Record of the Day: Miles Davis, “Kind of Blue”

Miles Davis
“Kind of Blue” (Cd Columbia/Legacy 0649359)

The nerve of the major record companies really knows no bounds. When the transition from analog to digital occurred (and progressively from LP to CD) we were bombarded by incessant propaganda about how this new technique would indescribably improve the quality of sound. A few years later the record companies themselves admitted that for many types of music analog was better, but in the meantime they had started to resell on CD the records that you already had on LP. After thirty years the quality of the Compact Disc has improved stratospherically compared to the harsh, thin and metallic sound
of the first reprints, so you will have to throw away the old CDs and buy the same titles again to be able to listen to them properly (and in the meantime the coffers of the multinationals grow fat).

Miles Davis’ classic “Kind of Blue” is one of the perfect examples of this. An essential album in everyone’s collection, an absolute masterpiece of jazz, it has enjoyed digital reissues on LPs that according to the “experts” were the non plus ultra, then it was reissued “in the splendor of the CD sound”, which was even better and so on. Then another version came out in which we are told that in all the previous reissues, who knows why, the tape had been transferred to the master at the wrong speed and no one had noticed (how distracted); only now can we listen to the songs in their original tones. “The sound,” they write on the cover, “is finally right, not a “tin simulacrum” like in the past.”
But wasn’t that the digital splendor? One suspects that they realized it wasn’t that great, but didn’t think it was elegant to say so. Of course, all the copies sold so far and passed off as Top Audio to unsuspecting buyers aren’t being replaced for free (as would be ethical to do), but you have to open your wallet again. Crazy stuff.

However, if you have never heard “Kind of Blue” (perhaps due to anagraphic reasons) and you want to freshen up the August air with a bit of cool atmospheres, you would do well to buy it, otherwise avoid yet another repurchase since the sound is not at all superior to the latest reissue and you will only be able to notice the difference in speed if you have perfect pitch or work in an electronic tuner factory.

Carlo Boccadoro, composer and conductor, was born in Macerata in 1963. He lives and works in Milan. He collaborates with soloists and orchestras in different parts of the world. He is the author of numerous books on musical subjects.

This text is taken from “Lunario della musica: Un disco per ogni giorno dell’anno” published by Einaudi, courtesy of the author and the publisher.