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Data as of Sep 11, 2026
John Coltrane – Expression
1968 · France · Impulse! · Vinyl LP Album Stereo
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Price guide
Estimated market value via Discogs · as of Sep 11, 2026
- MMint
- $86.83
- NMNear Mint
- $77.69
- VG+Very Good Plus
- $59.41
- VGVery Good
- $41.13
- G+Good Plus
- $22.85
- GGood
- $13.71
- FFair
- $9.14
- PPoor
- $4.57
5 copies listed on Discogs from $25.58.
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
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 21 M6 255828 P I
- Runout — side B
- AS 9120 BAS 9120 B 21 M6 255829 P
- Rights society
- BIEM
- Record Company
- ABC Records, Inc.
- Pressed By
- Pathé Marconi, Chatou
Specifications
- Artist
- John Coltrane
- Genre
- Jazz
- Style
- Free Jazz, Post Bop, Free Improvisation, Modal
- Year
- 1968
- Label
- Impulse!
- Catalog number
- A-9120
- Country
- France
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
This French pressing of Coltrane's final studio album was manufactured at Pathé Marconi in Chatou rather than pressed domestically, a detail encoded in the dead-wax matrix AS 9120 A 21 M6 255828 P I and AS 9120 B 21 M6 255829 P. The catalogue number appears in two forms on label and cover (A-9120 vs A.
9120), a quirk of European Impulse! distribution. Recorded across two sessions in March 1967 but released in 1968, Expression commands a steep condition premium: a Mint copy trades at 86.83 USD while a VG example sits at 41.13 USD, making grading accuracy essential.
What drives its value
Condition drives the entire market for this French Pathé Marconi pressing. The price guide spans from 4.57 USD in Poor grade up to 86.83 USD in Mint, but the practical range tightens around NM (77.69 USD) through VG (41.13 USD)—a spread where one grade shift costs real money.
Currently 5 copies are listed for sale, with a lowest asking price of 25.58 USD, suggesting a glut of lower-grade stock. Community demand remains strong: 147 collectors want the record against 190 who own one, a ratio indicating steady but not frantic pursuit.
The French pressing carries no inherent premium over US originals; its value rests on the specific matrix codes and Pathé Marconi plant mark, which identify it as a legitimate first pressing rather than a later reissue. Collectors rate it 4.63 out of 5 across 16 reviews, reflecting the album's artistic standing rather than pressing rarity.
How to appraise this pressing
Confirm this pressing by the Impulse! catalogue number A-9120 (or A. 9120 as printed on some copies) and the Pathé Marconi, Chatou plant attribution visible in the dead wax.
Side A should read AS 9120 A 21 M6 255828 P I; Side B, AS 9120 B 21 M6 255829 P. The label will state Stereo and reference Gravure universelle and ABC Records Inc. U.S.A. as the recording source.
The cover carries a Gravure universelle sticker on the front and prints Stereo, "Printed in U.S.A.," and the slogan "The new wave of jazz is on." The matrix codes are the definitive identifier: any copy lacking the M6 255828/255829 or P suffix is a different pressing. Grade this pressing against the actual vinyl surface: examine both sides under light for hairline scratches, scuffs, and warp.
A Mint copy shows no signs of play; NM allows only the faintest marks invisible at normal viewing distance. VG+ shows light surface marks but no audible crackle during quiet passages.
Below VG+, surface noise becomes noticeable.
Further reading: grading a record, what makes a pressing valuable.
Listen
Hear the album before you buy.
Official videos via YouTube.
Release notes
-Label info- Stereo Gravure universelle U Recorded by ABC Records Inc. U.S.A. A. 9120 appears on labels.
-Cover info- "Gravure universelle" sticker on the front cover. Stereo Ogunde recorded March 17, 1967. To Be recorded February 15, 1967. Offering recorded March 17, 1967. Expression recorded March 17, 1967. A product of ABC Records, Inc. Printed in U.S.A. The new wave of jazz is on 53 A-9120 appears on the cover.
Notes sourced from the Discogs database.
Other pressings of this release
Different editions of the same album — pressing decides value.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between the A-9120 and A. 9120 catalogue numbers?
Both refer to the same pressing and release. The hyphenated A-9120 appears on the cover; the dotted A. 9120 appears on the label itself. This variation is a quirk of European Impulse! labeling and does not indicate different pressings or values.
How much is a VG+ copy worth according to the price guide?
The price guide values a VG+ copy at 59.41 USD. This is an estimate as of the guide's last update and reflects typical dealer asking prices; actual sales may vary. The current lowest asking price across all grades is 25.58 USD, suggesting some sellers are pricing below guide.
Why does the dead-wax matrix matter for this record?
The matrix codes AS 9120 A 21 M6 255828 P I and AS 9120 B 21 M6 255829 P identify this as a Pathé Marconi, Chatou pressing and confirm it is a first pressing rather than a later reissue. Variations in the matrix string indicate different plants or pressings, which affect both authenticity and value.
What is a Mint copy worth, and how realistic is that grade?
The price guide lists Mint at 86.83 USD, but true Mint copies are rare in the market. With only 5 copies currently for sale and a lowest price of 25.58 USD, most available stock is likely VG or lower. A Mint grade requires zero visible signs of handling or play, an exacting standard for a 1968 pressing.
Is there a premium for the French pressing over a US original?
No. The French Pathé Marconi pressing is a legitimate first pressing but commands no collector premium. Its value is determined by condition and availability, not geography. The matrix codes and plant mark serve as proof of authenticity, not as a value multiplier.