First Miles
First Miles is a compilation album by American jazz musician Miles Davis, released on July 12, 1990, by Savoy Records. The album includes tracks from Davis's first recording session, backing singer Rubberlegs Williams on April 24, 1945, and the first session produced under his name, leading the members of Charlie Parker's band on August 14, 1947. Davis plays no solos in the session with Rubberlegs Williams, only being heard as part of an ensemble. He says in his autobiography he was so nervous on his first ever recording he could hardly play, and he forgot most of the details as he put the experience out of his mind. Davis had already recorded several sessions by 1947 as a member of Parker's band for the Savoy and Dial labels, but whereas Parker usually recorded with no rehearsals, Davis had the group rehearse the material twice before recording. Davis wrote and arranged all four tracks, which were released as 78 rpm singles under the name "Miles Davis All-Stars". The four tracks have also been compiled on numerous Charlie Parker Savoy compilations, including Bird: The Savoy Recordings (Master Takes) (SJL 2201). Davis' next recording session as leader would be the first of the Birth of the Cool sessions in 1949, after having left Parker's band.
| First Miles | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Recorded | April 24, 1945 (#9–16) WOR Studios, New York City August 14, 1947 (#1–8) Harry Smith Studios, NYC | |||
| Genre | Jazz music, bop music | |||
| Length | 44:50 | |||
| Label | Savoy | |||
| Producer | Teddy Reig | |||
| Miles Davis chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
First Miles is a compilation album by American jazz musician Miles Davis, released on July 12, 1990, by Savoy Records. The album includes tracks from Davis's first recording session, backing singer Rubberlegs Williams on April 24, 1945,[2] and the first session produced under his name, leading the members of Charlie Parker's band on August 14, 1947.[3]
Davis plays no solos in the session with Rubberlegs Williams, only being heard as part of an ensemble. He says in his autobiography he was so nervous on his first ever recording he could hardly play, and he forgot most of the details as he put the experience out of his mind.[4]
Davis had already recorded several sessions by 1947 as a member of Parker's band for the Savoy and Dial labels, but whereas Parker usually recorded with no rehearsals, Davis had the group rehearse the material twice before recording. Davis wrote and arranged all four tracks, which were released as 78 rpm singles under the name "Miles Davis All-Stars".[5] The four tracks have also been compiled on numerous Charlie Parker Savoy compilations, including Bird: The Savoy Recordings (Master Takes) (SJL 2201).[6] Davis' next recording session as leader would be the first of the Birth of the Cool sessions in 1949, after having left Parker's band.
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "That's the Stuff You Gotta Watch" (Alternate Take 1) | Buck Ram & Noble Sissle | 3:03 |
| 2. | "That's the Stuff You Gotta Watch" (Alternate Take 2) | Buck Ram & Noble Sissle | 3:10 |
| 3. | "That's the Stuff You Gotta Watch" (Master Take 3) | Buck Ram & Noble Sissle | 3:14 |
| 4. | "Pointless Mama Blues" | Teddy Reig & Rubberlegs Williams | 2:48 |
| 5. | "Deep Sea Blues" | Teddy Reig & Rubberlegs Williams | 3:13 |
| 6. | "Bring It On Home" (False Start Take 1) | Teddy Reig & Rubberlegs Williams | 0:15 |
| 7. | "Bring It On Home" (Alternate Take 2) | Teddy Reig & Rubberlegs Williams | 2:47 |
