Miles Davis' best live album?

1965 was a bad health year for Miles, he'd been in the hospital twice for hip-related illnesses and operations, and then back in the hospital due to a liver problem the following February. His chops were not great, he hadn't been playing enough I believe by the time of the Chicago Plugged Nickel shows. But he had the ideas, they were really evident, the whole band was pushing to create great music. I love these recordings.

Round About Midnight and Dig are studio albums (though the Deluxe edition of Milestones released some years ago includes live material not on the original release).

The live recordings I've been revisiting most lately are bootleg recordings of the 'seventies bands. Fascinating stuff that is dense and rewards repeated listening. And that new Bootleg Vol. 1 box set, wow, that is great stuff.

 

Columbia never made any 1967 tour recordings. That box set is taken from radio station tapes. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

You are correct.

 

The sound quality of that CD called Highlights From Plugged Nickels has very decent sound quality and after listening to tall 6 tracks I am impressed by the piano, bass & drums. Sure some nice trumpet & sopran saxophon by Wayne Shorter as well, just not among the usual standard of Miles..Maybe when you go deeper you find more and more goodies. Hancock is really deep on the piano ! Tony Williams and John Carter are great, too..

I am talking about this Columbia CD

 

I know you mean Ron Carter. I agree, that cd (and in my opinion the entire set) sounds really nice.

 

AFAIK, Wayne Shorter only played tenor saxophone at the Plugged Nickel gigs....and did not play soprano sax until "In A Silent Way".

 

That's why I said it was sad....Columbia recorded Dave Brubeck live in Mexico in 1967 and the sound quality is fantastic...they should have done the same for Miles Davis in Europe.

 

Ah, gotcha. I agree then!

 

I think Wayne first played soprano on 'ascent'


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=51.059226,-0.344944

 

Yep, my bad
Tenor Saxophone - Wayne Shorter
Trumpet - Miles Davis
Bass - Ron Carter
Drums - Tony Williams
and the star of that evening
Herbie Hancock - Piano

He should have stuck with the piano like Red Garland !

 

Anyone get the new DVD boxed set?

 

If you're talking about the Montreux box, yes, I have it. It's pretty awesome. The interviews are fascinating, too.

 

Which live albums are essential? (Top 5)

 

Agharta
Pangaea
Live Evil
Black Beauty
Miles Davis At Fillmore

 

I wish the Plugged Nickel set was re-issued ....

 

It was available brand-new just a few years ago. I picked up my copy then. I'm not sure if it was reissued or if that was new old stock.

 

I would say in no particular order
1. Live At the Plugged Nickle
2. Live in Europe 1967
3. Cellar Door box
4. Agharta
5. Dark Magus.

If you can find some of the many radio broadcasts from the 1982 Europe Tour, I find them generally outstanding.

 

For Miles' Live Albums: Ever since it came out I enjoyed the Cellar Door Sessions the most, but tonight I'm listening to the Bootleg Series 3 Fillmore set again (from HDTracks) and I'm loving it. Will need to perform more extended testing

 

Agharta
Pangaea
Live Evil
Black Beauty
Miles Davis At Fillmore

fantastic

 

What he said mate !

 

Live Evil for mine. Even if you took out the studio cuts.

 

DARK MAGUS

AGHARTA

WE WANT MILES

play these discs with some volume!

 

Agharta
It's About That Time

 

Best CD mastering for these?

Agharta
Pangaea
Dark Magus
Black Beauty - Miles Davis at Fillmore West
Miles Davis At Fillmore

 

Hands down:

Agharta
Pangea

Adore those albums. 2 of my favourite live albums of all time.