Miles Davis

Every year the majors slap out a slew of compilations around Valentine's Day that exploit the holdings in their vast catalogs yet again to hopefully capitalize on the Hallmark nature of the holiday. Sony, of course, is no different; they simply issue these titles in series and give them different names. In 2009, the series is titled From the Heart. Clever. This series of compilations by major artists slaps together romantic hits for a budget price. The Miles Davis volume contains tunes he recorded between 1956 and 1965 with one anomaly -- a beautiful cover of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time," that was a surprise late hit for the trumpeter, recorded and released in 1985. The other 11 cuts read like a fine overview of his catalog from its various periods before he went electric, with entries such as "'Round Midnight," George Gershwin's "Bess You Is My Woman Now," and "I Loves You Porgy," "Blue in Green," "My Funny Valentine," Sammy Cahn's "I Fall in Love Too Easily," with even a touch of Jobim thrown in with "Corcovado." Needless to say, this isn't a comp for jazz fans necessarily, but a side gift to that bouquet of flowers or box of chocolates, a postlude to a romantic dinner or perhaps as a bag liner with that bottle of expensive cologne or perfume. It's inexpensive, the music is terrific, and despite the frivolous nature of the compilation itself, works well as a playlist. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide