Impulse! Records

The short version

Impulse! Records was established in 1960 by producer Creed Taylor as a jazz label under ABC-Paramount. John Coltrane was one of its earliest signings. His steady sales helped fund the label's wider roster, and it became known as "the house that Trane built."

John Coltrane, 1963. Photo by Hugo van Gelderen / Anefo, Dutch National Archives. CC0 (public domain).

The Bob Thiele years

Bob Thiele ran the label from 1961 to 1969. This is the period that made its name for adventurous, spiritual music. Coltrane's A Love Supreme sold more than 100,000 copies on its first release, a large number for a jazz record of its kind. Thiele left in 1969 and founded Flying Dutchman Records.

Sun Ra, 1973. Impulse! / ABC-Dunhill publicity photo, photographer uncredited. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Who to hear

The label's own history lists Sonny Rollins, Quincy Jones, Max Roach, Ray Charles, Alice Coltrane, Keith Jarrett, Charles Mingus, Sun Ra and Pharoah Sanders among the artists who defined its sound. For spiritual jazz, the core is four names:

• John Coltrane. Start with A Love Supreme. See our Deep Listen on Coltrane.
• Pharoah Sanders. Karma (1969) has "The Creator Has a Master Plan." See the Deep Listen.
• Alice Coltrane. She is listed among the artists who defined the label. See the Deep Listen on Alice.
• Sun Ra. Impulse! acquired Sun Ra master recordings in the 1970s.

Where to start

Begin with A Love Supreme, then Karma. Both are on our 10 albums guide.

The label today

Impulse! is part of Universal's Verve Label Group. It still uses the orange-and-black look and records new artists, including Brandee Younger and Irreversible Entanglements.

Sources

• Impulse! Records, "Our Story"
• Wikipedia: Impulse! Records
• PBS NewsHour: Conversation with Creed Taylor

More label guides are on the labels page. Want the short route in? Grab the free 10 albums guide.