Your Favorite Album Covers

[eddie]

Files De Kilamanjaro was the last release of Miles that I bought from 1968. Both In a silent way and Bitches Brew were issued in 1969 and I've heard sound samples and its true Jazz-rock fusion. It sounds like jazz meets rock and the swing feeling is minimal and there's much dissonance and loud sounds like one would associate with rock. Critics hail it as some of his best work but its not my style.

I just completed an online flea market which included all of Weather Reports catalog whose music is in a similar vein. Actually Zawinul who was a major force in Weather Report contributed and is created on Bitches Brew.

Even some of the world and roots music that you've mentioned are just too rock oriented for me. I'm more into structured jazz, smooth jazz, quiet storm, lite funk, and soul based music. Electric guitars is something I run from and the main reason why I ended up listening to dance, pop, country, and eventually soul as a youngster.

[visuals]

Files De Kilamanjaro was the last release of Miles that I bought from 1968. Both In a silent way and Bitches Brew were issued in 1969 and I've heard sound samples and its true Jazz-rock fusion. It sounds like jazz meets rock and the swing feeling is minimal and there's much dissonance and loud sounds like one would associate with rock. Critics hail it as some of his best work but its not my style.

Eddie:Files De Kilamanjaro I have never heard and if it's anything like Bitches Brew, I'm certain that I wouldn't want to. These are the type of offerings that I can't get into. I felt the same way when I first heard Thelonious Monk's stuff. Back then, I often made poor choices as starting points and usually wound up with sub-par or below standard material from the artist's catalogue....But then on the other hand, These were usually the ones that critics regarded as holy grail/must have reissues. Guess it was something I just didn't hear. I do however, catch a vibe for the smooth jazz genre ever so often. Kenny G, Larry Carlton, Marcus Miller (loved the "Tales" album) Najee, Paul Taylor, Boney James & Norman Brown type stuff I absolutely adore. I am currently anticipating the arrival of two mid 70's classics:Lonnie Liston Smith's "Visons Of A New World" & "Expansions" cd's in the mail early this week. This is my interpretation of what smooth jazz is. No matter the era, If it's relaxing, I can relate to it.


On the flip side, I would say that my indulgence and interest in rock stems from me being a blues man. Carlos Santana is responsible for me becoming interested in the sound of the electric guitar played in Rock context....long before I got into Jimi Hendrix, Peter Green, Frank Marino, Robin Trower or any of the numerous power-trio groups and other hard rock outfits. Lots of artists that were considered "stoner/psychedelic/prog" were fairly to deeply rooted in the Blues. Being a fan of early bluesmasters such as Howlin' Wolf, Leadbelly, Magic Sam, Muddy Waters, Johnny Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson, Elmore James and others from the Delta/Blues era made it easy for me to get into the next generation of Blues by artists such as B.B King, Albert King, Freddie King, Buddy Guy, Bobby Bland and many other electric bluesmen that worked the Chitlin' Circuit throughout most their careers. These players in turn made Rock easily adaptable for me as I was already hooked on electric blues guitar. Though artists such as Santana had some very hard drug induced stuff back in the late psychedelic 60's through the early 70's, I would have to say that what made me take notice was actually his softer, jazzy and at times, somewhat exotic sides. Latin/Afro percussion with great rock musicians upfront that could turn vibes quickly from hard & progressive to smooth jazz/r&b with ecstatic melodies . This sound was parlayed by a lot of artists creating a melting pot of styles that were rock infused such as Mandrill, Lafayette Afro Rock Band, War and so on.

[eddie]

About ten years ago, I took a history of rock class and one of the things I didn't know was that rock is rooted in the blues. I didn't realize and equate that heavy metal or hard progressive rock is really distorted blues.

Wailing guitars are not my thing. I never like Hiriam Bullock releases or even as a sideman because he threw electric guitar on top of smooth jazz and that's the manner many records in the mid 80's were cut. Some of it is just alright but it pulls soul/jazz in another direction.

Lonnie Liston Smith is great and I even have some French imports with no UPC of him. Great artist! "Expansions" was highly influencial.

[all*that*glitters*]

this cover must be my alltime favourite...
simple, stylish and personalised
and by Walter Wanderley, one the great Brazilian organplayers

classic!

