Country Certification Sales Australia Platinum [64] 70,000+
United Kingdom Gold [65] 100,000+
United States 4× Platinum [66] 4,000,000+
Kind of Blue 80
Release history
1986 Columbia Jazz Masterpieces compact disc reissue cover
Kind of Blue was originally released as a 12-inch vinyl record, in both stereo and mono. There have been several reissues of Kind of Blue, including additional printings throughout the vinyl era. On some editions, the label switched the order for the two tracks on side two, "All Blues" and "Flamenco Sketches". The record has been remastered many times during the compact disc era, including the 1986 Columbia Jazz Masterpieces reissue and,[67]
most notably, the 1992 remastering that corrected the speed for side one, which had been issued slightly off-pitch originally,[68]
and the 1997 issue that added the alternate take of "Flamenco Sketches". All releases after the 1997 include the alternate take and are speed-corrected. In 2005, a DualDisc release included the original album, a digital remastering in 5.1 Surround Sound and LPCM Stereo, and a 25-minute documentary Made in Heaven about the making and influence of Kind of Blue. "Kind Of Blue"
has also been re-released on a rare 24 carat gold CD collectors version.
• August 17, 1959–Columbia CS 8163, original stereo vinyl LP
• August 17, 1959–Columbia CL 1355, original mono vinyl LP
• 1974–Columbia PC 8163, stereo vinyl LP reissue
• 1984–Columbia CK 8163, original compact disc issue
• 1986–Columbia Jazz Masterpiece CK 40579, compact disc, digitally remastered from original master tapes and stereo vinyl LP (CJ 40579)
• December 8, 1992–Columbia CK 64403, Mastersound Gold CD, super-bit mapping, corrected speed. Liner notes:
First time original master used for side 1 of a CD issue Original had been misplaced since before 1984 (CK 8163).
• 1997 - Double LP Gatefold edition from Classic Records included two side ones at original and corrected speed and a 45 rpm alternate take of Flamenco Sketches
• March 25, 1997–Columbia CK 64935, compact disc, 20-bit remastering, adds alternate track, corrected speed
• August 21, 2001–Columbia CS 64935, SACD, corrected speed
• December 2001–Classic Records CS8163QP, Quiex SV-P 200 gram vinyl, corrected speed, original tracks
• February 8, 2005–Columbia CN 90887, DualDisc, 20-bit remastered standard compact disc side, 5.1 AC3 Surround Sound, LPCM Stereo side, corrected speed
• September 30, 2008–Columbia/Legacy CL 8869733552, box set, original album, previously unreleased material, bonus tracks, vinyl LP, DVD
• January 20, 2009-Sony Legacy, two CDs from the 50th anniversary set (without DVD or vinyl).
The album was also released on many other formats many of which are only to be found second hand.
• Two-track open reel tape (US only), Columbia GCB 60, by which Freddie Freeloader and Flamenco Sketches are omitted to keep cost down. This release was on the market less than a year and was discontinued some time after July 1961, after Sketches of Spain had been released as 4-Track only. Sonically most often better than the 4-Track counterpart that replaced it. The reports that the Two-Track version was the only one to be issued at correct speed for the tracks off the first album side are false. None issued at the correct speed.[69]
• Four-Track open reel tape (US only), Columbia CQ 379, as the complete 5 track album. This release replaced the Two-Track release and remained in the Columbia catalog for a few years. Some tracks are available on other reel tapes issued current at the time of or following the original release of the album, as by Various Artists. None issued at the correct speed. All Blues in included on the Greatest Hits album.
Kind of Blue 81
• Armed Forces Radio & Television Service 16 transcription discs. Note these are monophonic and the side marked Flamenco Sketches actually holds All Blues.
• Philips Compact Cassette. Both as the original album prior to the Jazz Masterpiece remaster, and as the 1987 Jazz Masterpiece remaster. Neither are at the correct speed.
• MiniDisc, Columbia CM 40579 (US). Only as the master prior to 1997, but not as the Jazz Masterpiece remaster.
This was unavailable by the end of the 1990s when production of prerecorded MiniDiscs had ceased. None issued at the correct speed.
"Making of" albums
Several unofficial CD releases are known to contain the complete sessions with false starts and studio chatter, and all tracks (including the bonus track) in the order these were recorded during the two recording sessions.
