Kind of Blue

[Jasper994]

Wow!!! Just got Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (Columbia/Legacy) CK 64935 for $7.50 from Costco... AWESOME recording!!!

 

[Jahn]

Welcome to the joys of Miles Davis! There's plenty more where that came from!

 

[wali]

The recording is quite bad actually but the music shines through it anyway--because its so good.

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Actually, I have multiple editions of Kind of Blue, acquired in the following order:

1. Columbia/Legacy CD, CK 64935
2. Classic Records 200g Quiex SV-P vinyl, CS 8163-Q
3. Early-pressing Columbia 6-eye mono vinyl, CL 1355
4. 1963 pressing Columbia 2-eye stereo, CS 8163
5. Early-pressing Columbia 6-eye stereo, CS 8163
6. Columbia/Legacy stereo/multichannel SACD, CS 64935

I felt that the CD edition is much too bright - even brighter than the already bright original stereo issues. The original mono issue, on the other hand, sounds like the mono master tape (according to mastering wizard Steve Hoffman).

 

[null]

There's a million versions of that album/cd, but only a few sound good enough to be considered "audiophile"...

 

[tyrion]

What a great album. I am listening to it at the moment in apple lossless thru an aiport express and it sounds great. I bought a vinyl copy, Columbia Re-Mastered Classic, or something like that. Not a very good pressing. I am heading over to my local records shop to find a better copy. Half my music collection is either Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck and John Coltrane. An new boxed set Seven Steps to Heaven: The Complete Columbia Recordings of Miles Davis 1963-64. I may be picking that up this weekend.

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyrion What a great album. I am listening to it at the moment in apple lossless thru an aiport express and it sounds great. I bought a vinyl copy, Columbia Re-Mastered Classic, or something like that. Not a very good pressing. I am heading over to my local records shop to find a better copy. Half my music collection is either Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck and John Coltrane. An new boxed set Seven Steps to Heaven: The Complete Columbia Recordings of Miles Davis 1963-64. I may be picking that up this weekend.

Well, the vinyl copy that you had was Columbia Jazz Masterpieces, CJ 40579. The CD edition of that - CK 40579 - was the first copy of KOB that I've ever owned. It sounded flat, dead and uninvolving compared to all of my subsequent copies of KOB. I no longer have that CD, having sold it to a used CD store.

 

[tyrion]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle_Driver Well, the vinyl copy that you had was Columbia Jazz Masterpieces, CJ 40579. The CD edition of that - CK 40579 - was the first copy of KOB that I've ever owned. It sounded flat, dead and uninvolving compared to all of my subsequent copies of KOB. I no longer have that CD, having sold it to a used CD store.

That's the one I have. Can you suggest a better quality copy? Thanks.

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyrion That's the one I have. Can you suggest a better quality copy? Thanks.

Look for earlier, all-analog masterings of this album, preferably on the classic '50s 6-eye label (6 white-on-black eyes); however, clean-condition 6-eye pressings of KOB (mono or stereo) can be very pricey. Failing that, copies on the 2-eye label are nearly as good. And even the '70s pressings (on the red/orange "COLUMBIA COLUMBIA" label are better than the Columbia Jazz Masterpieces edition of KOB, which was a butchered, '80s digital remix from the original tapes - on low-resolution PCM digital tape. Stay away from current vinyl pressings of KOB, unless either you are willing to spend at least $30 or you have at least $30 to spend on a single album.

 

[elrod-tom]

I'd strongly recommend the SACD...you'll find that a lot of the distortion that you notice when the CD runs a bit "hot" with higher levels (e.g. trumpets blaring after a lower volume stretches in "So What") vanishes with the miracle of SACD. Enjoy!!

 

[Valnoren]

Ok newbie question here,
how do you know what the cd your getting is recorded in ie. Redbook or SACD?

I have tons of Miles disks and Im looking at them and wondering how I can tell and how do I tell if I'm looking?

 

[tyrion]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valnoren Ok newbie question here, how do you know what the cd your getting is recorded in ie. Redbook or SACD? I have tons of Miles disks and Im looking at them and wondering how I can tell and how do I tell if I'm looking?

I believe they are clearly marked with sacd and the sacd symbol. If you have redbook cd's then I don't believe they would also be sacd.

 

[Valnoren]

Ahh ok I search on SACD and found the main sony sight.

Thanks.

 

[DLeeWebb]

My copies of "Kind Of Blue" and "Sketches of Spain" just came in the mail yesterday. I haven't had time to listen to them yet. I think that I'll get to it right now!

 

[yage]

In case anybody was still interested...

I purchased a DSD mastered Japanese CD copy of "Kind Of Blue" from this website:

http://www.mediawars.ne.jp/~mundo/cdjapan/link.html

The guy who runs the store (Ray Mizuni, I believe is his name) is very prompt about sending the merch and helpful if you've got any questions.

There are also XRCDs of Miles Davis to be had at www.xrcd.net, namely Workin', Steamin', Relaxin' and Cookin'. Though at $30 a pop (free shipping!) they're kinda expensive...