Seven Steps: A matter of curiosity

[shawn·m]

Kudos to Sony for continuing the boxed series of Miles’ Columbia recordings with the release of Seven Steps. Since music sales are declining, non-mp3 anyway, it’s a wonder they’ve not put the program on hold. But…

I’ve picked up most of the sets in this series, yet Seven Steps hasn’t ignited my fancy like the others. Maybe it’s because I already own the majority of the box’s contents. Maybe it’s because Miles doesn’t figure as largely in my listening life as he once did. In other words, I’m taking a pass on Seven Steps. Yes, the previously unreleased cuts are tempting, just not that tempting.

So I’m curious; what are others doing and why?

[crookednumbers]

Apart from being a Miles completist, I've found the 1964 My Funny Valentine/Four + More set to be one of my absolute favorite Miles Davis albums. For my tastes, it has definitive versions of "Stella By Starlight" and "My Funny Valentine" plus some searing George Coleman solos. Miles wasn't too shabby either.

Pass up Jack Johnson and In a Silent Way, but at least get a burned copy of this set and spend some time with it!!

[LAL]

This one is definitely on the wish list (although a little lower down the list) especially for the My Funny Valentine and Four & More Concerts. Is there a long box version in the works? If so, I'll hold out until that one comes along.

[gdogus]

I’m missing a lot of the stuff in this set. You bet I’m picking it up!

Yup, that's me...but not right away. I've decided to put it on my Christmas list.

[jkelman]

Originally Posted by LAL

This one is definitely on the wish list (although a little lower down the list) especially for the My Funny Valentine and Four & More Concerts. Is there a long box version in the works? If so, I'll hold out until that one comes along.

All the metal spine boxes will eventually be released in longbox form; but since this just came out, I suspect you'll have to wait at least a year before that happens.

But whether you buy it now or wait for the long box version, in this guy's opinion this transitional set is essential, as it clearly shows how you build a band from the ground up. The way that the tumblers all fall into place is quite vivid.
Best!
John

[jkelman]

Originally Posted by crookednumbers

Apart from being a Miles completist, I've found the 1964 My Funny Valentine/Four + More set to be one of my absolute favorite Miles Davis albums. For my tastes, it has definitive versions of "Stella By Starlight" and "My Funny Valentine" plus some searing George Coleman solos. Miles wasn't too shabby either.

Pass up Jack Johnson and In a Silent Way, but at least get a burned copy of this set and spend some time with it!!

Do you really think it's right to be advocating piracy here on the board?
John

[yawuh]

I've gotten all of the other Miles Columbia boxes on release day, and 7 Steps was no exception. Maybe for some selective Miles fans, it isn't an essential purchase - I can understand that. But for me, it was an absolute must.

[shawn·m]

Maybe I should have included another poll option (although it might fit under “not at that price”): Sony tends to reissue re-mastered individual albums, plus bonus tracks and alternates, a year or so after a box’s release.

[yawuh]

Originally Posted by shawn-m

Maybe I should have included another poll option (although it might fit under “not at that price”): Sony tends to reissue re-mastered individual albums, plus bonus tracks and alternates, a year or so after a box’s release.

Without exception, each of the boxes contains exclusive bonus material, so for the completists, it's still the only option. The question is, does one wait for the cheaper "long box" version? Again, I couldn't wait. Call me a sucker, but I think Miles' music is much richer than 100-or-so bucks. In the long run, the listener comes out ahead in the deal.

I can dig the selective listening, though, if you're not interested in everything. For example, the three records with Gil are available individually and I wouldn't recommend that boxset to anyone but diehards. Same with the Jack Johnson set - not everyone will want to sit thru the hours of one-chord jams. But it is perhaps the shelf-clearing nature of these boxes that draws me to them so strongly - and of course a love of the music.

[GA Russell]

I voted for "not at that price", although the price is not my major problem.

I have only started the Coltrane box and still have the last CD of the 65-68 Quintet box to hear, so I'm inclined to wait to buy any more Miles until I have heard what I already have purchased.

[Rooster_Ties]

I also voted for the "not at that price" option. Of all the Miles Columbia boxes, this is the one that interests me the least. Some 'good' music in there, sure, I won't argue that. But nothing that I'm all that "excited" about -- and certainly not enough to pay even the best on-line price you can find, currently, for a new set. I'll wait for a bargain on a used set (and I'll be glad to wait a year or two until I find one at that price).

If I had to rank the 7 Miles boxes thus far released by Columbia, I'd put the "Seven Steps" set dead last -- in terms of my specific interest in the music. In case anyone's interested, here's how I rank the sets...

1. Complete 2nd Quintet (65-68)
2. Complete "Jack Johnson" Sessions
3. Complete Miles and Gil Evans
4. Complete "In A Silent Way" Sessions
5. Complete Miles and Trane Sessions
6. Complete "Bitches Brew" Sessions.
7. "Seven Steps to Berlin" Sessions

Maybe if there was a whole 'nother unreleased live date with Sam Rivers (like a whole hour's worth), or a whole 'nother hour of unreleased Wayne from '64 --- maybe then I'd be more excited about this new set. But as it is, there's very little for me to get all that excited about, in terms of previously unreleased material. (And if the Blackhawk material had been included too, I'd be even less interested.)

[crookednumbers]

Originally Posted by jkelman

Do you really think it's right to be advocating piracy here on the board?
John

Sorry, I'm definitely not advocating piracy, but I am saying that anyone who dismisses this period outright should spend time with the music on this set!

[Bev Stapleton]

The "My Funny Valentine/Four" discs are some of my favourite Miles. And I love George Coleman's playing. 'Seven Steps' I have on an old LP so it'll be nice to have it on CD - I've never been that keen on the tracks without the sax but love the quintet tracks. Everything else on the box I've never heard. I'm especially curious about the Rivers concert.

The box is selling at about £79.99 in the UK (that must be getting on for $150!!!!).

UK potential buyers might like to know that 'Badlands' in Cheltenham are selling it for £59.99...considerably cheaper!

There's an advert in MOJO (and I imagine the other rock magazines).

Tel: 01242 227724

They don't have a website.

I just ordered a set. I've not used them before, but have visited their shop. They have a good reputation as Cheltenham's most prominent independent CD shop.

[jkelman]

Originally Posted by crookednumbers

Sorry, I'm definitely not advocating piracy, but I am saying that anyone who dismisses this period outright should spend time with the music on this set!

Sorry, crookednumbers, suggesting that people should get a burn of the set is advocating piracy. I understand your zeal, but....

Still, I definitely agree with you that people should not dismiss this period - it's an important transitional phase of Miles' career and, while the majority of the set consists of interpretations and reinterpretations of a well-heeled setlist, hearing things fall into place with the new quintet is, to my ears, quite marvelous.

Best!
John

[BFrank]

I've got this already, and I don't think I'm alone in thinking this is actually one of the BEST of the series. It's a lot more consistant from beginning to end than you might think and it's all quality stuff. In fact, except for the first set, the entire box consists of the classic Carter/Hancock/Williams rhythm section.

If nothing else, it's worth it for the live Philharmonic concert ("Four & More"/"My Funny Valentine" - in original concert order) and also the exquisitely re-mastered "Miles In Europe" (Antibes) set.