Just on a side note, what kinda Miles Davis live albums do you guys own/recommend? So far I've limited myself to just the Davis and Coltrane Final Tour 1960 (the VMP release), and the Miles Davis Quintet in Europe 1967 box set....I also have Live Evil and Agharta on order. Seems like there's a ton of late 60s/early 70s live albums out there so just wondering what else to add!
Good lord is this a loaded question. Rabbit hole time. I suppose it depends on what era you are looking for. This definitely brings back memories of being on the Miles list about 20 years ago and all of the CDr trading we used to do. I have so much of this stuff sitting around. Love it all.
Plugged Nickel is arguably the best but it was a Mosaic set and it was expensive at the time (I went for the CDs) and it is outrageously expensive on the secondary market (like all of the Columbia mosaics).
Personally, as I've gotten older, I only have patience for getting my ass off the couch to flip Music Matters or AP 45s since I find the experience from an audiophile standpoint to be worth it (plus those records mean so much to me). As for live music and a long time collector of live shows, I prefer to hear them in one sitting. Some suggestions if you are not adverse to CDs:
-As mentioned, the Cellar Door is ridiculously great (I see that you have Live Evil coming, which has edited performances of some of the stuff, but not the best stuff imho)
-The 1964 Benefit shows that begat Four and More and My Funny Valentine. You can find grey market pressings, I believe, or originals too.
-The Blackhawk material with Mobley is quite nice and underrated. Another rare Mosaic.
-Miles In Tokyo. I was never sure this really worked all that well but damn if I don't love Sam rivers so it's a sentimental favorite. I think Get Down did a reissue.
-70s stuff before retirement. Duh. Most is Four Men with Beards that I don't think is that bad.
-We Want Miles. Probabaly a contrversial pick but damn do I love Mike Stern. Easy to find on LP.
-Don't forget the second volume of the Bootleg series with the Lost Quintet. There is your topical Corea content. Man, I remember dying over those boots and Corea in particular (though not as nuts as the Isle of Wight stuff)