MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE BLUE

Performer: Miles Davis, trumpet; John Coltrane, saxophone; Cannonball Adderley, saxophone; Bill Evans, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Jimmy Cobb, drums
Composer: Miles Davis
Number of discs: 1
Barcode: 0198028166218
Label: Analogue Productions
Format: LP
Genre: Jazz
Year: 2025

180-gram LP

The legendary Birth of Blue by Miles Davis

The extraordinary follow-up to what many consider the greatest jazz album of all time

Four unmissable new tracks from the pioneering band that recorded Kind of Blue

An album where the pioneers of modal jazz laid the groundwork for future innovations in jazz

Remastered by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab from a quarter-inch, 30 ips stereo tape derived from the original three-track session tapes

Pressed at Quality Record Pressings to ensure unmatched sound quality

Vintage-style tip-on gatefold cover printed on heavy cardstock by Stoughton Printing

With its five iconic tracks, Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue is widely regarded as the most legendary jazz album ever. Less known, however, is that during the same period and in the same studio, Davis’ historic band recorded four additional tracks, released as Birth of Blue. These tracks deserve far wider recognition, and this new edition highlights their musical quality with state-of-the-art sound. Birth of Blue offers a rare opportunity to hear the album that followed what many consider the greatest jazz record of all time!

These four extraordinary tracks, all recorded in a single 1958 session, exemplify the unmistakable sound of Miles Davis’ band in the late 1950s, yet they never received the recognition they deserved, often appearing only on later compilations.

Now, Analogue Productions, the audiophile reissue label of Acoustic Sounds, along with Quality Record Pressings, presents these tracks for the first time as a standalone release, delighting all jazz enthusiasts.

The remarkable band that recorded these tracks is the same ensemble immortalized on Kind of Blue, recorded nearly a year later. Davis’ sublime trumpet work features a sextet including pianist Bill Evans, drummer Jimmy Cobb, bassist Paul Chambers, and saxophonists John Coltrane and Julian “Cannonball” Adderley.

Underrated since their recording, these tracks carry immense historical and musical significance, revealing the early elements of modal jazz that Kind of Blue would later popularize. Drawing on techniques from modern classical music rather than traditional song harmonies, Davis had begun exploring this approach during the Milestones sessions.

Analogue Productions proudly presents Birth of Blue in an exclusive edition reflecting the label’s reputation for meticulous remastering, capturing the band’s authentic sound with unparalleled transparency, depth, and fidelity.

For this release, Analogue Productions started from the original three-track session tapes, mixed to a quarter-inch, 30 ips stereo master by mastering engineer Vic Anesini at Battery Studios. From this stereo master, Matthew Lutthans cut the 33 rpm lacquer at The Mastering Lab using Doug Sax’s legendary all-tube equipment. The lacquers were then pressed to 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings, and Stoughton Printing produced a luxurious tip-on gatefold cover closely resembling the original 1959 Columbia Records release.

Miles Davis, trumpet; John Coltrane, saxophone; Cannonball Adderley, saxophone; Bill Evans, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Jimmy Cobb, drums

Side A

On Green Dolphin Street
Fran-Dance

Side B

Stella By Starlight
Love For Sale