LEAST favorite Miles Columbia box set???

[Rooster_Ties]

Well, nearly all the Miles Columbia box sets are out (assuming "Seven Steps to Berlin" is the last one, though perhaps they'll do another one for all the various sessions from the 70's (after the "Jack Johnson" sessions), though that's pretty much up-in-the-air, I'm afraid -- so I didn't include it in this poll).

And since the "Seven Steps to Berlin" box isn't out yet, we'll have to go with this description, and our personal knowledge of most of this material. From Jazzmatazz...

Seven Steps: Complete The Complete Columbia Recordings of Miles Davis, 1963-64 - 7 CDs (Columbia) Sept 28

— Probably Seven Steps to Heaven (studio, 1963), Miles in Europe (Antibes, 1963), My Funny Valentine/Four & More (Philharmonic Hall, 1964), Miles in Tokyo (1964) and Miles in Berlin (1964); includes seven previously unissued tunes plus three in unedited form for the first time.

And for the sake of this poll, let's all assume that the unreleased tracks (which we don't know anything about yet) – that they aren't all from any one particular album's session -- but rather just assume for the sake of argument it's one or two more bonus tracks from each of the various albums that make up this set. (So in other words, don't vote like you're getting an hour more of Miles with Sam Rivers, cuz that's probably not gonna be the case, sorry. For what it's worth, the previous Jazzmatazz description said that the majority of the unreleased material came from Antibes in 1963).

So which period of Miles career for Columbia is your LEASE favorite, or the one you are the least interested in. And why???

Edited June 18, 2004 by Rooster_Ties

[chris olivarez]

I'd vote for the Jack Johnson because it doesn't look all that interesting but I voted for Bitches Brew because I brought the extended set and came to the conclusion that the music that should have been released from Bitches Brew had already been released and I paid the extra chunk of change for something that I thought was filler. Not only that but the packaging sucked too!!!!

[Jazzmoose]

Bitches Brew is the only one I bought, and the only one I will buy. I could do without it. Should I vote? (To expand on the comments Chris made, this packaging ***SUCKS BIG TIME!!!***)

[doubleM]

The Columbia Years, 1955-1985 or some such...would have gotten my vote, had it been included in y'r poll. So I guess I'll vote for the In a Silent Way Box, just because I spin it the least.

[Tony Pusey]

Jack Johnsson.

I like it, but it is not for me in the same league as some of the others.My favourite remains the complete quintet with Shorter et al.

[jazzbo]

I voted FOR the second great quintet for several reasons.

One is that it doesn't have that much that's really new to ME, and it is the music of Miles offered here that I have listened to the most, tied with the Bitches Brew box, which offered more music and information that was new to ME.

Secondly is that I've been lucky to purchase cheaply DSD cds from Sony of nearly the entire box that is available on Sony cd, and they sound better than the box set sounds to me, and I listen to those more often when I reach for this material.

But I still treasure the set and put it on now and then and read portions of the booklet.

[sal]

I voted for Jack Johnson because I'm not really a fan of SO many alternate takes.

[JSngry]

None of the above - love 'em all, if for different reasons.

However, my least favorite annotation (a huge reason why I spend the bucks for these boxes) has to be the JACK JOHNSON set. Bob Blumenthal again gives us radio play-by-play when we've already got the picture in front of us. Competent, sure, and possibly informative for those who have had little or no exposure to the music and/or the people making it (although one has to ask if those are the main audience for these sets. I think they shouldn't be - all the "ephemera" is better appriciated (usually) if you've had the time to become intimate w/the original albums). But compared to the tremendous amount of anecdotal and/or analytical information in all the previous sets, this one was a real letdown to me.

Edited June 18, 2004 by JSngry

[Big Al]

Bitches Brew box. ZZZZZZZ

[John L]

I go along with majority opinion here. For me, it is a toss up between the Complete Miles and Gil or the Bitches' Brew box.

