Miles Davis Jack Johnson box

[WestCoast Ghost]

Saw a post somewhere (God, I can't remember where, I've been to so many jazz boards in the past three days) that the Miles Davis Jack Johnson box is now scheduled for an early-September release, and that nearly 75% of the tracks are previously unreleased. I've avoided buying the JJohnson CD, knowing that this set was imminent (althought that's been several years now); how does this compare to other Miles material from the same period?

[J Larsen]

To my ears it's more overtly rock-based, and in a sense a bit more ambient, as might be expected from a soundtrack. Honestly I never liked this record as much as his other records of the period, but lots of people swear by it.

[Mnytime]

It's times like this that I wish my fiancée were still working for Sony Music. From one of the few people she still knows at Sony she tells me that it has close to 4 hrs of unreleased music.

Don't hold your breath on it being released on schedule. This is Sony after all. ;)

[J Larsen]

Just for kicks I just checked out the amg review of this album, and FWIW, they completely disagree with my assessment. Just goes to show...

[PDEE]

I gave up a bit on Rock 'n Roll Miles, never bought the Johnson record.. but over at the old Hangout I believe somebody posted a review.. maybe the AMG one, that commented on Miles solo being intense and unusal for Miles. That review made me put it on my list of future purchases.. hope it lives up to it.

[J Larsen]

Originally posted by Mnytime
It's times like this that I wish my fiancée were still working for Sony Music. From one of the few people she still knows at Sony she tells me that it has close to 4 hrs of unreleased music.

So, is your fiancee's friend available? ;)

[Mnytime]

Originally posted by J Larsen


So, is your fiancee's friend available? ;)


I have no idea. Not even sure if the friend is a male or female. ;)

Ah, those where the days. Getting all the Sony CD's I wanted for free or for 50% off Sony Canada's costs. You have no idea how much profit they make off a box set for example. The Plugged Nickel Box for example cost them $3 ($1.90 U.S.) per Disc Canadian and at 50% and exchanged to U.S. funds it was what $15. On top of that getting them 3-4 months before they where released.

Those where the Days!! :D :D :D :D :D


There was a lot of stuff they where working on when she was still there that they still haven't released or reissued. I don't know about the U.S. but one person that only came to work 3 times a week handled the entire Canadian Jazz Dept. That tells you how seriously they took Jazz at Sony at least in Canada. Don't get me started on WM. Don't mention him to my fiancée (she was in charge of Sony Canada National Marketing Dept.) or anyone else that had to deal with him. ;)

He was even harder to deal with than bigger sellers at the time like Michael and Mariah. Sony probably spent more money in marketing WM in one year than Blue Note spent on their entire reissues in 3 years. No matter what they did each new release sold less and less.


In terms of the Miles Box sets they are about 3 years behind schedule based on their original schedule on when they planned to have them out by. Every time one box got delayed the others would have to be put back as well so there would be enough seperation between boxes for a better sales potential.

[J Larsen]

A good friend of mine was dating someone high up in A&R at Sony a couple years ago. She used to give him as many free cds as he wanted. Unfortunately, they broke up just as he had gotten his fill and and was going to start grabbing discs for me! Actually, he did give me a six-month early copy of Largo, but I'm not that big of a Mehldau fan.

[GaryG]

did the original post say this

Jazzwise has some good news this month -
The Jack Johnson box has 42 tracks , 'Columbia reckon that 34 TRACKS, TOTALLING 4 1/2 HOURS OF MUSIC ARE PREVIOUSLY UNREALEASED ' ('Slated for early Sept')


GaryG
(exSelim)

[xricci]

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/articles/jjohnsonbox2003.jpg

A couple of related articles...

Rockin’ Yer Johnson
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=499

The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=450[IMG]

[Jazz Kid]

Has anyone ever seen the documentary?

[Lonson]

This is a very nice set IF you are a fan of the Directions, Big Fun and Jack Johnson lps. . . .

To say that this material is "totally unreleased" is bending the truth a bit as much of it is separate sections that were then later edited together for the album versions of "Go Ahead John" and the Jack Johnson soundtrack. You've heard a lot of it before, in its edited form. . . .

There are a few short bits of material never released. . . I hate to say this but for the most part these are forgettable. If I did not have "Directions" in a Japanese DSD release I would be a bit more excited as "Willie Nelson" is here in some good versions and the released (extended) version of this is a highlight of the "Directions" release for me. Also, I really like the Hermetao Pascoal compositions that were on "Live/Evil" and enjoy the other versions here. Weird stuff that I remember listening to when I was 18 or 19 and going "What the. . .?" Since then I've grown to be a BIG fan of Pascoal's.

The biggest allure this set holds for me is the appearance of various sections of "Go Ahead John"---each is a great performance, and the insight into how these are then assembled into the album performance comes easily and is very entertaining to a longtime fan of that piece. Jack Johnson hasn't ever been one of my favorite lps, but I actually like the longer sections for the most part and am enjoying them.

Whether many listeners would like to hear this material over and over again . . . well. . . that's something hard to guess. . . .The set is a little light on notes but nicely assembled graphically, and the sound on the discs is very good, and they are very loud discs. . . .

[BFrank]

I've listened to most of this now and find it very enjoyable. The multiple takes don't bother me, either. It's such a "groove & jam" album anyway that it's pretty much seamless music from start to finish.

As Lon says, "Go Ahead John" may be the highlight - ALL versions. "Duran", too. If nothing else, I would recommend this to McLaughlin fans - he's all over this.

[Hutch]

i completely agree with BFrank.

disc 2 with all those versions of "go ahead john" is fantastic -- well worth the price of the box set. if you want funky, bottom-end bass lines and distorted guitar THIS IS IT!

buy it.

[BFrank]

I have to back off on the alt take issue, now. I tried to listen to side one, and that "Willie Nelson" bass line was making me a little crazy.

[lukrion]

Anyone know if a single reissue of Jack Johnson will be made available(remastered)?

It seems like this set might just be too many alternates. I'm not sure what to think. Then again if the alternates take definate different directions then I might go for the box. I have all the other Miles Boxes so I'm leaning that way anyway.

Believe it or not I've NEVER heard any of this music on Jack Johnson!

Thanks

[Joel]

i tried looking for online samples but the only ones i found are at the Sony Music site.

i'll probably get this one later this year.

[medjuck]

Has anyone ever seen the film? How is this music used in it?