impulse! (jazz label active during the 60s-70s, now property of Universal Music Group, mainly used as a reissue label.)

~ Label

Annotation

"The new wave of jazz is on impulse!"

One of the mythic names in the jazz industry, impulse! has been known as "the house that Trane built".
The first activity period under ABC is the glorious one - covering the 60s until 1974 - with an emphasis on free jazz.
New production eventually faded out during the late 70s, though ABC continued to print reissues.
Sold to MCA in 1979, it was almost silent until being folded in under GRP in 1990, which eventually became the Verve Music Group. It has since been mainly reissuing its own stuff only - with a few exceptions: a handful of remix releases and commercial jazz stuff, a few new releases by artists with ties to the former impulse!, and a serie of new compilations and anthology box sets.
This reissue campaign intensified starting 1995, with enhanced/remastered reissues, etc.

Sleeves have a distinctive black and orange design, and sparse liner notes.
Note the label name is correctly capped as "impulse!" (see logos for symetry between "i" and "!").
Catalog numbers were as follow:
* First period: A # (mono) AS # (stereo) AQ # (quadraphonic, not all releases) with # from 1 to 100, then appending a 9 (eg: 9101 up to 9361). Two discs sets used an additional /2. There is a promotional (AS 1974) as well, and a rare 29000 serie (29065 to 29073)
* 1980s: MCD, MCAD
* 1991-1995: prefix GRD optionally followed by one digit (number of discs in the set) followed by a three digit catalog number. Example: GRD2113 (3 discs set)
* 1995-1999: prefix IMPD optionally followed by one digit (number of discs in the set) followed by a three digit catalog number. Example: IMPD8280 (8 discs set)
* 1999-2003: used a subset of the barcode. Example 3145479582 for 731454795821
* 2003-*: prefix B, followed by three zeros, followed by a four digits cat #, followed by 02 for CD, 16 for SACD. Example: B000427002
* some rare Universal Japanese release used cat # like UCCI-####

For a more indepth history, you may consult The House That Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records, Ashley Kahn, 2006, W.W. Norton.

Yet unconfirmed:
Note that there appear to exist 7" EP releases for some (?) of the 12".
Currently spotted: at ebay at discogs
Or even reel-2-reel EPs: at ebay
They don't seem to bear a distinctive cat #...
More:
at ebay
at ebay
Shirley Scott Everybody...

Notes:
Don't forget to sort out the Jasmine reissues.

Annotation last modified on 2007-07-12 11:19 UTC.

