VOTE FOR MILES - ILM artist poll #32, Miles Davis - Results Thread

Recalling now that when I saw Spiritualized on the Pure Phase tour, they played the entirety of He Loved Him Madly over the PA before taking the stage. Seemed appropriate.

Except Jason Spaceman thought it was about him.

Any others come to mind?

Didn't Lester Bangs have a back-and-forth with himself about the merits of On The Corner? It's been years since I read those pieces, so I might be misremembering.

Any others come to mind?

I'm drawing a blank, but I'm way, way out of the critical loop.

Tipsy, was this one of your 4?

Yup. Given the placement in the albums poll, I figured.

#3 - "So What" (M. Davis) - from Kind of Blue, 1959
543 points, 18 votes, two #1 votes
http://youtu.be/DEC8nqT6Rrk

Now THAT is shocking.

That's why I love these polls.

Re. "Right Off," not enough love, in the midst of the jazz v rock debate, for how unbelievably powerful the opening to this is. IIRC, it's an edit, but holy god is it a good one if so. Whether Cobham is swinging or not, he's absolutely pounding the shit out of the skins in this -- and McLaughlin, lets just say, isn't duetting with Doc Severinsen. Combined with Henderson missing the key change and Miles (inverting the Herbie "make it work" approach I mentioned upthread) entering in dramatic fashion, "Right Off" is pretty potent stuff.

I didn't vote for it. Nice riff, but he has better tunes imo.

'Right Off' does kick butt and take names, for sure. Have you heard the box set, NTI?

RE: 'So What'
I purposely put it out of my top ten because I thought it would be a sure thing at number one.

"So What" is like the "Yesterday" of jazz -- the one tune that everyone knows regardless of whether they know or even care for the genre (or music for that matter). Overplayed or not, it's pretty much perfect.

I have the JJ box -- the only one, I think, that actually delivers on the promise of being the *complete* sessions. It's rougher sledding as a result, but more useful in an academic sense. Which at the end of the day, these boxes are.

So basically this will be the first poll where the album and track winners are identical.

Just wondering, because, using the stuff on that box set, it would be possible (and fun, depending on how nerdy one is) to try and recreate 'Right Off' the way it appeared on the proper album.

Sorry that the rollout hasn't included more commentary from me -- thank you all for picking up the slack, and thank you most of all for voting!

So without further ado, the top 2 presented together.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/49/Miles-davis-in-a-silent-way.jpg

#2 - "In a Silent Way/It's About That Time" (J. Zawinul/M. Davis) - from In a Silent Way, 1969
576 points, 16 votes, two #1 votes
http://youtu.be/DCnUpl6B46M

------------------

#1 - "Shhh/Peaceful" (M. Davis) - from In a Silent Way, 1969
757 points, 20 votes, three #1 votes
http://youtu.be/gT1e2_uTwmI

wow so this, the albums poll and the jazz poll makes it pretty damn clear: ilx REALLY REALLY loves in a silent way. i really really love it too.

Two polls in a row (Madonna and Miles) where my #1 was the poll #1 one. I am the consensus!

lol wow

hey can anyone recommend a good book on the second quintet? analysis + history/anecdotes

The #1 votes for tracks were really spread out, compared to the album poll's #1 votes. Even combining the 2 sides of IASW, its five was half the number IASW got in Albums. "Shhh/Peaceful" and "Flamenco Sketches" tied with three #1s each.

Now that's consensus. Thanks William; sorry I couldn't add so much to the thread, but I really don't have much to say about these records. I mean I like them, but y'know.

hey can anyone recommend a good book on the second quintet? analysis + history/anecdotes

Honestly, the liner notes in the box set.

RE: the results
I can't say I'm all that surprised —In A Silent Way has long been my personal favorite— but I guess I just expected more pre-65 stuff overall.

