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
Man From Two WorldsChico HamiltonCD11
GRDP11272011105012720
Swing Low, Sweet CadillacDizzy GillespieCD5
GRP 02022011105020220
Percussion Bitter SweetMax RoachCD6
GRP 11222011105112222
Newport '63John ColtraneCD4
GRP 11282011151128222
TauhidPharoah SandersCD3
GRP 11292011151129229
ExpressionJohn ColtraneCD5
GRP 11312011105113120
Red Hot on ImpulseVarious ArtistsCD11
  • US1994-10-25
GRP 11512
Live in SeattleJohn Coltrane2×CD4 + 2
  • US1994-11-08
GRD2146011105014625
Roll ’EmShirley ScottCD10
  • US1994-11-08
GRP 11472011105114721
Kulu Sé MamaJohn ColtraneCD3
  • JP1994-11-30
MVCZ-614988067017116
The Magic of Ju-JuArchie SheppCD4
  • JP1994-11-30
MVCZ-694988067017192
My Fair Lady Loves JazzBilly Taylor TrioCD8
GRD-141011105014120
Deep PassionOscar Pettiford OrchestraCD17
GRD-143011105014328
Proof PositiveJ.J. JohnsonCD7
  • -1994
GRD-145011105014526
2-3-4Shelly ManneCD7
GRD-149011105014922
The New Wave in JazzVarious ArtistsCD6
GRP 11372011105113724
Americans in EuropeVarious ArtistsCD8
GRP GRD-150011105015028
La Ballade de John ColtraneJohn ColtraneCD15
GRP114220011105114226
Live in SeattleJohn Coltrane2×CD4 + 2
  • -1994
GRP21462011105214629
A Love Supreme (20bit Super Bit Mapping)John ColtraneCD3
  • US1995-06-20
GRD-155011105015523
BalladsJohn Coltrane QuartetCD8
  • US1995-06-20
GRD-156011105015622
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman (20bit Super Bit Mapping)John Coltrane and Johnny HartmanCD6
  • US1995-06-20
GRD-157011105015721
John Coltrane and Johnny HartmanJohn Coltrane and Johnny HartmanCD6
  • XE1995-06-27
IMP11572011105115728
UnforgettableJohnny HartmanCD17
  • US1995-07-18
IMPD152011105015226
The Artistry of Freddie HubbardFreddie HubbardCD5
  • JP1995-07-26
MVCZ-754988067019769
Greek Cooking (stereo)Phil WoodsCD7
  • JP1995-07-26
MVCZ-794988067019806
The Blues and the Abstract TruthOliver NelsonCD6
  • US1995-08-15
IMPD154011105015424
Fire MusicArchie SheppCD6
  • US1995-08-15
IMPD158011105015820
East Broadway Run DownSonny RollinsCD3
  • US1995-08-15
IMPD161011105016124
Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus MingusCharles MingusCD8
  • US1995-08-15
IMPD170011105017022
InfinityMcCoy Tyner TrioCD9
  • US1995-08-29
IMPD171011105017121
The Complete Africa/Brass SessionsJohn Coltrane Quartet2×CD5 + 3
  • US1995-10-10
IMPD-2-168011105016827
Sun ShipJohn ColtraneCD5
  • US1995-10-10
IMPD167011105016728
Stellar RegionsJohn ColtraneCD11
  • US1995-10-10
IMPD169011105016926
Duke Ellington & John ColtraneDuke Ellington & John ColtraneCD7
  • US1995-10-24
IMPD166011105016629
Live at the WhitneyDuke EllingtonCD19
  • US1995-10-24
IMPD173011105017329
The Black Saint and the Sinner LadyCharles MingusCD4
  • XE1995-11-03
IMP 11742011105117425
KarmaPharoah SandersCD2
  • XE1995-11-06
IMP 11532011105115322
KarmaPharoah SandersCD2
  • US1995-11-07
IMPD153011105015325
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (American cd reissue 20bits remastered)Charles MingusCD4
  • US1995-11-07
IMPD174011105017428
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (European cd reissue 20bits remastered)Charles MingusCD4
  • XE1995-11-14
IMP 11742011105117425
The Black Saint and the Sinner LadyCharles MingusCD4
  • US1995-11-14
IMPD-174011105017428
Duke Ellington & John ColtraneDuke Ellington & John ColtraneCD7
  • DE1995-11-14
IMPD166011105116626
I Just Dropped By to Say HelloJohnny HartmanCD11
  • US1995-11-20
IMPD176602517448193
Duke Ellington & John Coltrane (Remastered)Duke Ellington & John ColtraneCD7
051 166-2, 051166-2, IMP 11662011105116626
Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus MingusCharles MingusCD8
051 170-2, IMP 11702011105117029
A Love SupremeJohn Coltrane12" Vinyl3
GR-155011105015516
The Blues and the Abstract TruthOliver NelsonCD6
IMP 11542011105115421
BalladsJohn Coltrane QuartetCD8
IMP 11562011105115629
Fire MusicArchie SheppCD6
