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
MeditationsJohn ColtraneCD5
IMP 11992011105119924
CrescentJohn Coltrane QuartetCD5
IMP 12002011105120029
Ptah, the El Daoud (remastered)Alice ColtraneCD4
IMP 12012011105120128
It's TimeMax RoachCD6
IMPD-185011105018524
MusicaleEric ReedCD14
IMPD-196011105019620
Back to the BasicsVarious ArtistsCD7
IMPD-207011105020725
The Roots of Acid Jazz (club edition)Various ArtistsCD14
IMPD-230[none]
Can You Dig It?!: Impulse! BasicsVarious ArtistsCD11
IMPD-8881
The Artistry of Freddie Hubbard (High resolution digital download release)Freddie HubbardDigital Media5
[none]
We the PeopleGroove CollectiveDigital Media12
  • -1996
011105018722
Standards on Impulse!Various ArtistsCD16
  • US1997-02-11
IMPD231011105023122
The Great Kai & J.J.Kai Winding & J.J. JohnsonCD11
  • DE1997-03-11
IMP 12252011105122528
More Blues and the Abstract TruthOliver NelsonCD10
  • US1997-03-11
IMPD212011105021227
Live at the Village Vanguard Again!John ColtraneCD3
  • US1997-03-11
IMPD213011105021326
The John Coltrane Quartet Plays Chim Chim Cheree, Song of Praise, Nature Boy, BraziliaJohn Coltrane QuartetCD7
  • US1997-03-11
IMPD214011105021425
ColtraneJohn Coltrane QuartetCD7
  • US1997-03-11
IMPD-215011105021524
Nights of Ballads and BluesMcCoy TynerCD8
  • US1997-03-11
IMPD221011105022125
The Great Kai & J.J.Kai Winding & J.J. JohnsonCD11
  • US1997-03-11
IMPD225011105022521
Geechee RecollectionsMarion BrownCD8
  • JP1997-03-21
MVCZ-120
StreamsSam RiversCD1
  • JP1997-03-21
MVCZ-1234988067027641
The AwakeningThe Ahmad Jamal TrioCD7
  • US1997-03-25
011105022620, B000024HSP, IMPD226011105022620
Journey in SatchidanandaAlice ColtraneCD5
  • XE1997-03-25
IMP 12282011105122825
Mingus Plays PianoCharles MingusCD11
  • US1997-03-25
IMPD217011105021722
InceptionMcCoy Tyner TrioCD6
  • US1997-03-25
IMPD220011105022026
Sonny Rollins on impulse!Sonny RollinsCD5
  • US1997-03-25
IMPD223011105022323
AlfieSonny RollinsCD6
  • US1997-03-25
IMPD224011105022422
Journey in SatchidanandaAlice Coltrane featuring Pharoah SandersCD5
  • US1997-03-25
IMPD-228011105022828
Salt and PepperSonny Stitt & Paul GonsalvesCD13
  • US1997-04-08
IMPD210011105021029
The SorcererGábor SzabóCD11
  • US1997-04-08
IMPD211011105121125
McCoy Tyner Plays EllingtonMcCoy TynerCD10
  • US1997-04-08
IMPD2160011105121620
Black UnityPharoah SandersCD1
  • US1997-04-08
IMPD-219, IMPD219011105021920
DesafinadoColeman HawkinsCD8
  • US1997-04-08
IMPD227011105022729
Further DefinitionsBenny Carter and His OrchestraCD16
  • US1997-04-08
IMPD229011105022927
Nouveau SwingDonald HarrisonCD14
  • US1997-04-22
IMPD-209011105020923
What the World Needs Now: The Music of Burt BacharachMcCoy Tyner Trio with SymphonyCD9
  • US1997-06-17
IMPD-197011105019729
Black Unity (180 gr)Pharoah Sanders12" Vinyl2
  • US1997-06-30
IMP 219011105021913
Love ScenesDiana KrallCD13
  • GB1997-08-18
011105123426
Love ScenesDiana KrallCD12
  • US1997-08-26
IMPD-233011105023320
Love ScenesDiana KrallCD13
  • CA1997-08-26
IMPSD 234011105023429
The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings (box-set)John Coltrane4×CD6 + 5 + 6 + 5
  • US1997-09-23
IMPD4-232011105023221
Latino AmericaGato Barbieri2×CD8 + 7
  • US1997-11-11
IMPD2236011105023627
The Impulse Years, 1973-1974Keith Jarrett5×CD5 + 6 + 9 + 4 + 5
  • US1997-11-11
IMPD5237011105023726
AlfieSonny RollinsCD6
  • JP1997-12-17
MVCJ-19036[none]
Love ScenesDiana KrallCD12
050 233-2011105023320
Latino AmericaGato Barbieri2×CD8 + 7
052236-2, IMP 22362011105223621
New GrassAlbert AylerCD7
0602498842195602498842195
What the World Needs Now: The Music of Burt BacharachMcCoy Tyner Trio with SymphonyCD9
IMP11972011105119726
Live At The Village Vanguard Again!John ColtraneCD3
IMP 12132011105121323
The John Coltrane Quartet PlaysThe John Coltrane QuartetCD7