Here's my ballot:
1. Blue in Green
2. In A Silent Way
3. Fran Dance
4. 'Round Midnight
5. Boplicity
6. Seven Steps to Heaven
7. If I Were A Bell
8. The Ghetto Walk
9. Nefertiti
10. Miles Ahead
11. So What
12. Shh/Peaceful
13. Stablemates
14. Concierto de Aranjuez (Adagio)
15. Agitation
16. Thisness
17. He Loved Him Madly
18. Walkin'
19. The Sorcerer
20. Mademoiselle Mabry
21. Gondwana
22. My Funny Valentine
23. Milestones
24. Back Satin
25. Generique
26. Footprints
27. Solar
28. Half Nelson
29. Dig
30. Blue Haze

Thanks, Will. This was a very fun poll to watch unfold.

Thanks for a great poll, William. Really enjoyed it.

Regarding editing, the wiki page on "Live-Evil" gives a listing of every edit point - and source - for the long live pieces which is interesting.

I'm especially interested to see how many '80s tracks turned up on people's lists. Here's mine:

1. On the Corner/New York Girl/Thinkin’ One Thing and Doin’ Another/Vote for Miles

2. He Loved Him Madly

3. So What

4. Prelude (from Agharta)

5. Jean Pierre (long version from We Want Miles)

6. Right Off

7. Rated X

8. Pharaoh’s Dance

9. Nefertiti

10. Tutu

11. Agitation

12. Go Ahead John

13. Frelon Brun

14. Dr. Jackle

15. Concierto de Aranjuez

16. Human Nature

17. Milestones

18. Two Bass Hit

19. Honky Tonk

20. Basin Street Blues

21. Seven Steps to Heaven

22. Shhh/Peaceful

23. Footprints

24. Stuff

25. Joshua

26. Teo

27. Some Day My Prince Will Come

28. Fat Time

29. That’s Right

30. Hannibal

Great poll, WmC. Most challenging one I've done, and learned a lot.

That's a lot of 80's stuff you put in there. I had one song up for consideration from the 80's: 'Mr. Pastorious.' Obviously didn't make my list in the end though.

Still a good one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oaqwh_Y6VXc

Not too surprised that my #1 didn't place, I guess.

1. Yesterdays (Miles Davis Volume 1)
2. Rated X
3. Shhh/Peaceful
4. Spanish Key (Live at the Fillmore East, March 7, 1970: It's About That Time, second show)
5. Concerto de Aranjuez
6. 'Round Midnight ('Round About Midnight)
7. Right Off
8. Footprints (Paris '67)
9. Bess, You Is My Woman Now
10. Boplicity
11. On the Corner/New York Girl/Thinkin' One Thing and Doin' Another/Vote for Miles
12. Solea
13. Agitation (Plugged Nickel, 12/23/65)
14. When I Fall In Love (Steamin')
15. Moja
16. Generique
17. Calypso Frelimo
18. Moon Dreams
19. Gone
20. Bitches Brew
21. He Loved Him Madly
22. Julien Dans L'Ascenseur
23. Prelude (Agharta)
24. Nefertiti
25. Milestones
26. Circle in the Round
27. Blue in Green
28. No Blues (Plugged Nickel, 12/22/65)
29. Mademoiselle Mabry
30. So What

Great poll, WilliamC! Thanks for doing this!

balls:

http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/CulturalStudies/AfricanAmericanStudies/~~/dmlldz11c2EmY2k9OTc4MDE5NTM5Mzg0Mg==

It's been a great poll for opening my ears to some pre-Columbia stuff. I can't say it did the same for 1981 and after, but I have issues with the slick 80s production on a lot of it.

hey can anyone recommend a good book on the second quintet? analysis + history/anecdotes

this looks heavy on the musicological analysis, hence it has been sitting unopened on my shelf for a while

xpost

Full results! Albums on one sheet, tracks on the other.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmhW_PgsyKKodFJMbzI2aFBSUlFySUhqaGlLRkZZVEE&usp=sharing

On the tracks page, where there were point ties, sometimes I had to override the spreadsheet's placement order (alphabetical by song title) with the number of votes, which was the first tiebreaker. I didn't bother trying to change the spreadsheet though.

great poll william I enjoyed it lots. Thank you!

