Now Streaming: John Coltrane, “Giant Steps (Alternate Take 8)”

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the release of one of the most influential and iconic albums in jazz history, and it just so happens to have been the Atlantic Records debut of the man who recorded it. The album in question is GIANT STEPS, and the man who recorded it... Well, we’re talking about John Coltrane, of course.

To commemorate GIANT STEPS celebrating the big 6-0, Rhino is releasing GIANT STEPS: 60TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION on September 18. This expanded release will be made available as both a double-CD set and a 180-gram double-LP set, both of which include the newly remastered version of the original album as well as eight alternate takes and will be packaged in a replica of the original sleeve and labels used for the album’s first stereo pressing.  

Oh, and if you order the 2-LP set from Rhino.com, you’ll also get a limited-edition 7” vinyl single disc featuring alternate takes of “Giant Steps” and “Naima.”

Sound good? Then you’ll want to click right here!

But wait! There’s more!

There’s also GIANT STEPS: 60TH ANNIVERSARY SUPER DELUXE EDITION, which will be released on the same day and will include the aforementioned material as well as 20 additional outtakes, all of which have been newly remastered. Yes, you diehard fans may recognize some of these outtakes, but many of them were previously only available on THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: THE COMPLETE ATLANTIC RECORDINGS, which – owing to its size – isn’t exactly priced to entice casual fans.

Want a little sampler to keep you happy until these sets are released? We can help: here’s Alternate Take 8 of the album’s title track.

As usual, we hate to leave you without offering up the full track listing for these releases, mostly because we know you’d be outside our offices with torches if we didn’t, so toss your lighters aside and read on...

GIANT STEPS: 60th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION

LP and CD Track Listing:

Side One / CD 1
1.      “Giant Steps”
2.      “Cousin Mary”
3.      “Countdown”
4.      “Spiral”

Side Two / CD 1
1.      “Syeeda’s Song Flute”
2.      “Naima”
3.      “Mr. P.C.”

Side Three / CD 2
1.      “Giant Steps” (Alternate, Take 1, Incomplete)
2.      “Naima” (Alternate Take)
3.      “Like Sonny” (Alternate Take)
4.      “Countdown” (Alternate Take)

Side Four / CD 2
1.      “Syeeda’s Song Flute” (Alternate Take)
2.      “Cousin Mary” (Alternate Take)
3.      “Giant Steps” (Alternate Version Two False Start)
4.      “Giant Steps” (Alternate Take)

GIANT STEPS: 60th ANNIVERSARY SUPER DELUXE EDITION

1.      “Giant Steps”
2.      “Cousin Mary”
3.      “Countdown”
4.      “Spiral”
5.      “Syeeda’s Song Flute”
6.      “Naima”
7.      “Mr. P.C.”

The Outtakes
8.      “Giant Steps” (Alternate, Take 1, Incomplete)
9.      “Giant Steps” (Alternate, Take 2, False Start)
10.  “Giant Steps” (Alternate, Take 3, Incomplete)
11.  “Giant Steps” (Alternate, Take 4, Incomplete)
12.  “Giant Steps” (Alternate, Take 5)
13.  “Giant Steps” (Alternate, Take 6, False Start)
14.  “Giant Steps” (Alternate, Take 7, Incomplete)
15.  “Giant Steps” (Alternate, Take 8)
16.  “Naima” (Alternate, Take 1, False Start)
17.  “Naima” (Alternate, Take 2, Incomplete)
18.  “Naima” (Alternate, Take 3)
19.  “Naima” (Alternate, Take 4, False Start)
20.  “Naima” (Alternate, Take 5)
21.  “Naima” (Alternate, Take 6)
22.  “Like Sonny” (Rehearsal 1, False Start)
23.  “Like Sonny” (Rehearsal 2, Incomplete)
24.  “Like Sonny” (Alternate, Take 1, False Start)
25.  “Like Sonny” (Alternate, Take 2, Incomplete)
26.  “Like Sonny” (Alternate, Take 3, Incomplete)
27.  “Like Sonny” (Alternate, Take 4, False Start)
28.  “Like Sonny” (Alternate, Take 5)
29.  “Like Sonny” (Alternate, Take 6, Incomplete)
30.  “Like Sonny” (Alternate, Take 7)
31.  “Countdown” (Alternate Take)
32.  “Syeeda’s Song Flute” (Alternate Take)
33.  “Cousin Mary” (Alternate Take)
34.  “Giant Steps” Take 3 (Incomplete)
35.  “Giant Steps” Take 6 (Alternate)