Released: 1949/50 (as singles); 1957 (full album)
Tracks: [studio] Move; Jeru; Moon Dreams; Venus De Milo; Budo; Deception; Godchild; Boplicity; Rocker; Israel; Rouge; Darn that Dream; [live] Birth of the Cool Theme; Symphony Sid Announces the Band; Move; Why Do I Love You; Godchild; Symphony Sid Introduction; S’il Vous Plait; Moon Dreams; Budo (Hallucination); Darn That Dream; Move; Moon Dreams; Budo (Hallucinations)
Best track: all the non-vocal ones are great
Track to skip: Darn That Dream (studio version)
A little bit of background on this. Miles Davis and his new ‘organization’ started recording for Blue Note in 1949. Blue Note released these tracks as singles (78’s) throughout ‘49 and ‘50. In 1957 to capitalize on Miles’ surging popularity, Capitol/Blue Note re-released these sessions as a single album called “Birth of the Cool.” This is that album, with some live stuff by the band from 1948.
These sessions were Miles’ first time leading a group, before this he’d mostly been playing with Charlie Parker. I’d say this is pretty dang good for someone’s first attempt at being a leader. It’s odd that Miles used a Nonet (9 guys) as the band, but he pulled it off and made it work beautifully. If you’re relatively new to Miles’ music you might just want to get the regular “Birth of the Cool” album which is just the studio tracks. Both of these versions are readily available.
I haven’t fully compared the live versions to the studio versions, but right now I’m preferring the studio ones. I have to listen to it more. But it really doesn’t matter, this stuff is excellent with the only bad thing being the vocals of Kenny Hagood on Darn That Dream. I’m sure in 1949 everyone thought his vocals were pretty nifty, but to me and my modern ears he has one of the most obnoxious voices I’ve ever heard. I just can’t dig it at all. The rest of the thing is very good and I’d recommend Birth of the Cool to everyone.
Rating: 92
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