Water Babies (album)

Water Babies is a studio album by Miles Davis. Released during Miles Davis's retirement in the second half of the seventies, it is a collection of stylistically diverse "leftovers" spanning eighteen months, from the Nefertiti sessions with the Miles Davis Quintet (1967) to the experimental, transitional period between Filles de Kilimanjaro and In a Silent Way (late 1968).

Due to these recordings being released years after they were recorded, the three Wayne Shorter compositions recorded during the 1967 session had made their first appearance in 1969 on Shorter's album Super Nova in a much more free jazz, avant-garde style.

Side A features the second great quintet of Davis, Shorter, Hancock, Williams and Carter. On side B, Ron Carter is replaced by Dave Holland and Chick Corea doubles with Hancock on electric piano; this line-up is very similar to that who recorded In A Silent Way (in fact tracks 4 to 6 was recorded during those sessions).

Track listing on 1976 original LP version

Side one

1. "Water Babies" (Wayne Shorter) – 5:06
2. "Capricorn" (Wayne Shorter) – 8:26
3. "Sweet Pea" (Wayne Shorter) – 7:59

Side two

1. "Two Faced" (Wayne Shorter) – 18:00
2. "Dual Mr. Tillmon Anthony" (Miles Davis, Tony Williams) – 13:20

Track listing on 2002 CD resissue

1. "Water Babies" (Wayne Shorter) – 5:06
2. "Capricorn" (Wayne Shorter) – 8:26
3. "Sweet Pea" (Wayne Shorter) – 7:59
4. "Two Faced" (Wayne Shorter) – 18:00
5. "Dual Mr. Anthony Tillmon Williams Process" (Miles Davis, Tony Williams) – 13:20
6. "Splash" (Miles Davis) – 10:05

Performers on tracks 1-3

• Miles Davis – trumpet
• Wayne Shorter – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
• Herbie Hancock – piano
• Ron Carter – bass
• Tony Williams – drums

Performers on tracks 4-6

• Miles Davis – trumpet
• Wayne Shorter – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
• Chick Corea & Herbie Hancock – electric piano
• Dave Holland – bass
• Tony Williams – drums

References