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Data as of Aug 14, 2026
John Coltrane – Impressions
1974 · US · ABC Impulse! · Vinyl LP Album Reissue
Offers · 1
- $60ref VA-XRVP6Media NM · Near MintSleeve F🇺🇸 Ships from United States — The album itself is in Near Mint condition, and the outer cover is in Very Good shape with minimal wear. The inner sleeve is also in excellent, near-mint condition. If you would like detailed photos of any part of the album, please feel free to send me a message!
The Discogs price estimate is a separate reference; offer prices above are sellers’ own.
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Pressing identification
Match these against your copy to confirm the exact pressing.
- Matrix / runout
- AS-42-A ① SXT A 2AS-42-B ① SXT A13 1AS-42-A ① SXT A 9 2AS-42-B ① SXT B 1
- Rights society
- BMI
- Recorded At
- Village Vanguard
- Mastered At
- Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Santa Maria
- Pressed By
- Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute
Specifications
- Artist
- John Coltrane
- Genre
- Jazz
- Style
- Free Jazz, Post Bop, Modal
- Year
- 1974
- Label
- ABC Impulse!, Impulse!
- Catalog number
- AS-42
- Country
- US
Tracklist
- A1India13:52
- A2Up 'Gainst The Wall3:12
- B1Impressions14:40
- B2After The Rain4:07
- Producer
- Bob Thiele
- Written-By
- John Coltrane
About this record
This 1974 ABC Impulse! reissue carries the Columbia Records Pressing Plant stamp from Terre Haute in its dead wax, marking it as a domestic pressing rather than an import. The catalogue AS-42 pairs material recorded across three sessions between November 1961 and April 1963, with the two Village Vanguard tracks from 1961 anchoring the collection.
Community demand is substantial: 307 collectors want this pressing against 603 who own one, yet only 15 copies appear on the market at lowest_price of 17.4, signaling scarcity relative to interest.
What drives its value
Condition drives the entire value proposition on this Terre Haute pressing. A Mint copy commands 64.26, while the same record in NM drops to 57.50—a gap that reflects the fragility of 1974 vinyl and the rarity of unplayed stock.
The VG+ grade sits at 43.97, and VG copies trade at 30.44, a steep fall that punishes even light play. The floor at Poor grade is 3.38.
With only 15 copies listed and a community ratio of 307 want against 603 have, this reissue occupies middle ground: more accessible than original Impulse! pressings yet scarce enough that condition-graded examples command respect. The 1974 pressing date places it after the original 1963 release, making it a secondary market entry point for collectors seeking the Coltrane modal sessions without original-pressing expense.
How to appraise this pressing
Verify this pressing by the catalogue number AS-42 on the front cover and spine, paired with the ABC Impulse! label credit (the reissue imprint). Inspect the dead wax on both sides: Side A should read AS-42-A ① SXT A 2 or AS-42-A ① SXT A 9 2, while Side B reads AS-42-B ① SXT A13 1 or AS-42-B ① SXT B 1.
The Terre Haute plant code confirms domestic manufacture. The record lacks a barcode, consistent with 1974 practice.
Grade by examining the vinyl surface under light for hairline scratches and the jacket for foxing or seam splits; the green-to-indigo label transition is original to this pressing and should show no fading or label damage. Play-test both sides to confirm groove integrity, as 1974 pressings from this plant are prone to inner-groove distortion if stored upright or in humidity.
Further reading: grading a record, how to sell vinyl.
Release notes
ABC Impulse! green-to-indigo labels.
A1 & B1 recorded live at the Village Vanguard. NYC, November 5, 1961. A2 recorded September 18, 1962. B2 recorded April 29, 1963.
Notes sourced from the Discogs database.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between this 1974 reissue and the original 1963 Impulse! pressing?
This record is a reissue manufactured in 1974 at the Columbia Records Pressing Plant in Terre Haute for the ABC Impulse! label. The original 1963 pressing was issued on Impulse! proper and typically commands higher prices due to scarcity and collector preference for first editions. Both contain the same four tracks, but the 1974 pressing uses different dead-wax matrices (AS-42-A and AS-42-B variants) and the ABC Impulse! green-to-indigo label design, making it visually and sonically distinct.
What should I expect to pay for a VG+ copy?
A VG+ copy is priced at 43.97 according to the price guide. This grade assumes light surface noise, minimal visible scratches, and full playability. At this price point, the record sits between the NM estimate of 57.50 and the VG estimate of 30.44, reflecting a balance between sonic quality and cosmetic wear typical of well-cared-for used vinyl from the 1970s.
Why are there multiple matrix variations listed in the dead wax?
The four matrix strings (AS-42-A ① SXT A 2, AS-42-B ① SXT A13 1, AS-42-A ① SXT A 9 2, AS-42-B ① SXT B 1) represent different pressing runs or test pressings from the Terre Haute plant during the 1974 manufacturing window. Variations in the SXT suffix and numerical codes indicate separate stamper generations or quality-control iterations. Collectors use these codes to identify which specific pressing run their copy originates from, though sonic differences between variants are typically negligible.
Is this record worth grading and slabbing?
Only if your copy grades NM or higher. At NM, the price guide value is 57.50; at Mint, it reaches 64.26. Below VG+ (43.97), the cost of professional grading and slabbing will exceed the resale premium. With 15 copies currently for sale at a lowest price of 17.4, the market is soft enough that even a VG+ example may not justify certification costs unless you are building a high-end collection or selling to an institutional buyer.
What recording sessions are on this album?
Tracks A1 and B1 were recorded live at the Village Vanguard in New York on November 5, 1961. Track A2 comes from a September 18, 1962 session, and track B2 from April 29, 1963. The album thus spans nearly two years of Coltrane's modal and free-jazz exploration, with the majority of the program drawn from the famous 1961 Vanguard performances.