Steamy Sunday In November

 

The Miles Davis Quintet - Steamin' With The Miles Davis Quintet [APRJ 7200 USA 2022 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC]

Originally eventually released on Prestige Records (7200) in 1961.

I'm currently reading the Miles Davis autobiography and am at the stage in his career where he is about to switch between Prestige Records and Columbia Records. As part of his exit package, he agreed with Bob Weinstock to produce a final series of albums; Cookin', Relaxin', Workin' and Steamin' with his then quintet of John Coltrane on sax, 'Philly' Joe Jones on drums, Red Garland on piano and Paul Chambers on bass. As usual the series was wonderfully recorded & produced by Rudy Van Gelder in Hackensack, NJ during May & October 1956.

In the book, it was fascinating to read how Davis's relationship with John Coltrane was diminishing a great pace. Davis was reformed heroin addict, however the younger Coltrane had fallen fowl to addiction and his performance (especially live) was suffering - not that you would know when the Coltrane sax bursts from your speakers a short way into Surrey With The Fringe On Top or on Diane. Coltrane was sacked from the band, however eventually overcame his drug problems, and rejoined Davis for some of his most well known early work for Columbia.

Analogue Productions contracted Kevin Gray at Cohearant to cut this particular version from the original analogue tape. Although in mono, the quality of recording & mastering gives this rip so much more dimension & depth than many other mono releases.

This rip is almost raw with little needed work in the preparation stage, it does reveal the age & wear on the tape in places. With this in mind, it is still very unlikely that an OG pressing will sound as good as this.

Should time allow, there may be another post from me later today.

A1 Surrey With The Fringe On Top

A2 Salt Peanuts

A3 Something I Dreamed Last Night

B1 Diane

B2 Well You Needn't

B3 When I Fall In Love