• An unofficial album entitled "The Making of Kind of Blue" features 73 minutes of the album's recording sessions.[70]
• Another unofficial album is entitled "Another Kind of Blue" features the same sessions.
A third, two-CD set, contains the complete sessions with false starts, studio chatter and all tracks as they were recorded at a total length of 78:40 minutes, released as:
• "Miles Davis — The Making of Kind of Blue - 50th Anniversary Definitive Edition. It's Complete!".
The most recent release of this "Making of KoB" CDs is from February 2009, but holds only 73:51 minutes, so it's not that complete as the previous Japanese CD. However this one has to be mentioned too:
• "Miles Davis Legendary Collection Series — Miles Davis-The Sessions of Blue."
The special box set with CD, DVD, LP, book, poster, etc. has only a selection of the studio chatter and false starts, and is released separately from the music, so there is no connection at all between the music and the studio chatter.
To analyze what was going on in the studio during the two recording sessions one of these Japanese releases is essential. These CDs also have "All Blues" without any fade out in its original length. On all other releases "All Blues" has a fade out, and according to the release this fade out is different in length.
Notes
[1] Kahn, pp. 86–87.
[2] Ashley Kahn (2001). Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece (http://books.google.com/?id=6QArFwi9buUC&
pg=PA67&vq="Modal+jazz,"&dq=The+Making+of+Kind+of+Blue:+Miles+Davis+and+His+Masterpiece+bebop). foreword by Jimmy Cobb. Da Capo Press, USA. pp. 67–68. ISBN 0-306-81067-0. .
[3] Russell, George. Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization. New York: Russ-Hix Music Pub. Co.
Library of Congress Catalog Record available at lccn.loc.gov/unk84111092 (http://lccn.loc.gov/unk84111092).
Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization website located at www.lydianchromaticconcept.com (http://www.
lydianchromaticconcept.com/).
Author George Russell’s website located at www.georgerussell.com (http://www.georgerussell.com/)
[4] "George Russell — About George" (http://www.georgerussell.com/gr.html). Concept Publishing. . Retrieved July 27, 2008.
[5] "Liner note reprint: Miles Davis — Kind of Blue (FLAC — Master Sound — Super Bit Mapping)" (http://stupidd.blogspot.com/2008/02/
miles-davis-kind-of-blue-flac-master.html). Stupid and Contagious. . Retrieved July 27, 2008.
[6] Ashley Kahn (2001). Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece (http://books.google.com/?id=6QArFwi9buUC&
pg=PA83&vq=Evans+was+caught+in+a+dilemma+from+the+outset&dq=The+Making+of+Kind+of+Blue:+Miles+Davis+and+
His+Masterpiece+bebop). foreword by Jimmy Cobb. Da Capo Press, USA. p. 83. ISBN 0-306-81067-0. . [7] Palmer (1997), pp. 4–7
[8] Khan, Ashley. Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece. New York: Da Capo Press, 2000; p. 111.
[9] Blumenthal, Bob. Liner Notes, Miles Davis at Newport 1958; Columbia/Legacy CK85202, 2001, p. 4.
[10] Palmer, Robert (1997). "Liner Notes to 1997 Reissue" (http://stupidd.blogspot.com/2008/02/miles-davis-kind-of-blue-flac-master.
html). Kind of Blue (CD). New York, NY: Sony Music Entertainment, Inc./Columbia Records.
[11] Kahn, p. 299a.
[12] Kahn, p. 299b.
[13] Miles Davis with Quincy Troupe, "Miles: The Autobiography," Simon and Schuster, 2001, pp. 103–104.
Kind of Blue 82
[14] Kahn, p. 178.
[15] Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Review: Kind of Blue (http://www.allmusic.com/album/r104440). Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-07-21.
[16] Columnist. " Review: Kind of Blue (http://books.google.com/books?id=NgoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA28)". Billboard: 28. August 31, 1959.
[17] Sandow, Greg. Review: Kind of Blue (http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,315776_3,00.html). Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2009-07-20.
[18] Cook, Richard. "Review: Kind of Blue". Penguin Guide to Jazz: 376. September 2002.
