending a 9 (eg: 9101 up to 9361). Two discs sets used an additional /2. There is a promotional (AS 1974) as well, and a rare 29000 serie (29065 to 29073)
* 1980s: MCD, MCAD
* 1991-1995: prefix GRD optionally followed by one digit (number of discs in the set) followed by a three digit catalog number. Example: GRD2113 (3 discs set)
* 1995-1999: prefix IMPD optionally followed by one digit (number of discs in the set) followed by a three digit catalog number. Example: IMPD8280 (8 discs set)
* 1999-2003: used a subset of the barcode. Example 3145479582 for 731454795821
* 2003-*: prefix B, followed by three zeros, followed by a four digits cat #, followed by 02 for CD, 16 for SACD. Example: B000427002
* some rare Universal Japanese release used cat # like UCCI-####

For a more indepth history, you may consult The House That Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records, Ashley Kahn, 2006, W.W. Norton.

Yet unconfirmed:
Note that there appear to exist 7" EP releases for some (?) of the 12".
Currently spotted: at ebay at discogs
Or even reel-2-reel EPs: at ebay
They don't seem to bear a distinctive cat #...
More:
at ebay
at ebay
Shirley Scott Everybody...

Notes:
Don't forget to sort out the Jasmine reissues.

Annotation last modified on 2007-07-12 11:19 UTC.

