Kind of Blue - Miles Davis (1LP Vinyl, 1970 pressing, VG++)

Kind of Blue by Miles Davis.

Few records in the history of recorded music have earned the quiet reverence afforded to Miles Davis and his landmark session work of 1959. This pressing captures that magic across five essential tracks, recorded during two sessions dated the 2nd of March and the 22nd of April, 1959. What emerged from those days remains a cornerstone of the jazz canon, an album that continues to reward listeners decade after decade.

Side A opens with "So What," a piece whose unhurried elegance has become one of the most recognizable statements in modern jazz. From there the record moves into "Freddie Freeloader," a track that carries an easy, rolling swing before giving way to the hushed introspection of "Blue In Green." Together, these three pieces form a first half that balances momentum and reflection with remarkable poise.

Turning the record over reveals "All Blues," a hypnotic performance built on a lilting, circular feel that seems to expand the further you listen. It is followed by "Flamenco Sketches," a closing statement of restraint and atmosphere that lets the album drift to its conclusion rather than rushing toward it. The sequencing across both sides feels deliberate and unforced, a testament to the vision behind the sessions.

This particular issue is the 6th label variation, dated 1970, and was printed in the U.S.A. Collectors will note that this release carries no track durations on the label, a small but telling detail that helps distinguish it among the many pressings this recording has seen over the years. For those who follow the lineage of these editions, such markers are part of the pleasure of ownership.

More than six decades on, the music retains its capacity to surprise. There is a spaciousness here, a willingness to let notes breathe and phrases hang in the air, that rewards close and repeated listening. Whether played as background to a quiet evening or studied with full attention, these five performances hold their ground and reveal new dimensions each time the needle drops.

For the serious collector or the newcomer building a foundational library, this pressing offers a tangible connection to one of the defining moments in twentieth century music. It is a record to be lived with, returned to, and passed along, a piece of history that continues to speak in its own unmistakable voice.

Pressing Details:
Recorded 02/03/1959 and 22/04/1959.

Printed in U.S.A.

6th label variation 1970
No track durations on release

Track Listing:
A1. So What
A2. Freddie Freeloader
A3. Blue In Green
B1. All Blues
B2. Flamenco Sketches

Artist: Miles Davis

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: Columbia

Catalog Number: CS 8163

Release Year: 1970

Country: United States

Condition: Used

Record grading: VG++

Sleeve grading: VG (ring wear)