[19] Schreiber, Ryan. Review: Kind of Blue (http://web.archive.org/web/20021005181357/www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/d/
davis_miles/kind-of-blue.shtml). Pitchfork Media. Retrieved on 2009-07-21.
[20] Friedman, Lou. Review: Kind of Blue (http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/d/davismiles-kindofbluedd.shtml). PopMatters.
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[21] Columnist. " Review: Kind of Blue (http://www.tower.com/details/details.cfm?wapi=106692819)". Q: 116. March 1995.
[22] Hoard, Christian. " Review: Kind of Blue (http://books.google.com/books?id=lRgtYCC6OUwC&pg=PA214&dq=)". Rolling Stone:
214–217. November 2, 2004.
[23] Fisher, Tyler. Review: Kind of Blue (http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=8031). Sputnikmusic. Retrieved on 2009-07-20.
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[26] The All-TIME 100 Albums - Kind of Blue (http://www.time.com/time/2006/100albums/0,27693,Kind_of_Blue,00.html). Time Inc.
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[27] The Dozens - Jazz.com (http://www.jazz.com/dozens/the-dozens-the-golden-anniversary-of-porgy-and-bess). jazz.com. Retrieved on August 30, 2008.
[28] MILES BEYOND The Making of the Bitches Brew boxed set (http://www.miles-beyond.com/bitchesbrew.htm). Paul Tingen. Retrieved on August 30, 2008.
[29] Miles Electric: A Different Kind of Blue (DVD) - PopMatters (http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/16181/
davismiles-mileselectricdvd). PopMatters. Retrieved on August 30, 2008.
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[31] Philip B. Pape. "All About Jazz: Kind of Blue — Review" (http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=3786). All About Jazz. . Retrieved September 19, 2008.
[32] Acclaimed Music - Kind of Blue (Rankings, rating, etc. (http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/Current/A1860.htm).
www.acclaimedmusic.net. Retrieved on August 11, 2008.
[33] Kahn, p. 183.
[34] Jazz Extra - the biography of Miles Davis (http://www.jazzextra.com/biographies/miles-davis.php). Jazz Extra. Retrieved on August 11, 2008.
[35] Porter, Lewis (1999). John Coltrane: His Life and Music. University of Michigan Press. pp. 281–283. ISBN 047208643X.
[36] Miles Davis: Kind of Blue - NPR (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10862796). NPR. Retrieved on August 19, 2008.
[37] NPR's Jazz Profiles: Miles Davis Kind of Blue (http://www.npr.org/programs/jazzprofiles/archive/miles_kob.html). NPR. Retrieved on August 19, 2008.
[38] Poe, Randy (2006). Skydog: the Duane Allman story. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. ISBN 0-879-30891-5. pp. 182–183.
[39] Andy Mabbett (1995). The Complete Guide to the Music of Pink Floyd. Omnibus Press, 14/15 Berners Street, London. pp. 178–179.
ISBN 0-7119-4301-X.
[40] Kahn, p. 19 [41] Kahn, p. 16.
[42] Kahn, p. 179.
[43] 1959: A Great Year in Jazz (http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=15310). All About Jazz. Retrieved on August 11, 2008.
[44] Jazz News: Miles Davis - Kind of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collectors Edition Coming in September (http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/
news.php?id=21627). All About Jazz. Retrieved on September 20, 2008.
[45] Pitchfork: Kind of Blue 50th Anniversary Edition (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/node/146120). Pitchfork Media. Retrieved on November 23, 2008.
[46] The All-TIME 100 Albums (http://www.time.com/time/2006/100albums/). Time.com. Retrieved on August 19, 2008.
[47] The RS 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5938174/
the_rs_500_greatest_albums_of_all_time). Rolling Stone. Retrieved on August 19, 2008.
[48] Rateyourmusic's 'Top Albums of All-Time' (http://rateyourmusic.com/charts/top/album/all-time). Rate Your Music. Retrieved on August 19, 2008.
[49] Tower.com - Kind of Blue review notes (http://www.tower.com/kind-blue-miles-davis-cd/wapi/106692819). Tower.com. Retrieved on August 19, 2008.
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[50] Library of Congress - Kind of Blue (http://www.loc.gov/rr/record/nrpb/nrpb-2002reg.html). The Library of Congress. Retrieved on August 19, 2008.