IMP 12142011105121422
The John Coltrane Quartet PlaysThe John Coltrane QuartetCD7
IMP 12142011105121422
ColtraneJohn Coltrane QuartetCD7
IMP 12152011105121521
Four for TraneArchie SheppCD5
IMP 12182011105121828
Black UnityPharoah SandersCD1
IMP 12192011105121927
The QuintessenceQuincy Jones and His OrchestraCD8
IMP 12222011105122221
The AwakeningThe Ahmad Jamal TrioCD7
IMP 12262011105122627
Further Definitions (the complete Further Definitions sessions)Benny Carter and His OrchestraCD16
IMP 12292, IMP 229011105122924
Love ScenesDiana KrallCD13
IMP 12342011105123426
A Prescription for the BluesHorace SilverCD9
IMP 12382011105123822
Duke Ellington & John ColtraneDuke Ellington & John Coltrane12" Vinyl7
IMP-166011105016612
McCoy Tyner plays Ellington (Taken from remastered Impulse CD, dated 1997)McCoy TynerCD10
IMPD-216011105021623
Mingus Plays Piano (Digital media 1997 version)Charles MingusDigital Media10
IMPD217011105021722
Four for TraneArchie SheppCD5
IMPD 218011105021821
The QuintessenceQuincy Jones and His OrchestraCD8
IMPD-22
Love ScenesDiana KrallCD12
IMPD-233011105023320
A Prescription for the BluesHorace SilverCD9
IMPD-238011105023825
InceptionMcCoy Tyner TrioCD6
011105122023
Live at the Village Vanguard: The Master TakesJohn ColtraneCD5
  • US1998-02-24
IMPD251011105025126
Reaching FourthMcCoy TynerCD6
  • US1998-02-24
IMPD255011105025522
Living SpaceJohn ColtraneCD5
  • US1998-03-10
IMPD246011105024624
Jewels of ThoughtPharoah SandersCD2
  • US1998-03-10
IMPD-247011105024723
Space Is the PlaceSun RaCD5
  • US1998-03-10
IMPD-249011105024921
ThembiPharoah SandersCD6
  • US1998-03-10
IMPD253011105025324
Live in San FranciscoArchie SheppCD8
  • US1998-03-10
IMPD254011105125420
Space Is the PlaceSun RaCD5
IMP 12492011105124928
Live in San FranciscoArchie SheppCD8
IMP 12542011105125420
Two Blocks From the EdgeMichael BreckerCD8
  • US1998-05-12
IMPD260011105026024
On a Clear DayShirley ScottCD8
  • JP1998-06-03
MVCJ-190804988067034076
Pure ImaginationEric ReedCD11
  • US1998-06-15
IMPD-244
Sweet Georgia PeachRussell MaloneCD11
  • US1998-08-25
IMPD275011105027526
MixedThe Cecil Taylor Unit / Roswell Rudd SextetCD7
  • XE1998-10-06
051 270-2, IMP 12702011105127028
A Monastic TrioAlice ColtraneCD9
  • XE1998-10-06
IMP 12672011105126724
Live in Greenwich Village: The Complete Impulse RecordingsAlbert Ayler2×CD6 + 8
  • US1998-10-06
IMPD2273011105027328
Deaf, Dumb, Blind: Summun, Bukmun, UmyunPharoah SandersCD2
  • US1998-10-06
IMPD265011105026529
A Monastic TrioAlice ColtraneCD9
  • US1998-10-06
IMPD267011105026727
Trio LiveSam RiversCD5
  • US1998-10-06
IMPD268
Three for SheppMarion BrownCD6
  • US1998-10-06
IMPD269011105026925
MixedThe Cecil Taylor Unit / Roswell Rudd SextetCD7
  • US1998-10-06
IMPD-270011105027021
The Ear of the BehearerDewey RedmanCD11
  • XE1998-11-16
051 271-2, IMP 12712011105127127
The Classic Quartet: The Complete Impulse! Studio RecordingsJohn Coltrane8×CD14 + 10 + 10 + 7 + 5 + 7 + 6 + 7
  • US1998-11-17
IMPD8280011105028028
Have Yourself a Merry Little ChristmasDiana KrallCD6
  • JP1998-11-21
MVCJ 19169766486475526
World GalaxyAlice Coltrane With StringsCD5
  • JP1998-12-02
MVCJ-191424988067036742
Further Adventures of El ChicoChico HamiltonCD10
  • JP1998-12-19
MVCJ-19161
ThembiPharoah SandersCD6
051 253-2, IMP 12532011105125321
Wind, Sky and DiamondsGábor SzabóCD11
AS-9151
Jewels of ThoughtPharoah SandersCD2
IMP 12472011105124720
Mama Too TightArchie SheppCD4
IMP 12482011105124829
Two Blocks From the EdgeMichael BreckerCD9
IMP 12612011105126120
Deaf, Dumb, Blind: Summun, Bukmun, UmyunPharoah SandersCD2
IMP 12652011105126526
The Way AheadArchie SheppCD6
IMP 12722011105127226
Live in Greenwich Village: The Complete Impulse RecordingsAlbert Ayler2×CD6 + 8
IMP 22732011105227322