Like fine wine, he gets mellower with age
Miles Davis - The Man With The Horn
This arrived in the post this morning. A beautiful quality Japanese pressing to boot, albeit sans obi strip.
I really cannot fathom what is going on with the sleeve art work.
I’ve tried listen to this with my 1981 ears on, as well as my 2025 ears.
Alright, worst first:
To be honest it’s no surprise that the album's two low-points were the ones where Randy Hall was involved.
In the context of 1981, the dancey instrumental Shout sounds in-keeping with the crossover output of other horn players around that time, Tom Browne, Donald Byrd, or Herb Alpert, for instance. Of course we kind of expect more of Davis.
The cringe-inducing ballad, which is the title track is a contender for the worst ever Miles Davis tune. Hall's lyrics are just awful:
Smooth, suave, debonair,
Describes a man so rare.
The good bits:
Mike Stern’s guitar solo on Fat Time is ridiculously good.
Marcus Miller’s bass playing is wonderfully understated.
The distorted guitar sound on Back Seat Betty is delightfully odd.
The stand out track by a country mile is Aïda, not least because of Al Foster’s spectacular drumming.
Just waiting for a copy of Tutu to arrive now.
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Getting Randy
Randy Hall - I Belong To You
Randy Hall once played with Miles Davis. How do I know this? It’s mentioned first and foremost in everything that has been written about ol’ Randy ever since. Mind you, fair enough – if I’d once collaborated with Miles, I’d have it tattooed on my forehead. And carry a big sign around with me.
I was inspired to drag this one out of the racks of wax by this post, which features Randy’s old band (before he collaborated with Miles Davis). This album comes about 4 years after he collaborated with Miles Davis. It’s produced by Ray Parker Jr, who was schmokin’ hot at the time, what with his Ghostbusters theme and all.
Randy has obviously had his hair done and gone clothes shopping for the cover shoot. Nice to see he made an effort, despite having the bona fides of having worked with Miles Davis.
I remember buying this on US import from JiFS in Chadwell Heath. I reckon it cost seven pounds fifty, just before the price of imports went up to eight quid.
Honestly, musically, I don’t mind it. It’s of an age.
Lyrically, though...fucking hell.
I’ve Been Watching You (Jamie’s Girl) tells the tale of Randy pursuing his best mate’s girlfriend (possibly – but this isn’t mentioned in the lyrics – by telling her that he once collaborated with Miles Davis), before old mate Jamie finds out, offers him outside for fisticuffs, which Randy wins, then gets all gloaty over his double-victory:
Ain't no sense in goin' home, Jamie, I got your girl and gone
A Gentleman is a lesson in non-toxic masculinity which has aged so badly, it could come from the 19th century:
Don’t forget to tip your hat – a gentleman is where it’s at.
Are you listening, Andrew Tate?
Intergenerational relationships are celebrated in a totally modern and non-kink-shaming way on Older Woman, Younger Man:
Its the new thing today, so baby if you’re able, come on and rock my cradle.
With the name Randy Hall sounding like a luxury swingers' club, it's no surprise that things get a bit hot under the collar and the album comes to its sticky climax with I Want To Touch You, essentially a slowjam singalong about finger-banging, which has more sex noises than are required in a song. (Possibly a recording of Randy looking at the sleeve notes of Miles Davis’ The Man With The Horn.)
Oh and in the thanks list on the back cover, the first name after the big G and Randy's fam is ‘Miles’.
I’ve really enjoyed playing this album this morning.
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