"A Love Supreme" the original Liner notes

"Dear Listener:

All Praise Be To God To Whom All Praise Is Due.

Let us pursue Him in the righteous path. Yes it is true; “seek and ye shall find.” Only through Him can we know the most wondrous bequeathal.

During the year 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more productive life. At that time, in gratitude, I humbly asked to be given the means and privilege to make others happy through music. I feel this has been granted through His grace. ALL PRAISE TO GOD.

As time and events moved on, a period of irresolution did prevail. I entered into a phase which was contradictory to the pledge and away from the esteemed path; but thankfully, now and again through the unerring and merciful hand of God, I do perceive and have been duly re-informed of His OMNIPOTENCE, and of our need for, and dependence on Him. At this time I would like to tell you that NO MATTER WHAT…IT IS WITH GOD. HE IS GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL. HIS WAY IS IN LOVE, THROUGH WHICH WE ALL ARE . IT IS TRULY—A LOVE SUPREME–.

This album is a humble offering to Him. An attempt to say “THANK YOU GOD” through our work, eve as we do in our hearts and with our tongues. May He help and strengthen all men in every good endeavor…
May we never forget that in the sunshine of our lives, through the storm and after the rain—it is all with God—in all ways forever.

ALL PRAISE TO GOD."

Signed John Coltrane

I find myself listening to Coltrane all the time.  Specifically his signature album, A Love Supreme.  Recorded in 1964, seven years after he heard "The sound," Coltrane teaches us something about how we can keep pursuing God for a lifetime.  What do you do when you have experienced God and the yearning remains to experience him again?  Coltrane developed his own set of spiritual stages to sustain him to the end.

A Love Supreme is more than a musical album it is a series of stages for one’s spiritual life.  The album is separated into four stages and each song is meant to represent a season of the soul. 

Coltrane's stations are as follows…

• Acknowledgment
• Resolution
• Pursuance
• Psalm

Coltrane had set a spiritual goal:  To become a Psalm.  Working backwards from that end he had thought through what stages were necessary for that to happen.  Ultimately, what was driving him is captured in the title of the album…A Love Supreme.  That is all he wanted and all he wanted to be.

What do you think of Coltrane's stations?  Do they ring true in your pursuit of A LOVE SUPREME?