I don't really listen to much on the Miles and Gil box beyond the original LPs of Miles Ahead and Porgy and Bess. I've never really liked Sketches of Spain very much and I don't listen to Quiet Nights very often. The alternates and extensive studio chatter make a fascinating historical document, but don't really interest me too much from the musical point of view. For someone making a serious musical study of the whole production process, they are probably invaluable.

The Bitches' Brew box has some great and important music. For some reason, however, I am rarely in the mood for it.

Edited June 18, 2004 by John L

[B. Goren.]

My vote goes to Bitches Brew. I dont like the fusion era of Miles and Bitches Brew marks the beginning of this era.

[Rooster_Ties]

None of the above - love 'em all, if for different reasons.

Come on, Jim. For purely musical reasons only, which one would be your least favorite???

[7/4]

the Complete Miles & Gil.

[JSngry]

None of the above - love 'em all, if for different reasons.

Come on, Jim. For purely musical reasons only, which one would be your least favorite???

Sorry, but that does not compute.

Really.

I'm a total geek for this stuff, all of it, and there is not one that interests me any less than any of the others.

The one that had the fewest musical "surprises" for me was the 2nd 5tet box, but even then, the chronological/session sequencing puts it all into a whole 'nother light. Listening to the box is different than listening to the individual albums, and that holds true for all of the sets, at least for me. Different "intent", if you will, and none of them "fails" me even slightly.

Again, sorry.

Edited June 18, 2004 by JSngry

[take5]

I'm currently collecting them all, but intend on keeping the CDs of the "important" albums. For example, I just got the Miles w/ Coltrane set, but am keeping Milestones and the SACDs of Round About Midnight and Kind of Blue, while selling (or giving away) the Newport, Plaza, and '58 Sessions CDs.

Of all the sets, the one I'm least concerned with getting is the second quintet. More than any of his other work, except the Gil Evans stuff, the track order is important to the musical presentation, so I'll probably keep all the albums. Getting this will be more a matter of completion, as it will result in a lot of replicated music.

[BruceH]

Actually none of them interest me, but I voted for #6, Bitches Spew. Blechh.

[GregK]

I'm not voting because I don't understand this poll-why vote for something you don't like? Anyway, I must be in the minority here- I really like the Bitches Brew set, in particular the packaging. One of my all-time favorites in terms of music and packaging. Just a great overall set

[Gary]

Anyway, I must be in the minority here- I really like the Bitches Brew set,

a minority of at least 2 greg - the bitches brew box is a MF!!!

I cant vote in a negative way for any of these boxes - the music's too good.

[Chuck Nessa]

I have 'em all and voted for Miles and Gil 'cause whenever I play it I'm "sidetracked" for a day or two! I HAVE to keep listening!

Hope this doesn't fuck up the poll.

I think boxes 5-7 have a shitload of useless crap.

[chris olivarez]

I'm not sure about 5 but no arguments on 6 and 7.

[dave9199]

I find it interesting that there are votes for each one. I voted for #3, but I know I'll like it. I'm with JSngry on this one, there's nothing I haven't liked. The reason I picked #3 is because it's mostly live albums and knowing Miles was doing the same songs just with different people doen't thrill me initially, but I am looking forward to it as it's the last box. I'm just glad I didn't get into Miles back when these sets started coming out. It's been almost a DECADE if you include the Plugged Nickel box. And since there's still the Live Evil set that's yet to come out & a set from 1969 (2 cds), it will be 10 years for all of this.

[John L]

Hope this doesn't fuck up the poll.

Too late, Chuck. The poll is fucked.

[JSngry]

Was it as good for you as it was for me?

[sidewinder]

Which one could I do without? Again, I would have to say, none of them. It would be splitting infinitessimaly thin hairs to choose between them, especially when they are on the Mosaic LP editions (JJ excluded - sadly).

Edited June 19, 2004 by sidewinder

[danasgoodstuff]

I voted for Seven Steps just 'cause I already own all the others..., and the Complete Plugged Nickel and I want the Ayler Box, but if I see it cheap enuff I'll probably sucomb and buy 7 Steps too.