Releases

ReleaseArtistFormatTracksCountry/DateCatalog#Barcode
Kulu Sé MamaJohn ColtraneCD6
543 412-2731454341226
AscensionJohn ColtraneCD2
543 413-2731454341325
New Thing at NewportJohn Coltrane / Archie SheppCD9
543 414-2731454341424
ImpressionsJohn ColtraneCD5
543 416-2731454341622
The Impulse! AlbumVarious Artists2×CD10 + 10
560401-2
Coltrane for LoversJohn ColtraneCD11
  • DE2001-02-06
3145493612731454936125
SerendipityGregory TardyCD10
  • US2001-03-20
IMP 12582011105125826
Art Blakey!!!!! Jazz Messengers!!!!!Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers12" Vinyl6
  • DE2001-04-30
AS-7
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (Late vinyl reissue: "180g Virgin Vinyl / High Quality Pressing / Audiophile Mastering")Charles Mingus12" Vinyl4
AS-35[none]
Meditations (Limited Edition)John ColtraneCD5
  • JP2001-06-27
A-9110, UCCI-90184988005271600
ExpressionJohn ColtraneCD4
  • JP2001-06-27
UCCI 90154988005271570
BalladsJohn Coltrane QuartetCD8
  • JP2001-06-27
UCCI-90014988005271433
A Love SupremeJohn ColtraneCD3
  • JP2001-06-27
UCCI-90024988005271440
AscensionJohn ColtraneCD2
  • JP2001-06-27
UCCI-90144988005271563
Four for TraneArchie SheppCD5
  • JP2001-06-27
UCCI-90204988005271624
Attica BluesArchie SheppCD10
  • JP2001-06-27
UCCI-90224988005271648
World GalaxyAlice Coltrane With StringsCD5
  • JP2001-06-27
UCCI-90234988005271655
The Very Best of John ColtraneJohn ColtraneCD10
  • US2001-07-24
314 549 913-2, 3145499132731454991322
El ChicoChico Hamilton12" Vinyl8
AS-9102
Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus (24bit remastered 7 tracks vinyl replica limited japanese edition with cardboard sleeve)Charles MingusCD7
  • JP2001-08-01
UCCI-90394988005271815
StandardsJohn ColtraneCD10
  • US2001-08-21
3145499142731454991421
SpiritualJohn ColtraneCD8
  • US2001-09-25
3145890992731458909927
The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live RecordingJohn ColtraneCD3
  • US2001-09-25
3145891202731458912026
A Love Supreme (impulse! master sessions)John ColtraneCD3
IMP 11552011105115520
McCoy Tyner plays John Coltrane: Live at the Village VanguardMcCoy TynerCD7
  • US2001-10-16
3145891832, 589183-2731458918325
ShadesKeith JarrettCD4
  • JP2001-11-28
UCCI-90544988005285089
Bop‐BeKeith JarrettCD7
  • JP2001-11-28
UCCI-90564988005285102
Live at NewportMcCoy TynerCD5
  • JP2001-11-28
UCCI-90584988005285126
At the Top: Poinciana RevisitedAhmad JamalCD7
  • JP2001-11-28
UCCI-90734988005285270
The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live RecordingJohn ColtraneCD3
589 120-2731458912026
BalladsJohn Coltrane Quartet2×CD8 + 14
  • US2002-04-16
314 589 548-2731458954828
ColtraneJohn Coltrane Quartet2×CD5 + 10
  • US2002-04-16
314 589 567-2731458956723
More of the GreatLorez AlexandriaCD10
  • JP2002-05-27
UCCI-90634988005285171
LegacyJohn Coltrane4×CD13 + 9 + 12 + 5
  • US2002-09-10
3145892952731458929529
A Love Supreme (deluxe edition)John Coltrane2×CD4 + 9
  • US2002-10-29
314 589 945-2731458994527
A Love Supreme (deluxe edition)John Coltrane2×CD4 + 9
  • XE2002-11-11
589 945-2731458994527
A Love SupremeJohn ColtraneSACD4
  • US2002-12-10
314 589 596-2731458959625
Coltrane (delux edition)John Coltrane Quartet2×CD5 + 10
589 567-2731458956723
A Love Supreme (deluxe edition)John Coltrane2×CD4 + 9
589 945-2731458994527
It Serve You Right to SufferJohn Lee Hooker12" Vinyl8
AS-91034260019711588
Selections From Legacy And A Love Supreme (Deluxe Edition)John ColtraneCD9
VERR-01222-2
The October SuiteSteve Kuhn & Gary McFarlandCD6
  • US2003-03-11
0246544132602465441321
Attica BluesArchie SheppCD10
  • US2003-03-11
0246544142602465441420
Ask Me Now!Pee Wee RussellCD11
  • US2003-03-11
0247557422602475574224
Music Is the Healing Force of the UniverseAlbert AylerCD6
  • US2003-03-11
065 383-2, AS-9191044006538327
Once Upon a TimeEarl HinesCD7
  • US2003-03-11
602465449228
Attica BluesArchie SheppCD10
  • XE2003-03-11
AS-9222602465441420
Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus (Audiophile 180g fac-similé)Charles Mingus12" Vinyl7
065556-1, AS-544260019711885