[51] The RS 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 12) Kind of Blue (http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/
500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/kind-of-blue-miles-davis-19691231). Rolling Stone. Retrieved on August 11, 2008.
[52] Jarenwattananon, Patrick. The U.S. Congress and the 'Kind of Blue' Blues (http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2009/12/
congress_kind_of_blue_blues.html). NPR. Retrieved on December 22, 2009.
[53] Stockton, Jeff. Review: Kind of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition (http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=31837).
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[54] Chinen, Nate. Review: Kind of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition (http://www.blender.com/guide/reissue/55398/
kind-blue-50th-anniversary-collector146s-edition.html). Blender. Retrieved on 2010-02-07.
[55] Fordham, John. Review: Kind of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition (http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/21/
miles-davis-anniversary). The Guardian. Retrieved on 2010-02-07.
[56] Gill, Andy. Review: Kind of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition (http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/
reviews/album-miles-davis-deluxe-kind-of-blue-reissue-columbia-971248.html). The Independent. Retrieved on 2010-02-07.
[57] Johnson, Martin. Review: Kind of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition (http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/10/
miles-davis-kind-of-blue-50th-anniversary-collecto.html). Paste. Retrieved on 2010-02-07.
[58] Garelick, Jon. Review: Kind of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition (http://thephoenix.com/Boston/Music/
73379-MILES-DAVIS-KIND-OF-BLUE/). The Phoenix. Retrieved on 2010-02-07.
[59] Battaglia, Andy. Review: Kind of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/node/146120). Pitchfork Media. Retrieved on 2010-02-07.
[60] Rigby, Paul. Review: Kind of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition (http://www.recordcollectormag.com/reviews/review-detail/
3017). Record Collector. Retrieved on 2010-02-07.
[61] Kemp, Mark. Review: Kind of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition (http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/23659089/
review/23637765/kind_of_blue_50th_anniversary_collectors_edition_box_set). Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2010-02-07.
[62] Spencer, Neil. Review: Kind of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition (http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/miles_davis/reviews/
12442). Uncut. Retrieved on 2010-02-07.
[63] allmusic: Kind of Blue 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition (http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1424187). All Media Guide, LLC.
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[64] "ARIA Charts — Accreditations - 2003 Albums" (http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-albums-2003.htm).
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[65] "The Bpi" (http://www.bpi.co.uk). Bpi.co.uk. . Retrieved September 19, 2008.
[66] RIAA database - Gold & Platinum search item Kind of Blue (http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.
php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS). Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on October 17, 2008.
[67] Discogs.com - Search: Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue (http://www.discogs.com/search?type=all&q=Miles+Davis+-+Kind+Of+Blue&
btn=Search). Discogs. Retrieved on August 11, 2008.
[68] The Fifth Element #34 (http://www.stereophile.com/thefifthelement/206fifth/), Stereophile, February 2006, , retrieved 2010-09-01 [69] From Columbia tape catalogs at the time
[70] "Miles Ahead: Discography" (http://www.plosin.com/milesAhead/Disco.aspx?id=MakingKB). Plosin.com. . Retrieved September 19, 2008.
References
• Palmer, Robert (1997). "Liner Notes to 1997 Reissue". Kind of Blue (CD). New York, NY: Sony Music Entertainment, Inc./Columbia Records
• Kahn, Ashley (2001). Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece. foreword by Cobb, Jimmy, Da Capo Press, USA. ISBN 0-306-81067-0
• Blumenthal, Bob (2001). Liner Notes, Miles Davis at Newport 1958. Columbia/Legacy CK85202
• Nathan Brackett, Christian Hoard (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Completely Revised and Updated 4th Edition. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-74320-169-8.
• Richard Cook, Brian Morton (2002). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. Edition 6. Penguin. ISBN 0140515216.
Kind of Blue 84
External links
• ModalJazz.com (http://www.modaljazz.com)
• Miles Davis: 'Kind of Blue' program (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10862796) in National Public Radio's Jazz Profiles series
• 'Kind of Blue' at MILESTONES:A Miles Davis Collector's Site (http://www.oakton.edu/user/~larry/miles/
main/covers/columbia/kindofblue.html)