Two diverse stars on the cusp of fame…
George Jones was just starting out when these early albums came out. He was still under the spell of Hank Williams, sounding like him at time, and just transitioning into his own mode. His 1957 debut includes his classic “Why Baby Why” and “What Am I Worth. He did a couple of tribute albums, one to Hank Williams with an impressive “Cold Cold Heart” and “Hey Good Lookin” and a swinging one to Bob Wills with wonderful takes of “Roly Poly” and “Time Changes Everything”. Lastly, there’s a collection of covers that has him with a well suited “White Lightning” and “Wandering Soul” from 1959 and an obscure one from the same year includes the prophetic “Take The Devil Out of Me”. Jones a rising.
For some jazz fans, Miles Davis was in his truest form on these early 50s album, just after breaking the heroin habit and about to form his first “Classic” Quintet. His earliest with Milt Jacksvibes, Theloinous Monk/p, Percy Heath/b and Kenny Clarke/dr had him in a darker tone with “Dr. Jackie” and Minor March”, while his famous Christmas Eve recording with Thelonious Monk produced the infamous “The Man I Love” with Monk in a feisty mood, while the team bounced through “Swing Spring”. Davis teams up with Sonny Rollins for a vintage take of “Oleo” and “Doxy” with his nascent rhythm section including Paul Chambers/b, Red Garland/p and Philly Joe Jones/dr, and finally finding his groove with tenorist John Coltrane for “Just Squeeze Me” and “There Is Not Greater Love” with Miles redefining cool jazz with his Harmon mute. Early blue period