Description
Miles Davis – Water Babies – 180 Gram Red Vinyl Record
Released on November 1, 1976, Water Babies is a compilation of previously unreleased recordings from Miles Davis’ late-’60s sessions. The album consists of two distinct phases of Davis’ work—post-bop material recorded in 1967 with his classic Second Great Quintet (featuring Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams) and early jazz-fusion tracks from 1968, recorded during his transition toward the groundbreaking In a Silent Way (1969).
The first half of the album (Side A) contains Water Babies, Capricorn, and Sweet Pea, all recorded in June 1967. These tracks showcase Davis’ acoustic quintet at their peak, blending hard bop with exploratory modal jazz, with Shorter’s intricate sax lines and Hancock’s delicate, harmonically rich piano work. These sessions capture the group at the tail end of their traditional jazz phase, before they would fully embrace electric instrumentation and fusion.
The second half (Side B) introduces a more electric, experimental sound, recorded in November 1968, just as Davis was beginning to shift towards jazz-fusion. Tracks like Two Faced and Dual Mr. Anthony Tillman Williams Process feature electric keyboards and a looser, more groove-based approach, hinting at the revolutionary direction Miles would take on In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew (1970).
Despite being released in 1976, nearly a decade after the recordings were made, Water Babies serves as a fascinating bridge between Davis’ post-bop brilliance and his electric fusion era. While it may not be as well-known as some of his classic albums, it remains an essential listen for fans eager to explore the evolution of one of jazz’s greatest innovators.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
Water Babies
Capricorn
Sweet Pea
Two Faced
Dual Mr. Tillman Anthony
