First Miles

First Miles
Compilation album by Miles Davis
Released	1990
Recorded	April 24, 1945 (#9-16) WOR Studios, New York City August 14, 1947 (#1-8) Harry Smith Studios, NYC
Genre	Jazz music, bop music
Length	44:50
Label	Savoy
Producer	Teddy Reig
Miles Davis chronology
Aura (1989) First Miles (1990) The Best of Miles Davis: The Capitol/Blue Note Years (1992)

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First Miles is a compilation album by American jazz musician Miles Davis, released in July 12, 1990 by Savoy Records. The album includes tracks from Davis's first recording session, backing singer Rubberlegs Williams on April 24, 1945, and the first session produced under his name, leading the members of Charlie Parker's band on August 14, 1947.

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.

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 78rpm singles under the name "Miles Davis All-Stars". The four tracks have also been compiled on numerous Charlie Parker Savoy compilations, including Bird: The Savoy Recordings (Master Takes) (SJL 2201). 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

1. "Milestones" [First Take/Master Take 2] (Davis) – 2:45
2. "Milestones" [Take 3] (Davis) – 2:47
3. "Little Willie Leaps" [First Take 1/Alt. Take 2] (Davis) – 3:57
4. "Little Willie Leaps" [Master Take 3] (Davis) – 2:53
5. "Half Nelson" [Alternate Take 1] (Davis) – 2:53
6. "Half Nelson" [Master Take 2] (Davis) – 2:47
7. "Sippin' At Bells" [First Take 1/Master Take 2] (Davis) – 3:18
8. "Sippin' At Bells" [First Take 3/Alt. Take 4] (Davis) – 2:36
9. "That's the Stuff You Gotta Watch" [Alternate Take 1] (Battles, Meredith, Ram, Sissle) – 3:05
10. "That's the Stuff You Gotta Watch" [Alternate Take 2] (Battles, Meredith, Ram, Sissle) – 3:13
11. "That's the Stuff You Gotta Watch" [Master Take 3] (Battles, Meredith, Ram, Sissle) – 3:17
12. "Pointless Mama Blues" (Reig, Williams) – 2:51
13. "Deep Sea Blues" (Reig, Williams) – 3:16
14. "Bring It On Home" [First and second Take] (Reig, Williams) – 3:06
15. "Bring It On Home" [Master Take 3] (Reig, Williams) – 2:48
16. "Now's The Time" [Master Take 4] (Charlie Parker) – 3:15

Original 78rpm Singles

The master takes of the tracks on this album were originally issued on the following 78rpm singles:

• 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

• Miles Davis – trumpet
• Charlie Parker – tenor sax (tracks 1–8)
• Max Roach – drums (tracks 1–8)
• John Lewis – piano (tracks 1–8)
• Nelson Boyd – bass (tracks 1–8)
• Herbie Fields – tenor sax, clarinet (tracks 9–16)
• Rubberlegs Williams – vocals (tracks 9–16)
• Teddy Brannon – piano (tracks 9–16)
• Leonard Gaskin – bass (tracks 9–16)
• Ed Nicholson – drums (tracks 9–16)
• William Gottlieb – photograph
• Teddy Reig – composer, producer
• Phil Schaap – liner notes, producer, remastering assistant
• Dick Smith – art director
• Jack Towers – remastering
• Rubberlegs Williams – composer
• Joe Brescio – mastering