Original_To:  BITNET%"allmusic@auvm.bitnet"
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.allmusic
Date:         Wed, 27 Jan 1993 00:51:00 CST
From:         TBUCK@KNOX.BITNET
Subject:      Jack Johnson and other things Miles....

> >And what did you think of the videotape I sent you? The one of Miles live
> >in '66, '67, and '68?
>
> those tapes are the greatest.  i just wish the quality was better, but
> you can't have everything.

I have the sneaking suspicion that you may have gotten a copy made prior to
my purchase of a good head cleaner for my VCR's. Does it sound like it's
really compressed, almost like it was taped in the shower? If so, I should
re-dub it for you. The sound on my copy isn't really all that bad. Just some
normal multi-generational tape hiss, but not much distortion. I'll try and
re-dub it for you anyway cuz if it sounds that bad, it must be those dirty
heads.

> i don't think i heard the 67 paris sets. i have the one that is later, i
> think in 69, with jack, chick, wayne, and dave.

I've heard a couple minutes of that 69 set via the NPR documentary, and I
have to admit (even I, the Sun Ra freak) that it's a little much for my
ears. But given that it's Miles, it must be worth at least a listen. If you
have that on CD, I wouldn't mind a copy of that. In fact, I'll trade you
for a tape of the Paris 67 material which I know you would love. I like it
even more than the Plugged Nickle stuff which rates extrimely high in my
book. (Yeah, I have to admit that the Complete Plugged Nickel would be on
my Desert Island list too....)

> about all you can do is make sure you have Water Babies, Circle In The
> Round, and Directions.

I've got Water Babies (mostly for the Nefertiti outtakes) and Circle In The
Round (side 3 is my favorite, the one with Joe Beck), but only the first
album of Directions (which I think has that 'loopy' early version of Limbo
on it.) There is a stunning slow version of Pinochio (last track on Nef.)
on the Columbia Years box set, which otherwise is virtually useless to
anyone who already has a ton of Miles. I suppose I could break down and get
Miles In The Sky on CD since it's out domestically now. But I refuse to get
Filles de Kilimanjaro cuz that Fender sound really grates on my ears....
(Oh hell, I do like it more than Bitches Brew, I'll have to admit that.)

Oh, that reminds me. I've heard by word of mouth that the *HUGE* Miles
discography by the guy in Holland is done. It's about $30 I hear, and
includes tons of bootleg and private recordings, and unreleased stuff.
Major GMaW material. (Well, the actual music itself would GMaW, but this
would sure be a nice teaser.) Anybody know where I can lay my hands on a
copy? I'll spring for it and let you know all about what's in it....

> I had a friend of mine send me a cassette dub [of Directions] when I was
> still in Europe, so I never bought it on vinyl....

If you still have that tape, even a dub of it would be great....

> It has a tune called Willie Nelson, the second of the 3 Miles' Nelsons.
> Can you name the other two?

Lord, I'd have to guess Full Nelson and Half Nelson. (Seem to remember Half
Nelson being on one of the Bluenote volumes.)

Back to Jack Johnson: The reason I'm searching for more stuff like JJ is
that we play it at the bar I work at all the time. We almost play it to
death. Well, now we play Go Ahead John too, and In A Silent Way somewhat,
but I'm looking for more Miles stuff like JJ, more stuff with John's style
of guitar playing on it. I know there's supposedly some JJ-type stuff on
Algharta, but it's based on the slow theme, not the shuffle. And besides, I
don't see Algharta going over very well at the bar. I suppose I could
broaden the question by asking for suggestions of good Miles with guitar
stuff that isn't as abrasive as Algharta, Pangea, or Dark Magus. (Still
haven't heard DM either, but it's not a priority right now.)

And as long as I'm babbling endlessly about Miles, I'm about to give in and
purchase the video of Miles with Quincy Jones at Montreaux '91 where he did
all the Gil Evans stuff. It's supposed to be pro-shot material - the rough
edit that is mentioned in the Downbeat article about that concert. I'm
dying to hear it, and for $20, it's probably worth it since Warner Brothers
will probably sit on it for another 12 months untill they sell enough
copies of Doo-Bop to justify releasing something new.

                                    Tom "So much Miles, so little $" Buck

P.S. Do you have the Complete Prestige Recordings box set? That's the one
part of the Miles catalog I haven't heard *any* of. How much of it is
really worth having? (I know, all of it is.) But really, I figure why buy
the albums piece-meal when someday I'll just buy the whole anchalada....
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