Miles Davis, Vol. 1 [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Miles Davis | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 24, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 1952
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B00005LKC1
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,730 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A mixed bag of early 50s Miles, August 6, 2001

By 

G B (Connecticut) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Miles Davis, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)

This album contains two sessions: the first 9 tracks are from 1952 (during Miles's heroin addiction), while the next 6 were recorded in early 1954 (his first session after kicking heroin). The song selection is interesting because it contains embryonic versions of several tunes that Miles would record more effectively later in the decade: "Dear Old Stockholm", "Woody'n'You", "Well You Needn't", "Weirdo" (a.k.a. "Sid's Ahead"), and "It Never Entered My Mind". The '52 session is alright; J.J. Johnson's trombone playing is good throughout but Miles and altoist Jackie McLean are really erratic. The '54 session (with Horace Silver, Percy Heath and Art Blakey) is much stronger -- Miles plays strongly on trumpet and you can't argue with his choice of sidemen. It's not on the level of other recordings he made later that year (Walkin', Bags Groove, the Modern Jazz Giants) but is a welcome addition to any Miles fan's collection. Volume 1 isn't as good as Volume 2, but hardcore Miles fanatics should probably pick up both.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Music, August 31, 2001

By 

Scott McFarland (Manassas, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Miles Davis, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)

These were two solid sessions by Miles. They each stand up very well when compared to the sessions for Prestige done around this time frame; these have a clearer recorded sound and reasonably definitive performances (Miles sounds cool and beautiful).
The highlights here were to be revisited ("Dear Old Stockholm" a few years later on Miles' Columbia debut, and "Weirdo" here becomes "Sid's Ahead" a few years later) but there is still some nice jazz here and very nice ambience to the sessions. Horace Silver's piano on the latter session sparkles.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth Buying if You are Studying Miles' Career, March 14, 2007

By 

Talking Wall "Never trust a man with manicure... (Queen Creek, AZ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Miles Davis, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)

A lot has been written about this period of Miles' career. I picked this up as I've been reading Milestones (the definitive biography) and wanted to hear something from the infamous 1951 - 1954 years (I'm trying to listen to Miles' recordings chronologically as I read through the book).

This is a solid 4 star release when compared to Miles' later work. This release is made up of two sessions, one from 1952 and one from early 1954. Contrary to what you may have heard or assumed, this is not bad music. It isn't exactly forward-looking and Miles isn't playing up to his ability but his playing is still good, as are the other musicians who participated in these sessions.

It's very interesting to hear the incredible difference between the two sessions, in 1952, Miles was a heroin addict and by the second session, he'd kicked the habit. The 1954 session is far more lively.

If you are interested in Miles' music and tracking his career and development then this release is highly recommended, otherwise, skip it and start at Bags' Groove (recorded at the end of 1954).