Releases

ReleaseArtistFormatTracksCountry/DateCatalog#Barcode
Emotional DanceAndrea MotisCD14
  • XE2017-02-17
0602557317947602557317947
Emotional DanceAndrea MotisDigital Media14
  • FR2017-02-17
  • DE2017-02-17
  • ES2017-02-17
Emotional DanceAndrea MotisDigital Media14
  • -2017-02-17
0602557345377
Charlie Watts Meets The Danish Radio Big BandCharlie Watts Meets The Danish Radio Big BandCD7
  • XE2017-04-21
0602557244779, 572 447-7602557244779
The Passion of Charlie ParkerVarious ArtistsCD12
  • FR2017-06-16
602557421767
Attica BluesArchie Shepp12" Vinyl10
AS-9222602557590838
It Serve You Right To SufferJohn Lee Hooker12" Vinyl8
A-9103
Uptown DowntownBill Charlap TrioCD9
  • US2017-09-08
B0027231-02602557811032
Journey in SatchidanandaAlice Coltrane featuring Pharoah Sanders12" Vinyl5
B0027041-01602557769593
Django (Bande originale du film)Le Rosenberg Trio Interprète Les Œuvres De Django Reinhardt , Musique Originale De Warren Ellis Et Stochelo RosenbergCD17
0602557450392602557450392
Uptown, DowntownBill Charlap TrioCD9
477 838-3602557811032
OmJohn ColtraneDigital Media1
Your Queen Is a ReptileSons of KemetCD9
  • XE2018-03-30
00602567364351602567364351
Your Queen Is a ReptileSons of KemetCD9
  • US2018-03-30
B0027971-02602567364351
5 Original AlbumsArchie Shepp5×CD5 + 9 + 6 + 4 + 6
  • IT2018-05-18
0600753829707600753829707
Moments PreservedSullivan FortnerDigital Media13
  • XW2018-06-01
602567523048
Moments PreservedSullivan FortnerCD12
  • XE2018-06-08
6752301602567523017
Jazz 'n' Samba (Remastered)Milt JacksonHQCD9
  • JP2018-06-13
UCCU-90315, UCCU-92304988031278499
Both Directions at Once: The Lost AlbumJohn Coltrane2×CD7 + 7
  • XE2018-06-29
00602567492993602567492993
Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album (deluxe edition)John Coltrane2×12" Vinyl7 + 7
  • XE2018-06-29
00602567493013602567493013
Both Directions at Once: The Lost AlbumJohn ColtraneCD7
  • XE2018-06-29
00602567639251602567639251
Both Directions at Once: The Lost AlbumJohn ColtraneCD7
  • US2018-06-29
B0028227-02602567639251
Both Directions at Once: The Lost AlbumJohn Coltrane2×CD7 + 7
  • US2018-06-29
B0028228-02602567492993
Both Directions at Once: The Lost AlbumJohn ColtraneDigital Media14
  • XW2018-06-29
Long Ago and Far AwayCharlie Haden & Brad MehldauCD6
  • US2018-10-26
B0029141-02602567895008
Long Ago and Far AwayCharlie Haden & Brad MehldauSHM-CD6
  • JP2018-10-26
UCCM-12494988031298206
1963: New DirectionsJohn Coltrane3×CD13 + 10 + 7
  • XE2018-11-16
0602577020186602577020186
Untitled Original 11383John Coltrane12" Vinyl2
  • US2018-11-23
B002898711602567934516
A Day in the Life: Impressions of PepperVarious ArtistsCD13
  • US2018-11-23
B0029115-01
Four for Trane (( 5 Original Albums set ))Archie SheppCD5
  • -2018
06007 53829714
On This Night (( from the '5 Original Albums' set))Archie SheppCD9
  • -2018
06007 53829721
Attica BluesArchie SheppCD10
0600753810040600753810040
Long Ago and Far AwayCharlie Haden & Brad MehldauCD6
678 950 0602567895008
The Essential John Coltrane on Impulse!John Coltrane(unknown)35
Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep MysteryThe Comet Is ComingCD9
  • XE2019-03-15
00602577377556602577377556
Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep MysteryThe Comet Is ComingDigital Media9
  • XW2019-03-15
00602577388378
Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep MysteryThe Comet Is ComingCD9
  • US2019-03-15
B0029649-02602577377556
Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery (w/ bonus track)The Comet Is ComingCD10
  • JP2019-03-15
UCCI-10454988031320280
Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep MysteryThe Comet Is ComingDigital Media9
  • XW2019-03-15
602577388378
Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery (mastered for iTunes)The Comet Is ComingDigital Media9
  • XW2019-03-15
602577388385
Blue WorldJohn ColtraneDigital Media1
00602508121159
Lifeforce Part IIThe Comet Is ComingDigital Media1
  • XW2019-09-06
602508148927
Blue WorldJohn ColtraneCD8
  • XE2019-09-27
00602577626524602577626524
Blue WorldJohn ColtraneCD8
  • US2019-09-27
B0030157-02602577626524
Blue WorldJohn ColtraneDigital Media8
00602508121135
Blue WorldJohn ColtraneDigital Media8
00602508121128
Blue World (192kHz · 24bit)John ColtraneDigital Media8
  • US2019-09-27
00602508121142
The AfterlifeThe Comet Is ComingDigital Media6
  • XW2019-09-27
602508148897
The Afterlife (mastered for iTunes)The Comet Is ComingDigital Media6
