All Miles: The Prestige Albums (14 CDS) Audio CD – CD, January 18, 2011

I purchased this set because I wanted to listen to these selections as originally released. While there is no documentation included with the set, this is readily available elsewhere. The CDs themselves sound marvelous, and I appreciate the original cover reproductions.These are some of the most significant jazz albums of the 20th century. I appreciate having them in their original format, and am very pleased with my purchase.

Awesome set of great music!

Fourteen discs (albums)-33,45,43,36,37,46,42,35,31,34,36,42,40,33 minutes each approximately. The sound was digitally remastered in the 80's/90's, and is warm and clean. There is no booklet in this set. Each disc is housed in a (cardboard) reproduction of the original album cover and on the back, song titles, lengths, recording personnel and date of recording. The fourteen discs are housed inside a substantial long-box cardboard box, with a nice photo of Davis on the front, and reproductions of the albums on the reverse. While having no handy information on the music and the era included, anything you want to know can easily be found elsewhere.For those who want Miles Davis' Prestige recordings in close to original form, this is the set to purchase. With the 8 CD set from Prestige hard to find and expensive, this is a good option. You won't get all the Davis/Prestige recordings, and the informative booklet, but what you do get is the chance to experience the music as Davis originally intended us to hear it. There are some extra tracks appended to a few of the discs which don't get in the way of hearing the music as originally released. While its nice (for the most part) to have all his recordings in one set, there's something to be said for hearing these albums as they were originally released.This set begins with "Miles Davis and Horns" and "Dig" from the early 50's. Much of this music is not exceptional, being rather run of the mill jazz. But these two albums do contain some compositions which begin to show how good the early Davis bands (and Davis) were. The overall sound and feel is of a musician looking for his own individual sound. The next album, "Collectors' Items" is a bit better with musicians like Sonny Rollins, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones playing on some of Davis' better early tracks. With "Blue Haze", "Walkin'", "Bags' Groove", and "The Modern Jazz Giants", Davis is starting to form his own sound and approach to jazz. This is perhaps the first time Davis sounds like the jazz giant he was to become-and is some of his best early playing.With the albums "The Musings of Miles", and "Quintet/Sextet", Davis slips back into some rather bland (at times) arrangements and playing. Not only is Davis' playing lackluster, but other band members seem to be just going through the motions. There are some gems among these two albums, and anyone who wants a good overview of Davis during this time should own these albums.Starting with the album "Miles", and going through "Relaxin'", "Workin'", "Steamin'", and "Cookin'", is where Miles Davis really begins to show what a great musician he had become. All these albums have many fine tracks, and all should definitely be in any library of fine jazz. These albums have Davis' first outstanding band-Coltrane, Garland, Chambers, and Jones, along with Davis' fine, individual, warm horn playing. These albums were recorded in several long sessions, and the cohesiveness of the band is very apparent. Of all the Prestige recordings, these last few albums are the finest, and are some of the finest jazz in the history of the genre.As I wrote earlier, if you can't find or don't want to pay the really big bucks for the Prestige box set, this is a viable alternative. At a substantial savings, you hear the albums in their (with a few exceptions) period era state, without any clutter. There's something refreshing about listening to this music without all the "bonus" tracks appended to the discs, and to listen to the tracks in their originally released form. At this late stage most jazz listeners already own this music, but for anyone who wants to hear what all the fuss was (is) about-this is a good set to purchase. One listen and you'll hear what I mean.