The Blues and the Abstract TruthBill Evans, Roy Haynes, Eric Dolphy, Oliver Nelson, Paul Chambers, Freddie Hubbard12" Vinyl6
  • DE2003-08-06
065397-1, AS-54260019711953
A Love SupremeJohn ColtraneCD4
  • US2003-08-19
B000061002602498010921
Live at the EastPharoah SandersCD3
  • JP2003-08-27
AS-9227, UCCU-90164988005340443
Love ScenesDiana KrallDVD-Audio12
  • US2003-09-23
Meditation: Pharoah Sanders Selections Take 1Pharoah SandersCD8
  • JP2003-10-15
UCCI-30054988005342713
A Monastic TrioAlice ColtraneCD9
051 267-2, IMP 12672011105126724
A Love SupremeJohn ColtraneCD4
B000061002602498010921
Soul SistersGloria Coleman Quartet Featuring Pola RobertsCD6
  • XE2004-03-09
A-47, AS-47602498610480
Chicken FatMel BrownCD9
  • US2004-03-09
A-9152, AS-9152602498610473
Soul SistersGloria Coleman feat. Pola RobertsCD6
  • US2004-03-09
B000143402602498610480
The Golden FluteYusef LateefCD9
  • US2004-03-09
B000143502602498610497
Spanish RiceClark Terry & Chico O’FarrillCD12
  • US2004-03-09
B000143602602498610503
The Cry of My PeopleArchie SheppCD8
  • US2004-03-09
B000179002602498614884
ImpressionsJohn ColtraneCD4
  • JP2004-06-30
UCCU-52024988005364371
Live at BirdlandJohn ColtraneCD5
  • JP2004-06-30
UCCU-52164988005364517
Love ScenesDiana KrallHybrid SACD (CD layer) + Hybrid SACD (SACD layer, 2 channels) + Hybrid SACD (SACD layer, multichannel)12 + 12 + 12
  • US2004-08-17
B0002841-36602498627891
You Better Know It!!!Lionel HamptonDigital Media9
602465445428
Lord of LordsAlice ColtraneCD5
  • JP2004-09-22
AS-9224, UCCI-91104988005372109
Journey in SatchidanandaAlice ColtraneCD5
  • JP2004-09-22
UCCI 91074988005372079
A Monastic TrioAlice ColtraneCD6
  • JP2004-09-22
UCCI-91044988005372048
Ptah, the El DaoudAlice ColtraneCD4
  • JP2004-09-22
UCCI-91064988005372062
World GalaxyAlice Coltrane With StringsCD5
  • JP2004-09-22
UCCI-91094988005372093
Lord of LordsAlice ColtraneCD5
  • JP2004-09-22
UCCI-91104988005372109
Translinear LightAlice ColtraneCD11
  • US2004-09-28
B0002191-02602498619292
Alexandria the GreatLorez AlexandriaCD10
  • US2004-09-28
B000268602602498625774
Let It GoStanley TurrentineCD11
  • US2004-11-09
001110501042
John Coltrane and Johnny HartmanJohn Coltrane and Johnny HartmanSACD12
  • US2004-11-16
B0001126-16602498607787
Huntington Ashram MonasteryAlice ColtraneCD6
  • JP2004-11-22
AS-9185, UCCI-91054988005372055
Translinear LightAlice ColtraneCD11
0602498619292602498619292
The Cry of My PeopleArchie SheppCD8
AS-9231
Alexandria the GreatLorez AlexandriaCD10
UCCI-9062
Live Your Life With VerveVarious ArtistsCD11
VERR-01339-2602498624494
On This NightArchie SheppDigital Media10
  • US2005-02-15
001110501252
Oliver Nelson Plays MichelleOliver NelsonDigital Media12
  • US2005-02-15
Today and TomorrowMcCoy TynerDigital Media6
  • JP2005-02-15
All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole TrioDiana KrallCD13
  • JP2005-02-23
UCCV‐30264988005384645
Translinear LightAlice ColtraneDigital Media12
  • US2005-04-18
Gypsy '66Gábor SzabóDigital Media9
  • US2005-05-03
602465451726
New GrassAlbert AylerCD7
  • US2005-09-13
B000426902602498802724
PsychicemotusYusef LateefCD8
  • US2005-09-13
B0004270-02602498802731
After the Lights Go Down Low and Much More!!!Freda PayneCD12
  • US2005-09-13
B000427102602498802748
SpellbinderGábor SzabóCD9
  • US2005-09-13
B000427202602498802755
Chapter Four: Alive in New YorkGato BarbieriCD7
  • US2005-09-27
B000427402602498802779
Live From Los AngelesOliver NelsonCD7
  • US2005-09-27
B000427502602498802786
ElevationPharoah SandersCD5
  • US2005-09-27
B000427602602498802793
The Land of Spirit and LightMichael WhiteCD7
  • US2005-09-27
B000427702602498802809
One Down, One Up: Live at the Half NoteJohn Coltrane2×CD4 + 4
  • US2005-10-11
B0002380-02602498621431
Village of the PharoahsPharoah SandersCD7
  • JP2005-10-12
UCCI-3008
Jewels of ThoughtPharoah SandersCD3
  • JP2005-10-12
UCCI-30114988005405951
For LosersArchie SheppCD5
  • JP2005-10-24
AS-9188
Impulsive! Revolutionary Jazz ReworkedVarious ArtistsCD11
  • US2005-10-25
B000496602602498831571
One Down, One Up (Live At The Half Note)John Coltrane2×CD4 + 4
0602498621431602498621431