| 8. | "Bring It On Home" (Master Take 3) | Teddy Reig & Rubberlegs Williams | 2:48 |
| 9. | "Milestones" (False Start Take 1) | Miles Davis | 0:09 |
| 10. | "Milestones" (Master Take 2) | Miles Davis | 2:36 |
| 11. | "Milestones" (Alternate Take 3) | Miles Davis | 2:45 |
| 12. | "Little Willie Leaps" (False Start – Incomplete Take 1) | Miles Davis | 0:51 |
| 13. | "Little Willie Leaps" (Alternate Take 2) | Miles Davis | 3:09 |
| 14. | "Little Willie Leaps" (Master Take 3) | Miles Davis | 2:50 |
| 15. | "Half Nelson" (Alternate Take 1) | Miles Davis | 2:50 |
| 16. | "Half Nelson" (Master Take 2) | Miles Davis | 2:44 |
| 17. | "Sippin' at Bells" (False Start – Incomplete Take 1) | Miles Davis | 0:55 |
| 18. | "Sippin' at Bells" (Master Take 1) | Miles Davis | 2:23 |
| 19. | "Sippin' at Bells" (False Start – Take 3) | Miles Davis | 0:06 |
| 20. | "Sippin' at Bells" (Alternate Take 4) | Miles Davis | 2:26 |
- Subsequent reissues often combined false start takes and reordered the Davis tracks first. A 2003 reissue CD contained bonus track "Now's The Time"[8]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16. | "Now's the Time" (Master Take 4) | Charlie Parker | 3:15 |
Original 78 rpm singles
[edit]The master takes of the tracks on this album were originally issued on the following 78 rpm singles:[10][11][12]
- Savoy 564: Rubberlegs Williams – That's the Stuff You Gotta Watch / Pointless Mama Blues
- Savoy 5516: Rubberlegs Williams – Deep Sea Blues / Bring It On Home
- Savoy 934: Miles Davis All-Stars – Milestones / Sippin' at Bells
- Savoy 951: Fats Navarro & Leo Parker – Goin' to Minton's / Miles Davis & Charlie Parker – Half Nelson
- Savoy 977: Charlie Parker – Chasin' the Bird / Miles Davis All-Stars – Little Willie Leaps
Personnel
[edit]Milestones / Little Willie Leaps / Half Nelson / Sippin' at Bells
[edit]Miles Davis All-Stars, August 14, 1947, Harry Smith Studios, NYC
- Miles Davis – trumpet
- Charlie Parker – tenor sax
- John Lewis – piano
- Nelson Boyd – bass
- Max Roach – drums
That's the Stuff You Gotta Watch / Pointless Mama Blues / Deep Sea Blues / Bring It On Home
[edit]Herbie Fields Band with Rubberlegs Williams, April 24, 1945, WOR Studios, NYC
- Rubberlegs Williams – vocals
- Miles Davis – trumpet
- Herbie Fields – tenor sax, clarinet
- Teddy Brannon – piano
- Leonard Gaskin – bass
- Ed Nicholson – drums
Production
[edit]- Teddy Reig – original producer
- Phil Schaap – compilation producer, remastering assistant, liner notes
- Jack Towers and Joe Brescio – remastering
- Dick Smith – art director
- William Gottlieb – cover photograph
References
[edit]- ^ Yanow, Scott (2011). "First Miles – Miles Davis | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
- ^ April 24, 1945 Session Details, Miles Ahead: A Miles Davis Website, accessed June 26, 2014
- ^ August 14, 1947 Session Details, Miles Ahead: A Miles Davis Website, accessed June 26, 2014
- ^ "Miles: the Autobiography", Miles Davis with Quincy Troupe, 1989, pg.66
- ^ "Miles: the Autobiography", Miles Davis with Quincy Troupe, 1989, pg.105
- ^ Bird: The Savoy Recordings (Master Takes), at AllMusic, accessed June 26, 2014
- ^ "First Miles". Discogs. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
- ^ "First Miles (MilesDavis.com)". Archived from the original on November 24, 2014.
- ^ "Miles Davis – First Miles". Discogs. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
- ^ Savoy 500 series, at the Jazz Discography Project, accessed July 2, 2014
- ^ Savoy 5500 series, at the Jazz Discography Project, accessed July 2, 2014
- ^ Savoy Bop 900 series, at the Jazz Discography Project, accessed July 2, 2014