This is a no-frills set of CD's reissuing the classic Miles Davis albums released during his tenure with the Prestige label in the 1950's, prior to his signing with the Columbia label (where he made such classics as Kind of Blue, Sketches of Spain, ESP, etc). The albums are presented in stand-alone card sleeves, the original liner notes have not been reproduced here, and there is no booklet. While some bonus takes are included, not all of the alternate material available elsewhere has been included on the albums. Some of the CD's clock in at not much more than half an hour in length, and they have not been remastered, relying on the (excellent) masterings of the late 80's and early 90's. So those expecting this release to be of the standard of the Sony/Columbia material from Miles Davis will be disappointed. This material has been given a more thorough treatment elsewhere, eg on the Chronicle box set. However, if you want the albums as originally released and the price appeals, proceed with confidence. This is a hard release to rate, and it depends on individual taste - if you want the original albums uncluttered (as I did) it is a four-star release. If your expectations have been raised by the various Sony boxed sets and you enjoy careful documentation, critical commentary, newly discovered takes and remastered sound, you might feel this set only warrants two stars. The music, of course, is excellent, notably on the final five discs. Those five albums document the First Miles Davis Quintet with John Coltrane, some of the most influential and best-loved music in all of jazz. The other albums are more mixed, but are never less than listenable and contain a few lesser-known gems in the Miles catalogue.

Absolutely excellent!

Excellent packaging of each album in its own separate cardboard sleeve. Comprehensive collection of his Prestige albums. A must have for any Miles Davis fan

La raccolta per eccellenza!Miles Davis stellare che guida un manipolo di supereroi!Meglio degli X-Men!!!14 album per 14 registrazioni superlative che nulla hanno da invidiare alla odierna tecnologia digitale, anzi... Un cofanetto che si presenta ben fatto con le copertine originali degli LP dell'epoca.Incisioni degli anni cinquanta, periodo d'oro per il Jazz, epoca in cui questo genere musicale era considerato una delle più alte e interessanti forme d'arte contemporanea.Chapeau!!!

Just to be clear - I am commenting on the box set pictured - thats a small clam shell type box with 14 CDs in it - Amazon seem to have put some reviews of the earlier version on here - anyway you get one album per CD (sometimes not too long, varying from about 30 to about 50 mins per CD) - the front cardboard cover of each disc features the original front cover , but the back has a nice clear set of info suitable for the CD cover area (includes track names, times , info on all the players and dates of recording - so no booklet needed really as all important info is here)Quality of sound to my ears is uniformly good - very good considering the age they were recorded.Altogether, cool as flip :)

ＣＤ、ＬＰで半分は持ってますが、それでもお値打ちだと思います

Zum Zeitpunkt der Veröffentlichung dieser Rezension hat Amazon eine ältere Rezension zu einer früheren Ausgabe der Prestigealben hier eingestellt. In dieser älteren Sammelbox waren die CD`s in Papersleeves.Die 14 CD`s der Ausgabe von 2011 befinden sich in aber in 4 Jewelcaseboxen. Auf den 14 gleich gestalteten CD`s befindet sich jeweils ein Album. In 3 Boxen jeweils 4 CD`s und in einer Box 2 CD`s. In der Box mit den 2 CD`s befindet sich ein kleines Booklet. Hierin sind die Cover der Alben sowie die Titel der Alben, Aufnahmedaten und Musiker aufgeführt. Ohne dieses Booklet hätte man sonst keine Informationen zu den Titeln, Aufnahmedaten und Musikern, denn auf den Jewelcaseboxen selbst sind auf der Rückseite nur die Alben abgebildet.Das Ganze steckt in einem schönen Schuber mit schöner, silberfarbenen Schrift. Der Schuber ist allerdings sehr dünn. Man muß vorsichtig sein, damit der Schuber nicht knickt bzw. einreißt.Die Aufnahmen klingen sehr gut. "Rudy van Gelder Remasters" sind keine enthalten.Ein umfangreicheres Booklet bzw. ein stabilerer Schuber wäre wünschenswert. Angesichts des sehr günstigen Preises vergebe ich aber trotzdem 5 Sterne. Für einen Preis von aktuell nur etwas mehr als 2€ pro Album kann man keine "Luxusausgabe" erwarten.Man erhält sehr viel Miles Davis zu einem sehr günstigen Preis.Noch ein Tipp: Bei meiner Box waren fast alle CD`s, die auf Halterungen links ihren Platz haben, lose auf den CD`s auf der rechten Seite gelegen. Beschädigt war nichts und die CD`s rasten auch problemlos ein, wo sie hingehören. Insofern empfiehlt es sich, beim erstmaligen Öffnen der Jewelcases, diese vorsichtig zu öffnen.