First Miles is a compilation album by American jazz musician Miles Davis, released on July 12, 1990, by Savoy Records. The album includes tracks from Davis's first recording session, backing singer Rubberlegs Williams on April 24, 1945,April 24, 1945 Session Details, Miles Ahead: A Miles Davis Website, accessed June 26, 2014 and the first session produced under his name, leading the members of Charlie Parker's band on August 14, 1947.August 14, 1947 Session Details, Miles Ahead: A Miles Davis Website, accessed June 26, 2014
Davis plays no solos in the session with Rubberlegs Williams, only being heard as part of an ensemble. He says in his autobiography he was so nervous on his first ever recording he could hardly play, and he forgot most of the details as he put the experience out of his mind."Miles: the Autobiography", Miles Davis with Quincy Troupe, 1989, pg.66
Davis had already recorded several sessions by 1947 as a member of Parker's band for the Savoy and Dial labels, but whereas Parker usually recorded with no rehearsals, Davis had the group rehearse the material twice before recording. Davis wrote and arranged all four tracks, which were released as 78 rpm singles under the name "Miles Davis All-Stars"."Miles: the Autobiography", Miles Davis with Quincy Troupe, 1989, pg.105 The four tracks have also been compiled on numerous Charlie Parker Savoy compilations, including Bird: The Savoy Recordings (Master Takes) (SJL 2201).Bird: The Savoy Recordings (Master Takes), at AllMusic, accessed June 26, 2014 Davis' next recording session as leader would be the first of the Birth of the Cool sessions in 1949, after having left Parker's band.
Track listing
Subsequent reissues often combined false start takes and reordered the Davis tracks first. A 2003 reissue CD contained bonus track "Now's The Time"
Original 78 rpm singles The master takes of the tracks on this album were originally issued on the following 78 rpm singles:Savoy 500 series, at the Jazz Discography Project, accessed July 2, 2014Savoy 5500 series, at the Jazz Discography Project, accessed July 2, 2014Savoy Bop 900 series, at the Jazz Discography Project, accessed July 2, 2014 Savoy 564: Rubberlegs Williams – That's the Stuff You Gotta Watch / Pointless Mama Blues Savoy 5516: Rubberlegs Williams – Deep Sea Blues / Bring It On Home Savoy 934: Miles Davis All-Stars – Milestones / Sippin' at Bells Savoy 951: Fats Navarro & Leo Parker – Goin' to Minton's / Miles Davis & Charlie Parker – Half Nelson Savoy 977: Charlie Parker – Chasin' the Bird / Miles Davis All-Stars – Little Willie Leaps
Personnel Milestones / Little Willie Leaps / Half Nelson / Sippin' at Bells Miles Davis All-Stars, August 14, 1947, Harry Smith Studios, NYC Miles Davis – trumpet Charlie Parker – tenor sax John Lewis – piano Nelson Boyd – bass Max Roach – drums
That's the Stuff You Gotta Watch / Pointless Mama Blues / Deep Sea Blues / Bring It On Home Herbie Fields Band with Rubberlegs Williams, April 24, 1945, WOR Studios, NYC Rubberlegs Williams – vocals Miles Davis – trumpet Herbie Fields – tenor sax, clarinet Teddy Brannon – piano Leonard Gaskin – bass Ed Nicholson – drums
Production Teddy Reig – original producer Phil Schaap – compilation producer, remastering assistant, liner notes Jack Towers and Joe Brescio – remastering Dick Smith – art director William Gottlieb – cover photograph
References