No. That was the one Miles album I could never find. (It was apparently already out of print when I started buying his albums around 1984.) Eventually it became moot when everything appeared on the box sets.
Circle in the Round, Directions, Water Babies. . . . these sure were Godsends to Miles fans during that period of time between Columbia contracts, during the "retirement." And items like "Directions," "Ascent," "Duran," "Konda," "Willie Nelson," "Sidecar," "Dual Mr. Tillman Anthony" . . . they were study windows into myriad live glimpses of these themes and studio recordings showing pre-Bitches Brew 'New Directions in Music" that we fans just did not know of before and filled in a few blanks in the journey. . . . I still like to listen to these. I have the original LPs I bought and Japanese LP facsimile versions of most of them and they still "connect" with me.
If I’d rather have the jewel case version of that edition would this link provide me that? I think I have some CDJ “points” to use Directions Miles Davis CD Album See how it has cardboard sleeve typed but crossed out?
I have Directions via The Complete Columbia box set, as well as Circle in the Round, which I already had in its "red frame" version, but the sound quality of the one in the box set is clearly superior.
My favorite version of Directions: Miles Davis - Directions I liked this better than the later Jpn releases.
Whipping out the high dollar recommendations today! I have the red border Circle too (listening to it right now in fact), interesting to know that the box set sounds better. Did they pick a Japan mastering for that or compile something new?
I love the studio versions of “Directions” with the so-called Lost Quintet, plus Zawinul and Hancock in’68. Very cool to compare those to the numerous live versions, which could get pretty far out in various Davis groups.
I ran through my impressions of the Complete On The Corner Sessions earlier in this thread. I've never had Water Babies, Circle In The Round or Directions. I remember seeing vinyl copies of the first two. I think I have most if not all of the contents now on the other box sets.
I’ll snag it then, thanks! While I’m at it to make shipping worth it I might finally get Black Beauty and In Concert. Black Beauty: Miles Davis Live At Fillmore West [Limited Pressing] Miles Davis CD Album In Concert [Limited Pressing] Miles Davis CD Album Are these any better/worse/different than their US counterparts? Price seems right for brand new.
Water Babies is excellent...should have come out back in '68/'69 when it was recorded. A missing link between Filles and Silent Way for sure.
I agree. Just listened to it again yesterday. I think what kept the tracks from being released at that time was probably Columbia’s general disinterest in jazz at that time (pre-fusion) coupled with poor sales of past albums. [Although, as I’ve mentioned before, that might be one of those perpetually repeated myths, as all Second Quintet albums were in the jazz charts at that time.] Also, Miles’ fast recording pace might have played a role, too, as he was probably recording much more than they could process and put out.
Relief, that's what I feel when reading your posts about the "albums/compilations" up for discussion. "Ascent," "Duran," "Konda," "Guinevere,". . . entered directly to my favorite Miles song list. What I felt before: "But if I like Miles so much how can I prefer these tracks that he chose not to put out ?!" I agree with the ones that prefer the isolated albums to the complete box sequence. But some of these tracks sound better in that "complete" context (IMO). Like "ascent" close to the "in a silent way" tracks. Plus I enjoy those 2 minutes edited out on "konda" that are available on the boxsets. But give me these Miles CDs over much of the music that were available at the time. Great stuff !
One other possible reason these were not released nearer the time of recording is. . . there wasn't a full album's worth of the Quintet material, nor a full album's worth of the "boogaloo" material. Shame really, as I'd like a full album of each.
Yeah, seems like Miles was pretty prolific when he wanted to be "Capricorn" is probably my favourite off of Water Babies...love the bass, Ron Carter gets completely unhinged on that one! I don't have Water Babies on vinyl but it seems to me it would qualify for the "most lopsided album sides lengthwise" thread, am I right? Side two is, like, twelve or so minutes longer than side one?
For vinyl it's the original US Columbia pressing, PG 32866. They come up for sale in clean condition every once in a while.
Personally I greatly prefer the original Teo Macero mixes for Water Babies to the Mark Wilder remixes with the digital reverb. The digital reverb drives me nuts. As far as I know the only way to get the original mixes on CD is the 1987 CBS/Sony Japan 32DP 727. Fortunately original Columbia LPs aren't too rare or pricey.
I've not compared them directly in a while but Sony SRCS 9736 from '01 has a DSD remaster and lists as remix engineers Russ Payne and Stan Weiss. I definitely prefer this mix to the Wilder. . . and I think Payne and Weiss may have been the original remixers in '76--they were both Columbia engineers then. I don't have my Water Babies LP handy (it's in my storage unit 55 miles away) to say for sure.
How do you know it’s digital reverb? As far as I know, Wilder likes to keep as much as possible in the analogue domain, and Sony’s studios certainly have the necessary gear. Just like with his remixes of KoB and Bitches Brew, there might even be an analogue tape of his remix. Did he state anywhere that he’s using a digital reverb instead of one of the EMT plates they have there? Like I said in an earlier post, I don’t like the original mix, I think it needs some serious EQ. It’s like Tony Williams is playing toy drums at times. Maybe this is a job for MFSL?
Water Babies is awesome. I listened to it last night. Unfortunately my copy is noisy. And it took a long time to find!
Indeed. This is from the back of the LP: I haven’t heard the disc you mention, but be aware that they may have just copied the credits from the back of the LP and they may not reflect the actual engineers for the CD. BTW, the track “Water Babies” is also available on the recent “Freedom Jazz Dance: Bootleg Series Vol. 5” and it’s Wilder best remix to date.
