The Complete Columbia Album Collection (Amazon.com Exclusive) [BOX SET] [LIMITED EDITION]

Miles Davis

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 24, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 71
• Format: Box set, Limited Edition
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Sony Legacy
• ASIN: B002EOF7U8
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,908 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Exclusive to Amazon.com, Columbia/Legacy presents Miles Davis: The Complete Columbia Album Collection, a deluxe, limited edition retrospective of the iconic music Miles Davis created during his 30 years with Columbia Records.This exquisite package, comprised of 70 CDs and 1 DVD, contains all 52 of Miles’ Columbia recordings in Japanese-styled mini LP jackets and includes a 250-page book with a biography, a fully annotated discography, a complete song index, and rare photos.

Appearing on DVD for the first time in this box is Live in Europe ’67, shot in Stockholm and Karlsruhe during the Miles Davis Quintet’s European tour of 1967. Completely remastered from the original broadcast tapes, these performances feature Miles with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams. In addition to the DVD, there will be a first-time audio release of the full performance from the 1970 Isle of Wight festival. Bonus tracks and other rarities that have been added to the CD reissues of individual albums in past years are also included.

• Limited Edition - Only Manufactured Once!
• 52 albums on 70 CDs in mini-LP replica jackets
• Previously Unreleased DVD: Live In Europe ‘67
• 250 page color book with biography, fully annotated discography and complete song index
• Previously unreleased and rare audio on In Paris Festival International De Jazz, Quiet Nights, At Plugged Nickel Chicago, and We Want Miles, in addition to previously released bonus material from past reissues
• First time ever complete audio release of the August 29th, 1970, Isle of Wight festival performance

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Complete Miles Davis = Complete Trash, November 25, 2009

By	C. W. PERRY (Chicago) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm another of the many whose box arrived absolutely trashed. We all know this is a five-star item if you only care about the music. As for an honorable product, it is a one-star affair. My box's lid was split on both sides, and all but about five of the one-disc sets had glue splattered across the playing surface. Don't listen to the guy who says the glue is only on the non-playing portion of the discs--my discs have glue on all areas of the playing surface (and I know how compact discs work). My sleeves weren't falling apart like some people report (sure, they're not tightly bound a la Japanese mini LP sleeves), but they're not great quality. I could live with the sleeves and perhaps even the broken box lid if the discs were clean. I've cleaned scads of discs in my lifetime, and know how to do it with caution; here, however, my glue removal campaign was not always successful. If you decide to remove the glue you run a big risk of scratching the discs further. Some of the discs in my set were worse than others--My "Jazz at the Plaza" looked like someone had puked on it, with one particular glue blob the circumference of a dime, and following my glue removal it looks like it's been used by a 5-year-old as a dinner plate.

What should have been a reissue of a lifetime is a shoddy rush job, and someone's job is probably going to be on the line for this. Tip to pressing plants: don't put discs in a cover BEFORE you glue the cover together.

What a colossal joke--mine is going straight back to poor Amazon. Sony, do the honorable thing and recall this set now. The Complete Miles Davis = A Complete Joke.

**Update: I ordered this from Amazon UK, and that branch of the Amazon empire makes YOU pay for shipping for returns, and you are reimbursed later (Amazon US gives you a post-paid mailing label for returns). I inquired with UPS about shipping this 10-pound monster back to England and it was prohibitively expensive, and because I was so excited for so long about getting this thing I just decided to keep it warts and all. It will always be a boondoggle to me, though--$300 may come to a couple of bucks per disc, but this is a new product and should not have to be refurbished on day one of ownership. My one-star review remains.

40 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Beware of Sony/ Amazon confederates who praise this box, November 26, 2009

By	headacheboy - See all my reviews

Companies are smart these days and when a major release of this magnitude comes out in the unpardonable quality it has, be wary of those who claim the problem isn't as bad as what everyone makes it out to be. Companies have people who write positive reviews in amongst many bad reviews. The quality of this box set is inexcusable. If I wanted only the music, I would have downloaded it. To companies like Sony and Amazon, this package is a huge deal (it is mentioned everywhere as a major year end release) and the damning criticism is causing them to stir like bumblebees, hiring folks to say it's shoddy craftsmanship isn't really a problem at all. The quality of this set that is being shipped throughout the world is shameful and it should be delivered to your doorstep in pristine condition. Amazon (who are more guilty than you think, after all they bid on this project which was created for an art exhibit in Paris; in knowing they bid on this makes the poor quality all that much more suspect)and Sony need to make restitution to all the purchasers in the form of a brand new durable, high quality, pristine box set. By not doing this they have lost countless amounts of sales. (And lest you think the notion of confederate plants writing positive reviews is far-fetched, does anyone recall the fake movie critics scandal a few years ago? That was Sony's brainchild.)

50 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Problem with the box set, November 24, 2009

By	Konstantinos Sarantinos (Athens - Greece) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Sorry to have to be the bearer of bad news, but for those who order this box set, I urge you all to check through the discs very carefully on arrival. A fair number of discs show what appear to be residual glue marks from what I assume to be from the glue that's used to construct the replica cardboard sleeves that house the discs.
Don't try to clean them. A brand new product should come unblemished.

What should of been the reissue of the year has been spoiled by the poor construction of the replica sleeves packaging. Not even close of the Japan mini LP's, the paper used to this box set, for making the covers it's a very low quality and the quality of the print it's also low quality. Dont waste your money!!!! Let all put the pressure to COLUMBIA RECORDS to release in the future a high quality box set of Miles Davis.
I already return my copy to Amazon - Germany requesting a full refund.
(I am not the only one with this problem. Read other comments at Amazon.UK & Amazon.de)

I like to add more.........

As a consumer I want every product I buy to be 100% the money I am paying. I did pay 172 euros to AMAZON Germany and that amount is the 1/4th of the standard monthly salary here in Greece (Europe). So when I've got this Miles Davis box I did except to be in pristine condition.
If you go and buy a brand new car you want the paint of the car to be with scratches?
So why all here to give good points to SONY (this problem is not the fault of AMAZON) for this faults to have 15 CD's out of 70 with glues? SONY dont have a quality inspection staff?
If, as consumers every time we accepting faulty products with out to complain, then the major companies, like SONY are going to continue ignore our needs. Last Novemer I did receive the THE BEATLES STEREO BOX SET and to everytning the quality was a 10. Why THE BEATLES fans got a superior product (remastering+covers+box)?
We must as a consumers to be more open mind and to claim our rights!!!!!!