[Nano]

What a coincidence. Last night I saw MILES ELECTRIC: A DIFFERENT KIND OF BLUE, a documentary by Murray Lerner which includes Miles Davis' legendary performance at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival. It was one improvisational ensemble piece, 38 minutes long, and for me it was unresistable and glorious. Everybody in the ensemble gives his testimony 30 years later, including jazz masters like Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea and Jack de Johnette, and all of them give raves about the 'electric' Miles period even today. Then we see the performance in its entirety. It's an amazing DVD and an excellent introduction to anyone interested in this period. Afterwards, I went to bed listening to Bitches Brew and I was very happy. 8-)

Anyway, here's a brief map to check the Miles oeuvre, which was big during his lifetime and now is augmented by endless re-releases and Columbia putting out anything that they find in their vaults. My faves are in bold letters:

The 'cool' period (late Forties, early Fifties): Birth of the Cool compiles several single releases that comprehend Miles' first venture into smooth, orchestrated grooves;
Related/offspring: Chet Baker, Dave Brubeck, Modern Jazz Quartet

The 'hard bop' period (mid to late Fifties): Round about midnight, Milestones represent well this sequel to the be-bop explosion of a decade earlier.
Related/offspring: Jazz Messengers, Clifford Brown

The 'modal' first period (late Fifties, early Sixties): Kind of Blue, Seven steps to Heaven, with his first classic quintet featuring John Coltrane and Bill Evans.
Related/offspring: Ahmad Jamal, Bill Evans, John Coltrane (in Atlantic), McCoy Tyner

The orchestral albums (late Fifties, early Sixties): Miles Ahead, Porgy and Bess, Sketches of Spain, comprise his orchestral work with arranger Gil Evans.
Related/offspring: Quincy Jones, Kyle Eastwood

The 'modal' second period (mid to late Sixties): E.S.P., Miles Smiles, Nefertiti, with his second quintet including youngsters Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and Tony Williams.

Transition (late Sixties): Filles of Kilimanjaro, Miles in the Sky and In a Silent Way make a progression towards longer pieces, more open harmonies and the introduction of electric instruments.

The 'electric' period (late Sixties, early Seventies): Bitches Brew, Tribute to Jack Johnson and Live-Evil are wonderful works of what would be known as fusion or jazz-rock; On the Corner is Miles trying to capture the sounds of the cats in the street. Other albums: Fillmore East, Big Fun, Agartha/Pangaea
Influenced by: Jimi Hendrix, Sly & The Family Stone, James Brown, Santana
Related/offspring: Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever, Lifetime, Weather Report, Herbie Hancock

During 1975-1981 Miles did no music at all.

The 'post-funk' period (Eighties): still electric, but softer and bluesier (for some a sellout) with albums like The man with the horn, Star people, Decoy, Tutu, Amandla, Aura.
Related/offspring: Marcus Miller and some jazz-funk similar to elevator music!

When he died in 1991, Miles was starting something else by recording with rapper-producer Easy MoBee the acid-jazz influenced Doo-bop.

Right now AllMusic.com is having "technical issues" :roll: , I'm sure I'm forgetting a lot of names.

[K-Bee]

Just Kiddin' :lol:

[ol'skinflint]

Originally Posted by visuals

With that being said, what do you think of the "Bitches Brew" offering? This was one of the first cd's that I bought back when I started out replacing my vinyl/cassettes with cd's and that was at the time when the internet was in it's embryonic stages. The album art first attracted me and it was going real cheap on the dump table. At the time, I had no Miles at all so I copped it. Needless for me to say, The album art is still the only thing I like about it.

Visuals: I agree with you 100% about "Bitches Brew". For years I read reviews from music writers raving about the music, so when I saw the album in the bargain bins I decided to give it a try. I don't hear its appeal. It sounds like several different musicians playing different songs at the same time, mixed together. "Groundbreaking jazz/rock fusion?" Sounds more like cacaphony to me, though I'm quite fond of some of Davis' other work, particularly "Star People". Wonderful music...

[tony98]

Somewhere in my collection i have a fairly tacky album cover by a great guitarist. Yes its Dennis Coffey, the cover is of a girl in her underwear eating a bucket of chicken on her lap. The name of the album "Finger Lickin' Good".

[Mixmachine]

how about this Mexican cover of Cyclades

[remicks]

Originally Posted by Mixmachine

how about this Mexican cover of Cyclades

Ahemmm:roll: ...... more gay disco imagery Mixmachine !!!???

Unless you're going to argue that it was a man wearing lipstick !!!!:-P:-P:-P:-P:lol::lol::lol:




*****

[remicks]

*****

Originally Posted by all*that*glitters*

this cover must be my alltime favourite...
simple, stylish and personalised
and by Walter Wanderley, one the great Brazilian organplayers

classic!

was his followup LP cover a similar print of his organ ?? :roll:

*****

[soulsta]

OH MY GOSH THIS THREAD IS SO AWSOME! I haven't been on for a minute. wow--these lp's are awsome! I know someone outthere has a lonnie liston smith lp with a crazy pic. I have to see what miles lp's I have. none like you have. these lp covers are amazing. hope you keep pics of them.

to the poster of the ohio players lp not too far back up--when did that lp come out?

[JazzandR&BFreak]

good ol' thread

[MarcusGarveyLives]

At the time, I hoped that I would meet her ...