Chronicle: The Complete Prestige Recordings 1951–1956 cover

Chronicle: The Complete Prestige Recordings 1951–1956

Miles Davis

551 min · 94 tracks · jazz fusion · bebop · hard bop

A masterclass in jazz improvisation showcasing intricate interplay and emotive melodies across diverse styles.

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Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • extended improvisations that evolve
  • intimate late-night listening experience
  • subtle emotional nuances throughout
  • background warmth for conversation
  • explorative journeys through sound

Maybe skip if you want

  • prefer concise, standalone tracks
  • seek immediate gratification in music

Where this album fits

Themes
late-night introspection· bebop to hard bop transition· jazz improvisation mastery
Career context
Released in 1956, 'Chronicle: The Complete Prestige Recordings' compiles Miles Davis's early work during a pivotal period of his evolution as a jazz artist. This collection captures the essence of his transition from bebop to cool jazz and hard bop, laying the groundwork for his later innovations. At this point in his career, Davis was solidifying his reputation as a leading figure in jazz, following successful albums like 'Birth of the Cool' (1949) and paving the way for future classics.
Stylistic neighbors
John Coltrane· Herbie Hancock· Wayne Shorter
Sounds like this from elsewhere
Giant Steps by John Coltrane — Explores complex improvisation and harmonic structures, echoing Davis's innovative spirit.
Maiden Voyage by Herbie Hancock — Shares a focus on atmospheric soundscapes and improvisational fluidity, bridging jazz styles.
New to Miles Davis? Find your way in →

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 Morpheus 2:24
  • 2 Down 2:54
  • 3 Blue Room (take 1) 2:51
  • 4 Blue Room (take 2) 3:03
  • 5 Whispering 3:02
  • 6 I Know 2:33
  • 7 Odjenar 2:53
  • 8 Ezz‐Thetic 2:54
  • 9 Hibeck 3:07
  • 10 Yesterdays 2:27
  • 11 Conception 4:03
  • 12 Out of the Blue 6:16
  • 13 Denial 5:41
  • 14 Bluing 9:56
  • 15 Dig 7:35
  • 16 My Old Flame 6:36
  • 17 It’s Only a Paper Moon 5:25

Disc 2

  • 1 Compulsion 5:45
  • 2 The Serpent’s Tooth (take 1) 7:01
  • 3 The Serpent’s Tooth (take 2) 6:17
  • 4 ’Round About Midnight 7:05
  • 5 Tasty Pudding 3:21
  • 6 Willie the Wailer 4:26
  • 7 Floppy 6:01
  • 8 For Adults Only 5:34
  • 9 When Lights Are Low 3:26
  • 10 Tune Up 3:53
  • 11 Miles Ahead 4:28
  • 12 Smooch 3:05
  • 13 Four 4:01
  • 14 Old Devil Moon 3:22
  • 15 Blue Haze 6:06

Disc 3

  • 1 Solar 4:44
  • 2 You Don’t Know What Love Is 4:23
  • 3 Love Me or Leave Me 6:58
  • 4 I’ll Remember April 7:54
  • 5 Blue ’n’ Boogie 8:18
  • 6 Walkin’ 13:27
  • 7 Airegin 5:00
  • 8 Oleo 5:12
  • 9 But Not for Me (take 1) 5:45
  • 10 But Not for Me (take 2) 4:37
  • 11 Doxy 4:51

Disc 4

  • 1 Bags’ Groove (take 1) 11:15
  • 2 Bags’ Groove (take 2) 9:26
  • 3 Bemsha Swing 9:33
  • 4 Swing Spring 10:48
  • 5 The Man I Love (take 1) 8:09
  • 6 The Man I Love (take 2) 8:00
  • 7 I Didn’t 6:06
  • 8 Will You Still Be Mine? 6:19

Disc 5

  • 1 Green Haze 5:50
  • 2 I See Your Face Before Me 4:45
  • 3 A Night in Tunisia 7:23
  • 4 A Gal in Calico 5:16
  • 5 Dr. Jackle 8:53
  • 6 Bitty Ditty 6:37
  • 7 Minor March 8:17
  • 8 Changes 7:13
  • 9 In Your Own Sweet Way 4:38
  • 10 No Line 5:42
  • 11 Vierd Blues 6:51

Disc 6

  • 1 Stablemates 5:21
  • 2 How Am I to Know? 4:40
  • 3 Just Squeeze Me 7:27
  • 4 There Is No Greater Love 5:19
  • 5 The Theme 5:50
  • 6 S’posin’ 5:15
  • 7 In Your Own Sweet Way 5:45
  • 8 Diane 7:49
  • 9 Trane’s Blues 8:29
  • 10 Something I Dreamed Last Night 6:12

Disc 7

  • 1 It Could Happen to You 6:40
  • 2 Woodyn’ You 5:05
  • 3 Ahmad’s Blues 7:23
  • 4 Surrey With the Fringe on Top 9:06
  • 5 It Never Entered My Mind 5:24
  • 6 When I Fall in Love 4:24
  • 7 Salt Peanuts 6:09
  • 8 Four 7:14
  • 9 The Theme (take 1) 2:00
  • 10 The Theme (take 2) 1:06
  • 11 If I Were a Bell 8:09
  • 12 Well, You Needn’t 6:16

Disc 8

  • 1 ’Round About Midnight 5:21
  • 2 Half Nelson 4:47
  • 3 You’re My Everything 4:49
  • 4 I Could Write a Book 5:11
  • 5 Oleo 5:54
  • 6 Airegin 4:27
  • 7 Tune Up 5:44
  • 8 When Lights Are Low 7:32
  • 9 Blues by Five 10:01
  • 10 My Funny Valentine 6:00

What to play next

Basic Miles: The Classic Performances of Miles Davis
Listen next

Basic Miles: The Classic Performances of Miles Davis
Full Miles Davis discography Where to start with Miles Davis Artists like Miles Davis
bebop hard bop jazz fusion

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata