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
The Blues and the Abstract Truth (Jazz на виниле)Oliver Nelson12" Vinyl6
AS-5[none]
Out of the Cool (Jazz на виниле)The Gil Evans Orchestra12" Vinyl5
A-4[none]
Afrikan CultureShabakaDigital Media8
602445872374
Wrapped Tight (Jazz на виниле)Coleman Hawkins12" Vinyl10
AS-87[none]
CODEThe Comet Is ComingDigital Media1
  • XW2022-07-29
00602448280541
Sun Ship (VMP Classics)John Coltrane12" Vinyl5
AS-9211
Charlie Haden - Jim HallCharlie Haden - Jim HallHQCD8
  • JP2022-08-10
UCCU-450524988031517994
LUCID DREAMERThe Comet Is ComingDigital Media1
  • XW2022-08-19
602448280572
TECHNICOLOURThe Comet Is ComingDigital Media1
  • XW2022-09-09
602448280619
Hyper‐Dimensional Expansion BeamThe Comet Is ComingCD11
  • XE2022-09-23
00602448015693602448015693
Hyper‐Dimensional Expansion Beam (24bit 44.1kHz)The Comet Is ComingDigital Media11
  • XW2022-09-23
602448214201
Hyper‐Dimensional Expansion Beam (mastered for iTunes)The Comet Is ComingDigital Media11
  • XW2022-09-23
602448214218
Hyper‐Dimensional Expansion BeamThe Comet Is ComingCD11
  • US2022-09-30
B0036067-02602448015693
Further Definitions (Jazz на виниле)Benny Carter And His Orchestra12" Vinyl8
AS-12[none]
Hyper‐Dimensional Expansion BeamThe Comet Is ComingCD12
  • JP2022-11-30
UCCI-10534988031536032
Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus (Jazz на виниле)Charles Mingus12" Vinyl7
AS-54[none]
In Greenwich Village (Jazz на виниле)Albert Ayler12" Vinyl4
AS-9155[none]
Liberation Music Orchestra (Jazz на виниле)Charlie Haden12" Vinyl8
AS-9183[none]
On This Night (Jazz на виниле)Archie Shepp12" Vinyl6
A-97[none]
Brand New LifeBrandee YoungerCD10
  • US2023-04-07
B0037428-02602455121165
Brand New Life (Bandcamp exclusive purple vinyl)Brandee Younger12" Vinyl10
  • US2023-04-07
Brand New Life (standard black vinyl)Brandee Younger12" Vinyl10
  • US2023-04-07
Brand New Life (Center Stage store exclusive grape vinyl)Brandee Younger12" Vinyl10
  • US2023-04-07
Brand New LifeBrandee YoungerDigital Media10
  • XW2023-04-07
602455295729
Brand New LifeBrandee YoungerDigital Media10
  • XW2023-04-07
602455529060
BalladsJohn Coltrane QuartetSHM-SACD (2 channels)8
  • JP2023-06-14
UCGQ-90324988031565452
Evenings at the Village GateJohn Coltrane with Eric DolphyCD5
  • XE2023-07-14
00602455514189602455514189
Evenings at the Village GateJohn Coltrane with Eric Dolphy2×12" Vinyl3 + 2
  • -2023-07-14
006024555141960602455514196
Evenings at the Village Gate (limited edition orange vinyl)John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy2×12" Vinyl3 + 2
  • XE2023-07-14
602455514202602455514202
Evenings at the Village GateJohn Coltrane with Eric DolphyCD5
  • US2023-07-14
B0037784-07602455514189
Evenings at the Village GateJohn Coltrane with Eric Dolphy2×12" Vinyl3 + 2
  • US2023-07-14
B0037785-010602455514196
Evenings at the Village GateJohn Coltrane with Eric DolphySHM-CD5
  • JP2023-07-14
UCCI-10584988031575017
Evenings at the Village GateJohn Coltrane with Eric DolphySHM-SACD5
  • JP2023-07-14
UCGU-90734988031585399
Evenings at the Village Gate (192kHz/24bit)John Coltrane with Eric DolphyDigital Media5
  • -2023-07-14
602455635761
Evenings at the Village GateJohn Coltrane with Eric DolphyDigital Media5
  • -2023-07-14
602455635778
Evenings at the Village GateJohn Coltrane with Eric DolphyDigital Media5
  • -2023-07-14
602455635785
The Blues and the Abstract TruthOliver NelsonSHM-SACD (2 channels)6
  • JP2023-07-26
UCGQ-90404988031575062
Free LoveIrreversible EntanglementsDigital Media1
602458259452
Our Land BackIrreversible EntanglementsDigital Media1
602458259476
Protect Your LightIrreversible EntanglementsCD8
  • US2023-09-08
B0038142-02602455819239
Protect Your LightIrreversible EntanglementsDigital Media8
602458259438
Protect Your LightIrreversible EntanglementsDigital Media8
  • US2023-09-08
602458259421
John Coltrane and Johnny HartmanJohn Coltrane and Johnny HartmanSHM-SACD (2 channels)6
  • JP2023-09-27
UCGQ-90424988031588147
Out of the CoolThe Gil Evans OrchestraSHM-SACD (2 channels)5
  • JP2023-09-27
UCGQ-90454988031588178
Alexandria the GreatLorez AlexandriaSHM-CD10
  • JP2023-11-22
UCCU-63834988031592663
The Voice That Is!Johnny HartmanSHM-CD11
  • JP2023-11-22
UCCU-63984988031592816
Summun Bukmun UmyunPharoah Sanders12" Vinyl2
VMP-124
The Messthetics and James Brandon LewisThe Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis12" Vinyl9