IMP 11582011105115827
East Broadway Run DownSonny RollinsCD3
IMP 11612011105116121
Duke Ellington Meets Coleman HawkinsDuke Ellington & Coleman HawkinsCD9
IMP 11622011105116220
Duke Ellington & John Coltrane (Sonopress M-1549/IMP11662 A)Duke Ellington & John ColtraneCD7
IMP 11662011105116626
Sun ShipJohn ColtraneCD5
IMP 11672011105116725
Stellar RegionsJohn ColtraneCD11
IMP 11692011105116923
Live at the WhitneyDuke EllingtonCD19
IMP 11732011105117326
I Just Dropped By to Say HelloJohnny HartmanCD11
IMP 11762011105117623
Stellar RegionsJohn Coltrane12" Vinyl8
IMP 169011105016919
The Complete Africa/Brass SessionsJohn Coltrane Quartet2×CD5 + 3
IMP 21682011105216821
Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus (club edition)Charles MingusCD8
IMPD-170[none]
Art Blakey & The Jazz MessengersArt Blakey & The Jazz MessengersCD6
  • DE1996-01-22
IMP 11752011105117524
The Artistry of Freddie HubbardFreddie HubbardCD5
  • US1996-01-30
IMPD-179011105017923
Art Blakey & The Jazz MessengersArt Blakey & The Jazz MessengersCD6
  • US1996-01-30
IMPD175011105017527
Swing Low, Sweet CadillacDizzy GillespieCD5
  • US1996-01-30
IMPD178011105017824
Out of the AfternoonRoy Haynes QuartetCD7
  • US1996-01-30
IMPD180011105018029
Liberation Music OrchestraCharlie HadenCD9
  • DE1996-03-11
IMP 11882011105118828
All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole TrioDiana KrallCD12
  • US1996-03-12
IMPD-182011105018227
Liberation Music OrchestraCharlie HadenCD9
  • US1996-03-26
IMPD-188, IMPD188011105018821
Out of the CoolThe Gil Evans OrchestraCD6
  • US1996-03-26
IMPD186011105018623
CrescentJohn Coltrane Quartet12" Vinyl5
  • US1996-04-29
IMP-200011105020015
PanaMonkDanilo PérezCD12
  • US1996-05-21
IMPD190011105019026
Archie SheppArchie SheppCD9
IMP 11932
The Hardbop GrandpopHorace SilverCD10
  • US1996-06-18
011105019224011105019224
Tales From the HudsonMichael BreckerCD9
IMP 11912011105119122
The Body & The SoulFreddie HubbardCD9
  • JP1996-07-24
MVCZ-1054988067024091
More Blues and the Abstract TruthOliver NelsonCD10
  • JP1996-07-29
4988067036636
Tales From the HudsonMichael BreckerCD9
  • US1996-09-10
IMPD191011105019125
Count Basie and the Kansas City 7Count Basie and the Kansas City 7CD9
  • US1996-09-24
011105020220
Today and NowColeman Hawkins QuartetCD7
  • US1996-09-24
IMPD-184011105018425
CrescentJohn Coltrane QuartetCD5
  • US1996-09-24
IMPD-200011105020022
Ptah, the El DaoudAlice ColtraneCD4
  • US1996-09-24
IMPD-201011105020121
Count Basie and the Kansas City 7Count Basie and the Kansas City 7CD9
  • US1996-09-24
IMPD-202011105020220
The Body & The SoulFreddie HubbardCD9
  • US1996-09-24
IMPD183011105018326
MeditationsJohn ColtraneCD5
  • US1996-09-24
IMPD199011105019927
Count Basie and the Kansas City 7Count Basie and the Kansas City 7CD9
  • DE1996-10-08
011105120227
Ptah the El DaoudAlice ColtraneDigital Media4011105020121
Mysteries: The Impulse Years, 1975-1976Keith Jarrett4×CD8 + 6 + 10 + 9
  • US1996-10-22
IMPD-4-189011105018920
Live at BirdlandJohn ColtraneCD6
  • US1996-11-05
IMPD198011105019828
The Body & The SoulFreddie HubbardCD9
051 183-2, IMP 11832011105118323
Out of the CoolThe Gil Evans OrchestraCD6
051 186-2, IMP 11862011105118620
Live at BirdlandJohn ColtraneCD6
051 198-2011105119825
We the PeopleGroove CollectiveCD14
IMP 11632011105116329
All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio (Sonopress)Diana KrallCD13
IMP 11642011105116428
All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole TrioDiana KrallCD13
IMP 11642011105116428
Swing Low, Sweet CadillacDizzy GillespieCD5
IMP 11782011105117821
The Artistry of Freddie HubbardFreddie HubbardCD5
IMP 11792011105117920
Out of the AfternoonRoy Haynes QuartetCD7
IMP 11802011105118026
The Body & The SoulFreddie HubbardCD9
IMP 11832011105118323
Today and NowColeman Hawkins QuartetCD7
IMP 11842011105118422
It’s TimeMax Roach, His Chorus and OrchestraCD6
IMP 11852011105118521