1. Zimbabwe
2. Funky Tonk
3. He Loved Him Madly
4. Fat Time
5. Round Midnight
6. Iris
7. On Green Dolphin Street
8. Fall
9. Jean Pierre/You're Under Arrest/Then There Were None
10. Sivad

11. Blues For Pablo
12. Miles Runs The Voodoo Down
13. Tout de Suite
14. Riot
15. On The Corner/New York Girl/Thinkin' of One Thing and Doin' Another/Vote for Miles
16. Summertime
17. Milestones
18. Human Nature
19. Great Expectations
20. Red China Blues

21. MDI/Something's On Your Mind/MDZ
22. Soaking
23. Dear Old Stockholm
24. Mood
25. Shhh/Peaceful
26. Concierto de Aranjuez

Just the 26 because I had to rush mine out in the end. I feel defeated by the whole exercise, really - if I'd had a year then maybe I'd've done a better job. But it was great fun anyway, I second the 'learning a lot' thing.

i think 'Tutu' (from Live Around the World) was the only '80s track on mine

Good work WilliamC, really enjoyed this poll - I had no idea what the consensus tracks would be beyond a handful of obvious ones so this has been an eye-opener.

My ballot:

TRACKS
1. Gone, Gone, Gone
In a Silent Way
All Blues
Bitches Brew
Prayer (Oh Doctor Jesus)
John McLaughlin
Shhh/Peaceful
My Funny Valentine
Maiysha
Concierto de Aranjuez (Adagio)
Milestones
He Loved Him Madly
So What
Great Expectations
Black Satin
Eighty-One
Little Church
The Pan Piper
‘Round Midnight
Spanish Key
Bags’ Groove
Right Off
E.S.P.
On the Corner/New York Girl/Thinkin’ of One Thing and Doin’ Another/Vote for Miles
Yaphet
Dear Old Stockholm
Freddie Freeloader
Fall
Ascent
Two Bass Hit

ALBUMS
1. In a Silent Way
Porgy and Bess
Bitches Brew
Sketches of Spain
On the Corner
Kind of Blue
Agharta
Tribute to Jack Johnson
Get Up With It
E.S.P.
Milestones
'Round About Midnight
Bags Groove
Steamin' With the Miles Davis Quintet
My Funny Valentine
Miles Smiles
Big Fun
Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants
Cookin' With the Miles Davis Quintet
Relaxin' With the Miles Davis Quintet

Loved this WC -- this must be the first poll I've voted in where the top two weren't even on my ballot!

1. Pharaohs Dance
2. Right Off
3. Nefertiti
4. Milestones
5. Fall
6. Rated X
7. Sivad
8. My Funny Valentine
9. Concerto de Aranjuez
10. Spanish Key
11. So What
12. Freddie the Freeloader
13. All Blues
14. Zimbabwe
15. Miles Ahead
16. Summertime
17. My Man's Gone Now
18. Gondwana
19. Ife
20. Someday My Prince Will Come

Albums
1. Bitches Brew
2. Kind of Blue
3. Sketches of Spain
4. Pangaea
5. In a Silent Way

since voting i've been mostly only in the mood for Miles when i'm at home listening; and also just scored a handful i'd never thought to check out before: Pangaea, MFV, Four + more, oh and that KILLER Montreux box stuff. thx for all the work William!

The size of the discography made this tougher for everybody -- and I'd say from the somewhat lower turnout that it did chase off some potential voters -- so I'm glad y'all thought it turned out ok. Thanks again to everyone who voted/listened/commented! I just updated the Spotify playlist with the top 2.

1. Shh/Peaceful
2. All Blues
3. Bags' Groove
4. Moja
5. Concierto de Aranjuez
6. Gone
7. Spanish Key
8. On the Corner/New York Girl/Thinkin' One Thing and Doin' Another/Vote for Miles
9. Airegin
10. So What
11. In a Silent Way/It's About That Time
12. Right Off
13. Pharaoh's Dance
14. Black Satin
15. Boplicity
16. Tabu
17. Freddie Freeloader
18. Toute de Suite
19. Wili
20. Bitches Brew
21. Solea
22. Flamenco Sketches
23. Yesternow
24. Springsville
25. Generique
26. Filles de Kilimanjaro
27. My Funny Valentine
28. Summertime
29. Saeta
30. Blues by Five

Oops, forgot to bold "Springsville" in there, too. And "Wili," too. Most surprised at "Bags' Groove" not placing, but the one I'd really love to direct more love to is "Gone" -- the only original on Porgy and Bess, and straight classic.

