VinylAI 
Data as of Sep 17, 2026
John Coltrane – Expression
1967 · US · Impulse! · Vinyl LP Album Stereo
Price guide
Estimated market value via Discogs · as of Sep 17, 2026
- MMint
- $184.67
- NMNear Mint
- $165.23
- VG+Very Good Plus
- $126.35
- VGVery Good
- $87.47
- G+Good Plus
- $48.60
- GGood
- $29.16
- FFair
- $19.44
- PPoor
- $9.72
51 copies listed on Discogs from $13.05.
These are reference estimates from Discogs sold/asking data for this exact pressing, not offers and not a guaranteed price. Actual value depends on condition, completeness and current demand. Any active seller offers on this page are listed separately above.
Offers · 1
- $60ref VA-9TP9VMedia VG+ · Very Good PlusSleeve VG🇺🇸 Ships from United States
The Discogs price estimate is a separate reference; offer prices above are sellers’ own.
New to condition grades like NM or VG? Read our vinyl grading guide →
Pressing identification
Match these against your copy to confirm the exact pressing.
- Runout — side A
- AS-9120-AAS-9120-A VAN GELDER LWAS 9120 A LW 3
- Runout — side B
- AS-9120-BAS-9120-B VAN GELDER LWAS-9120-B LW VAN GELDER
- Record Company
- ABC Records, Inc.
- Recorded At
- Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
- Lacquer Cut At
- Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
- Mastered At
- Longwear Plating
Specifications
- Artist
- John Coltrane
- Genre
- Jazz
- Style
- Free Jazz, Post Bop, Modal, Spiritual Jazz
- Year
- 1967
- Label
- Impulse!
- Catalog number
- AS-9120
- Country
- US
Tracklist
- A1Ogunde3:34
- A2To Be16:18
- B1Offering8:21
- B2Expression10:46
- Producer
- Bob Thiele
- Producer
- John Coltrane
- Engineer
- Rudy Van Gelder
- Composed By
- John Coltrane
- Design [Cover]
- Robert Flynn
- Design [Liner]
- Joe Lebow
About this record
The runout etchings on this 1967 US pressing carry the Van Gelder Studio imprint—a hallmark of Rudy Van Gelder's direct involvement in mastering—though the A-side matrix on some copies omits this credit. Demand significantly outpaces supply: 672 collectors want this title against 1822 who own one, yet only 51 copies are listed for sale across the market, with the lowest asking price at 13.05 USD.
What drives its value
Condition drives the entire valuation curve on this original Impulse! pressing. A Mint copy commands 184.67 USD, while a Near Mint drops to 165.23 USD—a narrow margin reflecting the rarity of truly unplayed stock.
The gap widens sharply below that: VG+ sits at 126.35 USD, VG at 87.47 USD, and Good+ at 48.60 USD. The want-to-have ratio of 672 to 1822 signals steady collector interest without extreme scarcity, but the thin inventory (51 for sale) and the Van Gelder mastering credit sustain pricing across all grades.
This is the original US pressing; a 1968 French reissue exists on the same label, making the domestic first pressing the reference standard for discographers and serious buyers.
How to appraise this pressing
Confirm the US original by the Impulse! label (catalogue AS-9120 on the label, A-9120 on the cover—a known discrepancy on first pressings). The dead-wax etchings read AS-9120-A and AS-9120-B on Side A and Side B respectively; later copies add VAN GELDER LW to both runouts, indicating the mastering source.
The label itself is orange and black, the third variation of the Impulse! house style. The gatefold sleeve is thick and glossy stock.
Look for the ABC Records copyright line at the bottom of both center labels. Grade by surface cleanliness (these records are prone to light groove wear from play), warp (check against a flat surface), and cover condition separately—the gatefold hinge and spine are stress points.
No barcode appears on originals; its presence indicates a later reissue.
Further reading: grading a record, how to sell vinyl.
Listen
Hear the album before you buy.
Official videos via YouTube.
Release notes
First cat# on label, second on cover.
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, February 15, 1967 (A2, B1), March 7, 1967 (A1) and spring 1967 (B2) [jazzdisco.org].
Orange and black Impulse label, third variation.
”A PRODUCT OF ABC RECORDS INC. NEW YORK, N.Y. 10019 MADE IN U.S.A.″ appears on the bottom of both center labels.
Comes in a thick and glossy gatefold sleeve.
Runouts are etched, except for VAN GELDER and Side A matrix of Variant 2.
Notes sourced from the Discogs database.
Other pressings of this release
Different editions of the same album — pressing decides value.
Frequently asked
What is a VG+ copy of this pressing worth?
According to the price guide, a VG+ grade is valued at 126.35 USD. This represents the sweet spot for well-played but not heavily damaged copies—surfaces show light dust and minor scratches but the record plays through without skips or severe crackle.
How do I tell this 1967 US pressing from the 1968 French reissue?
Both carry the Impulse! label and catalogue A-9120, but the US original is stamped AS-9120 in the dead wax and was pressed domestically (look for the ABC Records copyright on the label). The French pressing will show different matrix codes and a different pressing plant credit in the runout. The US original's gatefold is thicker and glossier than later reissues.
Why do some copies have VAN GELDER LW in the runout and others don't?
The Van Gelder credit was etched into the masters but not all pressings received it in the dead wax. Early copies of AS-9120-A and AS-9120-B may omit the Van Gelder notation, while later runs added it. Both are original 1967 US pressings; the presence or absence does not indicate a reissue, only a variant within the first pressing run.
What is the lowest price I should expect to see this record listed at?
The current market floor is 13.05 USD, though this likely represents a heavily damaged or incomplete copy. With 51 copies for sale, realistic pricing for playable copies starts around the Good grade (29.16 USD) and climbs steeply into VG territory (87.47 USD) for cleaner stock.
Is this a valuable record compared to other Coltrane titles?
Expression is moderately sought—the want count of 672 against 1822 owners shows steady collector interest without the extreme rarity of late-period Coltrane sessions. The Van Gelder mastering credit and the spiritual jazz content appeal to both jazz purists and exploratory listeners, sustaining demand. Original US pressings command a premium over reissues, but this is not a five-figure record even in Mint condition.