Customer Reviews

Love Songs

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Since this album is an excellent compilation of several previous albums, from the first bars of every track you feel automatically the flight to another musical sphere .
Davis was a poet with intense sense of the rapture and Bacchic expression all the way .
I fall in love too easily is a love statement.
I thought about you is simply a landmark in the jazz . The smooth warmth and the sliding sound trumpet of Davis prepares to a encounter with Venus . You feel the one million per cent commitment of M.D. playing this milestone piece.
My ship is an amazing piece .It was composed by Ira Gershwin and Davis is simply floating in this aural atmosphere.
Someday my prince will come is a theme with variations . Dynamic flows and wonderful mood.
And we come to one of the highest peaks of the CD: Stella by starlight does not need presentation. Any medium melomaniac will enjoy with sublime joy this golden version .
But the jewel of the crown is definitively My funny Valentine one of the three best themes in jazz any age .Recorded live in Lincoln Center New York on January 12 , 1964 this version simply has no equal in its style . Davis in the peak of his musical powers . But the rest of the team is : Ron Carter in the bass , Herbie Hancock in the piano and Tony Williams in the drums . Expression and ravishing inspiration make of this theme by itself more than deserved the buying of this album.
A must for any lover jazz music .

I am not a fan of compilation cds, but this set from Miles' is a nice one, showcasing his softer, more melodic side of this playing. While he certainly revolutionized jazz many times, it's easy to forget that Miles continued to play standards at live shows (granted, in an increasingly radical way as time went on) well into the late 60's, and again towards the end of his life, he would throw "Stella By Starlight" into his live sets.

This is a very nice collection of Miles' love songs, and for the casual fan may very well be worth looking into.

Miles Davis created a wide variety of music, upbeat bop, hardbop, swing, ballads, fusion, avant garde. Sure, he usually mixed up an album with a variety of music, and he might well be hostile to this repackaging of his music were he still alive, but on the ballads he captured that lonely, haunting, lost, alone in a crowd quality that fills his best sellers.

Creates quite a mood together. One can only wish that Prestige will release "the Art of the Ballad - Miles Davis" and do the same thing with the ballads on Prestige albums that Columbia did with this.

I agree that the slick packaging of this CD is a bit off-putting. But that in no way detracts from the quality of the music contained on it. It's still 100% Miles. His majesty, subtlety, tenderness and pain come through on every track. And his sidemen are great.

I understand the label wanting to package this CD in a "smooth jazz" sort of way. For me, a diehard traditionalist who can't stand smooth jazz, this is somewhat excruciating. But if it exposes more people to Miles who would otherwise be buying Kenny G albums, I'm all for it.

Just adding to the chorus of reviews here: a terrific collection of Miles's more approachable music -- but an INSIPID, FAWNING, TOTALLY PATRONIZING SET OF NOTES on the back of the CD package. If you liked "Kind of Blue", and don't own any other of his albums, take a chance on this one ... just do your best to ignore the creepy drivel printed on the outside.

I like jazz very much and Miles Davis is an important person for me. Especially, his music in cool jazz era is unique and he is the most dominant person in cool jazz. All the songs, except last two are about his cool jazz performances. Last two songs are about his fusion times. His cool performances are good, especially I fall in love too easily and I thought about you are the best songs in this complation. However, the songs are not complete each other and there is a discontinuty among the songs which makes this complation not a very good one.

I think the music here is some of the best music MD ever did. I think the objection to this cd is the title and the time it was released. As a MD fan for years I do think this is an excellent example of what MD could do. He had the ability to play to all audiences.

"Don't play what's there, play what's not there." ~ Miles Davis ~

Miles Davis was, no doubt, one of the top best trumpet players if not the best who ever graced the world of jazz. I love the way he artfully played his favorite instrument in all of his recordings, with no exception. He was a genius at that. But my only concern has something to do with the quote above... his repertoire. In my opinion, he had a very uniquely, individualistic choice of the tunes that are not on the mainstream - those that are rarely recorded. He wanted to be different from the rest when it comes to selecting the material for his body of work. I'm a huge fan of standards from the Great American Songbook so naturally this is my most cherished Miles Davis CD, "Love Songs." The repertoire is a tasteful collection of some of the best tunes that he ever recorded between 1957 and 1965. The interpretations are flawlessly sublime. Kudos to Gil Evans for the beautiful and enchanting chart arrangements.

There is an element of graceful elegance in the consistent execution of all the tracks especially my top choices "My Funny Valentine," "I Thought About You," "Someday My Prince Will Come," "I Loves You Porgy" and "Stella By Starlight" where he is backed by Bill Evans on piano, Cannonball Adderley on alto sax and John Coltrane on tenor sax. Listen closely to his tear-inducing, sweeping and wailing trumpet ... just about the sweetest sounds I've ever heard.

The presence of a team of talented jazz instrumentalists also adds glow to all the tunes - the likes of Grammy Awardee Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, Frank Butler on drums, among many others.

There are two bonus tracks that are perfect representations of his contemporaneous approach to non-standards, "Time After Time" and "Human Nature." You can hear an upbeat Miles Davis on these delightful bonus tunes.

Listening to this CD is such a sweet musical adventure. It always takes my breath away each time I listen. With my heartfelt recommendation, you'll love it as much as I do.

* * * * * TEN STARS * * * * *

This is one of the best jazz ballad albums compiled. Davis' trumpet is so sensual and erotic within itself, it is only right to create a album of love and tranquility. The album's standout is without a doubt the live version of "My Funny Valentine". Davis' performance was absolutely amazing and completely soul-stirring. The tranquil ,"I Though About You" is a mellow masterpiece. It is seemingly designed to have you reflecting on the person you love. The beautifully done"Old Folks",at the albums end, stand as a testament to the long lasted beauty and immortality of love. Miles Davis' Love Songs is indeed a must have.

This February I recieved "Love Songs" by Miles Davis as a Valentines present. My true love is what you might call an budding officiando of jazz but be sure I have informed her that anything she brings home with Miles Davis name on it is usually a sure bet. Even if by chance, she mistakenly brings home the same CD twice, in the information age its always a good idea to have a backup. I, like many music fans have the a habit of playing a new CD once and then going back and playing my favortite cuts over and over. With this CD I just play the whole disc over and over, because frankly every cut is a winner. I would recommend this CD for any secret lover. Its ment to be shared late at nignt where clearly Davis did his best work. Personally, the CD "Kind of Blue" is still my all time favorite, without a doubt five stars. This CD proves Miles Davis could do it again and again. Five stars, good romance for any Jazz lover.