Miles Davis: Water Babies (1968)
Compelling and classic 60s Miles that usually falls through the cracks.
In the 70s—while Miles Davis was hip-deep in his molten, messy and dark electric funk period—Columbia assembled several LPs worth of studio odd-and-ends, most of it focusing on his nascent fusion period between 1969 and 1971. To my ears, these sets (Big Fun, Circle in the Round) were all pretty unwieldy; some fine moments, but they felt like the stuff only a completist would savor.
Water Babies, however, is far different. That’s because it features what’s known as the classic Second Quintet, with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams. Side 1 is devoted to Wayne Shorter compositions, and is full of brilliant playing by the group; any track would fit nicely alongside The Sorcerer and Nefertiti in Miles’ discography. Side two switches in Chick Corea and Dave Holland on Fender Rhodes and bass. All of it is compelling and classic 60s Miles.