TSD welcomes back Sam Stone for a guest post about Vinyl Me, Please's upcoming Anthology of Miles Davis' landmark electric period in which he redefined the sound of jazz alongside such key sidemen as Wayne Shorter, John McLaughlin, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Joe Zawinul, Dave Holland, Tony Williams, Harvey Brooks, Jack DeJohnette, Michael Henderson, Billy Cobham, Keith Jarrett, Airto Moreira, James Mtume, and many others.
Vinyl Me, Please has announced the latest volume in its ongoing VMP Anthology series: Miles Davis: The Electric Years. The 7-album, 11-LP box set highlights one of the most daring periods in his legendary career, as the bandleader-trumpeter-composer melded jazz, funk, rock, and electronic elements into a new brand of jazz-fusion. The landmark 1969-1974 albums included in the box - In a Silent Way, Bitches Brew, A Tribute to Jack Johnson, Live-Evil, On The Corner, Big Fun, and Get Up With It - have been remastered AAA with 1:1 tape transfers by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound, with Steve Berkowitz consulting and supervising. The albums are presented on 180-gram vinyl pressed at GZ and are housed in a slipcase featuring silver ink work and a portrait of Davis in the style of Tadayuki Naitoh. The press release notes that this first edition is limited to 2,000 units.
As always, VMP seeks to go beyond your usual box set by offering not only an extensive liner notes booklet written by jazz historian Ben Ratliff, but also an immersive podcast. Each episode is hosted by VMP's Director of Music and executive producer of the collection, Andrew Winistorfer, and explores the albums' history and impact. "Doing a box dedicated to Miles Davis has been a goal and dream for us since we started VMP Anthology in 2019," Winistorfer said in a statement. "It took us a while to decide on how to narrow it down; Miles has something like four or five different eras you could put into a box like this. But the electric period is one of his least explored. The big titles get all the attention, and we thought there was a way to show people how groundbreaking and incredible this time in Miles' career was by doing all of his studio albums of this period. What emerges is a picture of an artist in his third professional decade, refusing to rest on his laurels and inventing a new future in real time."
Miles Davis: The Electric Years is expected to ship in November 2023. It's available to order now from Vinyl Me, Please's website, and if you're a VMP member you'll receive an automatic discount. You'll find the track listing below!
Miles Davis, VMP Anthology: The Electric Years (Vinyl Me, Please, 2023)
In a Silent Way (originally released as Columbia LP CS 9875, 1969)
Side 1:
1. Shhh/Peaceful
Side 2:
1. In A Silent Way/It's About That Time
Bitches Brew (originally released as Columbia LP CS 9995, 1970)
Side 1:
1. Pharaoh's Dance
Side 2:
1. Bitches Brew
Side 3:
1. Spanish Key
2. John McLaughlin
Side 4:
1. Miles Runs The Voodoo Down
2. Sanctuary
A Tribute to Jack Johnson (this edition released as Columbia LP KC 30455, 1971)
Side 1:
1. Right Off
Side 2:
2. Yesternow
Live-Evil (originally released as Columbia LP G 30954, 1971)
Side 1:
1. Sivad
2. Little Church
3. Medley: Gemini/Double Image
Side 2:
1. What I Say
2. Nem Um Talvez
Side 3:
1. Selim
2. Funky Tonk
Side 4:
1. Inamorata and Narration By Conrad Roberts
On The Corner (originally released as Columbia LP KC 31906, 1972)
Side 1:
1. On The Corner / New York Girl / Thinkin' One Thing And Doin' Another / Vote for Miles
2. Black Satin
Side 2:
1. One And One
2. Helen Butte / Mr. Freedom X
Big Fun (originally released as Columbia LP PG 32866, 1974)
Side 1:
1. Great Expectations / Mulher Laranja
Side 2:
1. Ife
Side 3:
1. Go Ahead John
Side 4:
1. Lonely Fire
Get Up With It (originally released as Columbia LP KG 33236, 1974)
Side 1:
1. He Loved Him Madly
Side 2:
1. Maiysha
2. Honky Tonk
3. Rated X
Side 3:
1. Calypso Frelimo
Side 4:
1. Red China Blues
2. Mtume
3. Billy Preston
zally says
over and over. no new fans/collectors. those who want it got it.
gradese says
They are printing 2,000 units... they will fly off the shelves and be sold-out in no time, probably even before release date, in the preordering stage.
And then sell for 2 - 3 times the nominal price, next year, on the secondary market.
My main concern with VMP is that they take great care with the mastering, artwork, and general presentation, and they ask a premium price... but then they press at GZ which is very much hit and miss, and certainly doesn't have a quality control that's adequate for a premium product.
I know that VMP are building their own pressing facilities... but in the meantime... there are better options than GZ
monty says
The quality of their releases is outstanding, even if pricey so I immediately picked the Miles anthology, I love that Miles period.
In case someone is interested to try VMP there is a coupon here http://rwrd.io/w9qajh7 to get 20$ off your first order. I did it some months ago, liked it and then decided to subscribe. So far I don't regret it, we’ll see what’s happen