Worst cover: Not because of the photo itself, but because it has nothing to do with the music or the artist. Man, I can just imagine what Miles must have felt when he saw this one. I can also imagine a couple of words he must have said about the guy responsible for it
I see what you mean! (I considered going with Quintet / Sextet instead.) I’m a sucker for the duotone photography on Jazz Giants and the stark contrast between sections. I also am ignorant of much context for his Prestige material in its original 10” form, so to me the compilation aspect is a plus or at least inconsequential.
Here is the alternate, record club cover of Live Evil that I guess was used because of concerns about the nudity in the standard version. Actually a cool cover in its own right.
And it resolves the title issue. If you look at the standard front cover, as much as I like it, you wouldn't have any reason to think the album was called Live Evil.
I'm so glad to hear we haven't discussed Agharta yet, I can't wait to see what can be uncovered about it in conversation. And yes, the cover is fantastic.
Things get very interesting, very quickly now. The move away from standards to new compositions is quite striking, and probably the most radical shift in Davis’s career, at least until IASW and B.B. The compositions are very pleasing to my ears, but I have to listen hard sometimes to hear Herbie and Ron. I’m only familiar with the 65-68 stuff through the box set and have had to separate the tracks into their respective albums. I love ESP, but a couple of the other albums are a bit ‘samey’. More on those later.
I've bought many a Miles D album because I thought the cover was so cool. I only dislike a handful of them.
Mati Klarwein had painted the front cover independently of Davis, but the back cover was painted with a suggestion from Davis: "I was doing the picture of the pregnant woman for the cover and the day I finished, Miles called me up and said, 'I want a picture of life on one side and evil on the other.' And all he mentioned was a toad. Then next to me was a copy of Time Magazine which had J. Edgar Hoover on the cover, and he just looked like a toad. I told Miles I found the toad."
My copy of Live Evil is the black one. Not necessarily by choice (though the original is another LP cover like the Stones' Undercover I'd have to hide from the kids) but because it was the cheapest copy I could find online. And normally having the whole sides 1/4, sides 2/3 configuration drives me nuts but since "What I Say" and "Funky Tonk" are my favourite songs on the album I don't mind in this case. It's weird having a double album in a non-gatefold cover, though.
You probably know that "in a silent way" was initially supposed to be called "Mornin' Fast Train From Memphis to Harlem". Again, being a fan might have some weight, but I also like Miles album names. Which ones do you like the most ? The name Miles is an easy one to do some games with words. These were nice: Miles Ahead Miles SMiles LivE EviL ... Kind of blue, In a silent way ... really fit the music
Could be. Makes a lot more sense than “Shhh/Peaceful”. Nothing really peaceful nor shhh about that track. Now, In a Silent Way—that one’s peaceful.
Friday and Saturday at the Blackhawk for me. Iconic, love the use of black space and their faces plus the fonts and color just pop off the cover. Classic. Modern Jazz Giants is also great.
Agree about Agharta. I have had a change of mind about this release after picking up an original Columbia vinyl. I kind of get it now after years of struggling with the Sony CD issue from the 90's.
I got lucky - my first exposure to the album was the 2013 Japanese Blu-Spec CD, which I picked up on a whim while holidaying in Osaka. That album's still a tough nut to crack though! It's been over a year and I'm still getting my head around it.
Birth Of The Cool Cookin, Relaxin, Workin, Steamin Sketches Of Spain E.S.P. Filles de Kilimanjaro Bitches Brew
On the topic of record club Miles albums, here is the back cover of a rather strange mid 60's compilation titled Orbits that I've seen once or twice. A mixed bag including Gil Evans tracks, a few Second Quintet pieces and even "Billy Boy" without Miles from 1958.
