Chronicle: The Complete Prestige Recordings 1951–1956
551 min · 94 tracks · jazz
An expansive journey through jazz's evolution, blending intricate bebop lines with cool, introspective melodies.
Top tracks — play these first
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Morpheus Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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'Round About Midnight — This track exemplifies the moody sophistication of Davis's sound, featuring expressive trumpet lines that create a deep emotional resonance. It has become one of his signature pieces, highlighting his ability to blend melodic beauty with complex harmonies.
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Walkin' — A defining hard bop composition, it showcases Davis's mastery of rhythm and phrasing, capturing the essence of post-bebop innovation. The track's groove and improvisation set a template for future jazz ensembles.
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Bags’ Groove — This classic piece reveals Davis's ability to intertwine blues elements with sophisticated jazz structures. Its multiple takes provide insights into his creative process and collaborative spirit.
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Solar — A landmark composition that highlights Davis's lyrical playing style and innovative harmonic choices, making it a staple in the jazz repertoire. Its intricate structure invites deep exploration by improvisers.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThis compilation showcases Miles Davis's evolution through diverse jazz styles and strong improvisational skills.
What we noticed
- The album features a wide range of tempos and styles, with tracks that shift from fast-paced bebop to slower, more contemplative pieces.
- Many tracks include extended improvisation sections where musicians engage in intricate call-and-response patterns.
- The collection includes multiple takes of certain songs, allowing listeners to hear variations in performance and interpretation.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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9/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
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
- prefer concise, standalone tracks
- seek immediate gratification in music
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This compilation highlights Davis's early influential work, marking his rise in jazz.
- Themes
- late-night introspection· bebop to hard bop transition· jazz improvisation mastery
- Career context
- Released in 1956, this album compiles Miles Davis's crucial early recordings for Prestige Records, marking a formative period in his career. At this point, Davis was transitioning from the bebop style he was known for into a more innovative approach that would eventually lead to modal jazz and beyond. These recordings showcase his development as a bandleader and innovator during the pivotal years of 1951 to 1956.
- Stylistic neighbors
- John Coltrane· Herbie Hancock· Wayne Shorter
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Morpheus Start here 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
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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