"Gone" love seconded. The outtake sequence on the box is fascinating for how Gil Evans manages to consistently trip up these insanely accomplished musicians; even on the master, Philly Joe and the bass clarinetist still fuck up one of the sequences.

So What
Rightoff
In a Silent Way/It’s About That Time
Boplicity
Shhh/Peaceful
All Blues
Concierto di Aranjuez
Yesternow
Gondwana
Prayer (Oh Doctor Jesus)
Miles Runs the Voodoo Down
Vote for Miles
Prelude
Black Satin
Helen Butte

I need to shout out what is probably my favorite track that has not even been mentioned in this thread so far:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWBWF2mxNBI

you have to let it run for a while, it's a builder

1. Flamenco Sketches
2. Milestones
3. It Never Entered My Mind
4. Blue in Green
5. I Want to Stay Here
6. So What
7. Miles Runs the Voodoo Down
8. In a Silent Way
9. Right Off
10. Shhh/Peaceful

Followed this to learn, and I got some direction on what to look for, so thanks.

I need to shout out what is probably my favorite track that has not even been mentioned in this thread so far:

It was actually a toss-up for me between this and "Mademoiselle Mabry" on my ballot. Definitely an underrated track.

TRACKS
1. Shhh/Peaceful - In a Silent Way
2. Bitches Brew - Bitches Brew
3. Pharaoh’s Dance - Bitches Brew
4. Spanish Key - Bitches Brew
5. Miles Runs the Voodoo Down - Bitches Brew
6. Sanctuary - Bitches Brew
7. So What - Kind of Blue
8. All Blues - Kind of Blue
9. He Loved Him Madly - Get Up With It
10. Footprints - Miles Smiles
11. Rated X - Get Up With It
12. Blue in Green - Kind of Blue
13. Boplicity - Birth of the Cool
14. Orbits - Miles Smiles
15. Circle - Miles Smiles
16. Freedom Jazz Dance - Miles Smiles
17. Dolores - Miles Smiles
18. E.S.P. - E.S.P.
19. Agitation - E.S.P.
20. Iris - E.S.P.
21. Black Satin - On the Corner
22. Stuff - Miles in the Sky
23. Black Comedy - Miles in the Sky
24. Tout de Suite - Filles de Kilimanjaro
25. Petits Machins - Filles de Kilimanjaro
26. Filles de Kilimanjaro - Filles de Kilimanjaro
27. Solea - Sketches of Spain
28. Calypso Frelimo - Get Up With It
29. Maiysha - Get Up With It
30. The Sorcerer - Sorcerer

William will agree you need to watch this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxSFSdcGPLM

1. Go Ahead John
2. Shhhpeaceful
3. Great Expectations
4. Freddy Freeloader
5. Lonely Fire
6. It's About That Time
7. All Blues
8. Tout De Suite
9. Solea
10. Will O' The Wisp
11. The Little Blue Frog
12. The Pan Piper
13. Petits Machins
14. Black Satin
15. One And One
16. Miles Runs The Voodoo Down
17. Blue In Green
18. All Blues
19. Filles De Kilimanjaro
20. Spanish Key
21. Pinocchio
22. Country Son
23. Paraphernalia
24. Honky Tonk
25. Frelon Brun
26. Eighty-One
27. Footprints
28. Mood
29. Dual Mr. Anthony Tillmon Williams Process
30. Splash

Really enjoyed this poll, thanks for the effort William. Only just getting acquainted with Porgy and Bess and Ascenseur pour l'échafaud. It is such a huge, multifaceted beast is the Miles oeuvre. I don't know how he fitted it into one lifetime.