  • XW2019-09-27
602508148903
Duke Ellington & John ColtraneDuke Ellington & John ColtraneVinyl7
  • IT2019-11-29
AS-30
Blue WorldJohn Coltrane12" Vinyl8
B0030157-01602508228988
The AfterlifeThe Comet Is ComingCD6
B0030981-02602508148873
You Already KnowTed PoorCD9
  • US2020-02-28
B0031585-02602508617843
We Are Sent Here by HistoryShabaka and the AncestorsCD11
  • US2020-03-13
B0031632-02602508645600
We Are Sent Here by HistoryShabaka and the AncestorsSHM-CD11
  • JP2020-03-13
UCCI-10474988031372784
We Are Sent Here by HistoryShabaka and the AncestorsDigital Media11
  • XW2020-03-13
Duke Ellington & John ColtraneDuke Ellington & John ColtraneHQCD7
  • JP2020-03-18
STEREO A304988031372401
Impressions (MQA/UHQCD)John ColtraneHQCD4
  • JP2020-03-18
UCCI-400054988031372425
CrescentJohn Coltrane QuartetCD5
  • JP2020-04-22
A-66, UCCI-400124988031377758
A Love Supreme (MQA x UHQCD)John ColtraneHQCD4
  • JP2020-04-22
UCCI-400114988031377741
Art Blakey!!!!! Jazz Messengers!!!!!Art Blakey & The Jazz MessengersHQCD6
  • JP2020-05-20
UCCI-93234988031380260
ColtraneJohn Coltrane QuartetHQCD5
  • JP2020-05-20
UCCI-93274988031380307
The Artistry of Freddie HubbardFreddie HubbardHQCD5
  • JP2020-05-29
UCCI-93284988031380314
Palo AltoThelonious MonkDigital Media6
  • -2020-07-31
[none]
Palo AltoThelonious MonkCD6
  • US2020-09-18
B0032180-02602507112851
BalladsJohn Coltrane Quartet12" Vinyl8
  • US2020-10-09
AS-32, B0032078-01602508889301
The Girl in the Other RoomDiana KrallDigital Media12
  • XW2020-11-10
602537715947
ImminentThe Comet Is Coming & Joshua IdehenDigital Media2
  • XW2020-12-04
00602508897191
Summun Bukmun Umyun (Deaf Dumb Blind)Pharoah SandersSHM-CD2
  • JP2021-01-20
UCCI-93654988031408858
Black Unity (Japanese SHM-CD Release)Pharoah SandersSHM-CD1
  • JP2021-01-20
UCCI-93674988031408872
Wisdom Through MusicPharoah SandersSHM-CD5
  • JP2021-01-20
UCCI-93694988031408896
ElevationPharoah SandersSHM-CD5
  • JP2021-01-20
UCCI-93714988031408919
Notes With AttachmentsPino Palladino and Blake MillsCD8
  • US2021-03-12
B0033319-02602435536040
Notes With AttachmentsPino Palladino & Blake MillsDigital Media8
  • XW2021-03-12
602435536866
HustleSons of Kemet feat. Kojey RadicalDigital Media1
  • XW2021-03-30
00602435673561
Impulse! 60: Legendary Live PerformancesVarious ArtistsDigital Media30
  • US2021-04-16
[none]
On ImpulseMcCoy TynerDigital Media30
  • XW2021-04-16
Genius + Soul = Jazz (24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo)Ray CharlesDigital Media10
  • XW2021-05-07
0602438248216
Genius + Soul = JazzRay Charles12" Vinyl10
  • US2021-05-14
A-2, B0033210-01602435439648
Black to the FutureSons of KemetCD11
  • US2021-05-14
B0033376-02602435622323
Black to the FutureSons of KemetDigital Media11
602435638386
Black to the FutureSons of KemetDigital Media11
  • XW2021-05-14
[none]
Impulse Records: Music, Message and the MomentVarious ArtistsDigital Media25
[none]
BalladsJohn Coltrane QuartetSHM-SACD (2 channels)8
  • JP2021-06-23
UCGU-90704988031431252
The Blues And The Abstract Truth (Acoustic Sounds Series audiophile vinyl reissue)Oliver Nelson12" Vinyl6
  • -2021-06-25
A-5, A-5-S602435669144
Kirtan: Turiya SingsAlice ColtraneCD9
  • XE2021-07-16
00602435939759602435939759
World GalaxyAlice Coltrane With StringsSHM-CD5
  • JP2021-07-21
AS-9218, UCCI-93864988031430224
Ptah, the El DaoudAlice ColtraneSHM-CD4
  • -2021-07-21
UCCI-93834988031430194
A Love Supreme: Live in SeattleJohn ColtraneCD8
  • US2021-10-22
00602438499977602438499977
A Love Supreme: Live in SeattleJohn Coltrane2×12" Vinyl4 + 4
  • US2021-10-22
B0034291-01602438499984
A Love Supreme: Live in SeattleJohn ColtraneDigital Media8
602438624782
A Love Supreme: Live in SeattleJohn ColtraneDigital Media8
602438624805
A Love Supreme: Live in Seattle (24bit, 192kHz)John ColtraneDigital Media8
  • XW2021-10-22
Original Music From The Score "Alfie" (Jazz на виниле)Sonny Rollins With Orchestra Conducted By Oliver Nelson12" Vinyl6
SR 3113[none]
A Love Supreme: The Platinum CollectionJohn Coltrane4×Digital Media4 + 5 + 8 + 13
  • XW2021-11-10
602445132263
Y’all Don’t (Really) Care About Black WomenMelanie CharlesDigital Media11
  • XW2021-11-12
602438698288
Take It From MeTerry Gibbs QuartetCD8
  • JP2021-11-24
UCCI-9170, UCCU-82254988031451397
A Love Supreme (stereo, Remastered on 180g vinyl)John Coltrane12" Vinyl3
A-77, B0032077-01602508889288
A Love SupremeJohn Coltrane12" Vinyl3
AS-77602438261727
UnrestBrandee YoungerDigital Media2
602445480920