  • US2024-03-15
602458945898602458945898
The Messthetics and James Brandon LewisThe Messthetics and James Brandon LewisCD9
  • US2024-03-15
602458945911602458945911
The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis (limited edition orange vinyl)The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis12" Vinyl9
  • US2024-03-15
60246513449602465134490
The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis (artist’s self‐released version on Bandcamp)The Messthetics and James Brandon LewisDigital Media9
  • XW2024-03-15
The Messthetics and James Brandon LewisThe Messthetics and James Brandon LewisDigital Media9
  • -2024-03-15
602458947892
The Messthetics and James Brandon LewisThe Messthetics and James Brandon LewisDigital Media9
  • -2024-03-15
602458947908
The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis (immersive mix)The Messthetics and James Brandon LewisDigital Media9
  • -2024-03-15
602465014167
The Carnegie Hall ConcertAlice Coltrane2×CD2 + 2
  • XE2024-03-22
  • US2024-03-22
602458828689602458828689
The Carnegie Hall ConcertAlice Coltrane2×SHM-CD2 + 2
  • JP2024-03-22
UCCI 1059/604988031626658
Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its GraceShabakaCD11
  • XE2024-04-12
00602465050356602465050356
Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its GraceShabakaDigital Media11
  • XW2024-04-12
602465121582
Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its GraceShabakaDigital Media11
  • -2024-04-12
00602465121629
Impressions (24-Bit 192.0 kHz)John ColtraneDigital Media400602547865220602547865229
John Coltrane And Johnny HartmanJohn Coltrane And Johnny HartmanCD6051 157-2, 051157-2, IMP11572011105115728
Inception + Reaching FourthMcCoy Tyner TrioCD120600753347210600753347218
A Love Supreme (Reissue, Sony DADC glass master)John ColtraneCD40602517649033602517649033
Out of the CoolThe Gil Evans OrchestraCD6
254 615-2022925461520
Into the HotThe Gil Evans OrchestraCD6
254 626-2022925462626
ColtraneJohn Coltrane QuartetCD6A-21
The QuintessenceQuincy Jones and His Orchestra12" Vinyl8AS-11
Further DefinitionsBenny Carter and His Orchestra7" Vinyl4AS-12
The Blues and the Abstract TruthBill Evans, Roy Haynes, Eric Dolphy, Oliver Nelson, Paul Chambers, Freddie Hubbard12" Vinyl6AS-5[none]
The Blues and the Abstract TruthBill Evans, Roy Haynes, Eric Dolphy, Oliver Nelson, Paul Chambers, Freddie HubbardCD6AS-5602517448162
AlfieSonny RollinsDigital Media6
AS-9111[none]
Memphis JacksonMilt Jackson12" Vinyl10
AS-9193[none]
Just The Way It Had To BeMilt Jackson12" Vinyl6
AS-9230[none]
Queen of the OrganShirley ScottCD9
GRP 11232
ExpressionJohn Coltrane Quartet12" Vinyl4IM-9210-E
Ornette at 12Ornette Coleman12" Vinyl4IMPL 5011
Out of the CoolThe Gil Evans OrchestraCD5JVC-459, MCAD-5653076732565322
Live at Birdland (JVC)John ColtraneCD5MCAD-33109076741310920
Africa Brass, Volume 1 & 2John Coltrane QuartetCD6MCAD-42001076742200121
ColtraneJohn Coltrane QuartetCD5
MCAD-5883076732588321
ExpressionJohn ColtraneCD4MCAD10646, MCD10646008811064624
Count Basie And The Kansas City 7Count Basie And The Kansas City 7CD9MCAD5656, MCD05656076732565629
Love ScenesDiana KrallDigital Media12[none]00011105023320
Love ScenesDiana KrallDigital Media12[none]00602527883038
Astral Meditations: The Music of Alice ColtraneAlice ColtraneDigital Media11011105124225
Deaf, Dumb, Blind: Summun, Bukmun, UmyunPharoah SandersDigital Media2
011105026529
Duke Ellington & John Coltrane (Qobuz 24/192)Duke Ellington & John ColtraneDigital Media70060254786249
Impulse! Now And ThenVarious Artists2×CD7 + 5
Interstellar SpaceJohn ColtraneDigital Media6[none]
KarmaPharoah SandersDigital Media2
011105015325
Liberation Music OrchestraCharlie HadenDigital Media9011105018821
Live at Pep's Volume TwoYusef LateefDigital Media9
Live in SeattleJohn ColtraneDigital Media40060254790331
MixedThe Cecil Taylor Unit / Roswell Rudd SextetDigital Media7
011105127028
Offering: Live at Temple University (24-Bit 96.0 kHz)John Coltrane2×Digital Media2 + 30060254750618
Pure ImaginationEric ReedDigital Media11011105024426
The AwakeningThe Ahmad Jamal TrioDigital Media7011105022620
The Blues and the Abstract Truth (24-bit 96kHz HDTracks remaster)Oliver NelsonDigital Media6[none]
Two Blocks from the EdgeMichael Brecker QuartetCD8
When I Look in Your EyesDiana KrallDigital Media1300011105030427