When I was a kid, back in the 70's, vs now in 2025, Columbia Records had this promotion that you'd find in the newspaper. Buy 12 records for one penny, and then buy 4 (or 6) albums at full price in one year. Well, I managed to find a penny, tape it to the return form, stick it in an envelope (free postage) and send it to Columbia and I got a stack of records. Man, I thought I hit the lottery. One of the records I picked was Miles Davis Greatest hits, which I think is most songs from recordings with this quintet and some with Ron, Herbie and Tony. I think the version of "Walkin'" is from this concert. I was exploring because the few jazz records I had, Count Basie with Harry Sweets Edison and Eddie LockJaw Davis blew me away. I'm only 13 or so and there were no record stores in my little town in Long Island or jazz radio. And those colorful ads all caught my eye. For some kids it is baseball cards, but my eyes opened wide. I remember getting Chuck Mangione and Grover Washington which I could understand and then when I put Miles on, I didn't get it at all. Miles sliding all over the place on My Funny Valentine and Coltrane playing like scrambled eggs. But I'm glad I stuck with it and basically taught myself how to listen to and appreciate jazz while all the kids in school were listening to the Police and other pop/rock bands which never really caught my attention at the time. I wanted to hear trumpets and saxophones.
But boy was mom pissed when she saw the letters from Columbia that I needed to send them money for the other 6 albums and she wrote them a mean letter about obligating a kid into a contract. I think they released me. I'm pretty sure I played Columbia back later in life when I got a job and bought stacks and stacks of albums. Nobody told me in the 70's that one day all the music would be free on the internet. Nobody even told me there would be an internet. Figured that one out myself. This music lives forever in my heart!!!
Bret, I must say this, first of all: You are a tzaddik. If you didn't know it before, you do now. But I think one must first be a mensch before becoming a tzaddik. Coltrane was a tzaddik, a 'man of wisdom'. I would surmise that each of us wants the same thing. We want the self knowledge that jazz bestows. Here I am at the piano trying to figure out what an A flat seventh flat nine sounds like. this has been such a fun read and David too; I enjoyed your post. Man, we have stories to tell. As always your writing is suave and inclusive. You got the essence and it's remarkable that we have been blessed by such artists. How rare they are! The jazz community fits in the palms of our hands.
When I was a kid, back in the 70's, vs now in 2025, Columbia Records had this promotion that you'd find in the newspaper. Buy 12 records for one penny, and then buy 4 (or 6) albums at full price in one year. Well, I managed to find a penny, tape it to the return form, stick it in an envelope (free postage) and send it to Columbia and I got a stack of records. Man, I thought I hit the lottery. One of the records I picked was Miles Davis Greatest hits, which I think is most songs from recordings with this quintet and some with Ron, Herbie and Tony. I think the version of "Walkin'" is from this concert. I was exploring because the few jazz records I had, Count Basie with Harry Sweets Edison and Eddie LockJaw Davis blew me away. I'm only 13 or so and there were no record stores in my little town in Long Island or jazz radio. And those colorful ads all caught my eye. For some kids it is baseball cards, but my eyes opened wide. I remember getting Chuck Mangione and Grover Washington which I could understand and then when I put Miles on, I didn't get it at all. Miles sliding all over the place on My Funny Valentine and Coltrane playing like scrambled eggs. But I'm glad I stuck with it and basically taught myself how to listen to and appreciate jazz while all the kids in school were listening to the Police and other pop/rock bands which never really caught my attention at the time. I wanted to hear trumpets and saxophones.
But boy was mom pissed when she saw the letters from Columbia that I needed to send them money for the other 6 albums and she wrote them a mean letter about obligating a kid into a contract. I think they released me. I'm pretty sure I played Columbia back later in life when I got a job and bought stacks and stacks of albums. Nobody told me in the 70's that one day all the music would be free on the internet. Nobody even told me there would be an internet. Figured that one out myself. This music lives forever in my heart!!!
Wow, that is some of the best music I have ever heard in my life. Thank you.
Some of my best music as well.
This is in the Davis Bootleg series?
It's shows up in the several places.
Bret, I must say this, first of all: You are a tzaddik. If you didn't know it before, you do now. But I think one must first be a mensch before becoming a tzaddik. Coltrane was a tzaddik, a 'man of wisdom'. I would surmise that each of us wants the same thing. We want the self knowledge that jazz bestows. Here I am at the piano trying to figure out what an A flat seventh flat nine sounds like. this has been such a fun read and David too; I enjoyed your post. Man, we have stories to tell. As always your writing is suave and inclusive. You got the essence and it's remarkable that we have been blessed by such artists. How rare they are! The jazz community fits in the palms of our hands.
Coltrane remains a continuing source of inspiration, as a creator, innovator and as a man, the way he lives his life.
The Sound!🎷