This is an incomplete list, which will never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness as it excludes bootlegs, mix tapes and other minor records by independent labels and unofficial sources.
Miles Davis was an American trumpeter, bandleader and musical composer. His discography consists of at least 60 studio albums and 39 live albums, as well as 46 compilation albums, 27 box sets, 4 soundtrack albums, 57 singles and 3 remix albums.
Davis' initial appearances on record were mainly as a member of bebop saxophonist Charlie Parker's quintet from 1944 through 1947 and released on the Savoy label. Davis made his debut as a leader in the 1946 sessions featuring Parker, pianist John Lewis, bassist Nelson Boyd and drummer Max Roach. Prestige Records released Davis' debut album, The New Sounds, in 1951. He recorded many studio albums under the Prestige label from 1951 through 1956, as well as Blue Moods, issued by Debut Records in 1955, and three sessions for Blue Note Records. The earliest Davis music released was recorded from April 4, 1945, through August 14, 1947, and reissued in CD format by Savoy Records under the title First Miles.
From 1949 through 1950, Davis recorded twelve tunes with a nonet consisting of other noted jazz musicians including arranger Gil Evans, Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz, John Lewis, Max Roach and Kenny Clarke. The arrangements for that group were scored for instruments rarely used in jazz such as French horn and tuba. These recordings, which were labeled cool jazz and eventually appeared on the album Birth of the Cool in 1957 by Capitol Records, marked an important influence on the future of jazz. He later signed to Columbia and released 'Round About Midnight on March 18, 1957. His acclaimed 1959 album Kind of Blue is generally stated to be the best-selling jazz album of all time, although the data are not conclusive. The follow-up album in 1960, Sketches of Spain, went gold.
He formed his Second Great Quintet in 1964. With the release of Miles in the Sky, Davis permanently abandoned hard bop, instead adopting jazz fusion and avant-garde jazz. In this era he released the studio album Bitches Brew, which was certified platinum, culminating in the long electric jams from the mid-1970s released as Pangaea, Agharta, and Dark Magus. After a six-year retirement, Davis released albums under the Columbia and Warner Bros. labels during the period between 1981 and 1991. These recordings combined jazz with popular music genres as he turned more toward the mainstream. He finished his music career with Doo-Bop, in which he experimentally combined jazz with hip-hop, his discography ultimately being extensively sampled in hip-hop, such as with beats from his 1972 album On the Corner.
Discography
Studio albums Title Album detailsPeak chart positionsCertificationsUSTop Jazz AlbumsCont. Jazz AlbumsBEL (Fla.)FRANLDNZLNORSWESWI1951–1961: Prestige/Blue Note/Debut10" LPs The New SoundsPrestige 10" LP discography, the Jazz Discography Project, accessed June 5, 2014 Released: 1951 Recorded: October 5, 1951 Label: Prestige Format: 10" LP Young Man with a HornBlue Note 10" LP discography, the Jazz Discography Project, accessed June 5, 2014 Released: 1953 Recorded: May 9, 1952 Label: Blue Note Format: 10-inch LP Blue Period Released: 1953 Recorded: January 17, 1951, October 5, 1951 Label: Prestige Format: 10-inch LP The Compositions of Al Cohn Released: 1953 Recorded: February 19, 1953 Label: Prestige Format: 10-inch LP Miles Davis Volume 2 Released: 1953 Recorded: April 20, 1953 Label: Blue Note Format: 10-inch LP Miles Davis, Volume 3 Released: 1954 Recorded: March 6, 1954 Label: Blue Note Format: 10-inch LP Miles Davis Quartet Released: 1954 Recorded: May 19, 1953, March 15, 1954 Label: Prestige Format: 10-inch LP Miles Davis All Star Sextet Released: 1954 Recorded: April 29, 1954 Label: Prestige Format: 10-inch LP Miles Davis Quintet Released: 1954 Recorded: April 3, 1954 Label: Prestige Format: 10-inch LP Miles Davis with Sonny Rollins Released: 1954 Recorded: June 29, 1954 Label: Prestige Format: 10-inch LP Miles Davis All Stars, Volume 1 Released: 1955 Recorded: December 24, 1954 Label: Prestige Format: 10-inch LP Miles Davis All Stars, Volume 2 Released: 1955 Recorded: December 24, 1954 Label: Prestige Format: 10-inch LP12" LPs The Musings of Miles Released: 1955 Recorded: June 7, 1955 Label: Prestige Format: LP Blue Moods Released: 1955 Recorded: July 9, 1955 Label: Debut Format: LP Miles: The New Miles Davis Quintet Released: 1956 Recorded: November 16, 1955 Label: Prestige Format: LP Quintet / Sextet Released: 1956 Recorded: August 5, 1955 Label: Prestige Format: LP Collectors' Items Released: 1956 Recorded: January 30, 1953 – March 15, 1956 Label: Prestige Format: LP Cookin' Released: 1957 Recorded: October 26, 1956 Label: Prestige Format: LP Relaxin' Released: 1958 Recorded: May 11, 1956 – October 26, 1956 Label: Prestige Format: LP Workin' Released: 1960 Recorded: May 11, 1956 – October 26, 1956 Label: Prestige Format: LP Steamin' Released: 1961 Recorded: May 11, 1956 – October 26, 1956 Label: Prestige Format: LP1955–1976: Columbia years'Round About Midnight Released: 1957 Recorded: October 26, 1955 – June 5, 1956 Label: Columbia Format: LP——————————Miles Ahead Released: 1957 Recorded: May 6, 1957 – August 22, 1957 Label: Columbia Format: LP——————————Milestones Released: 1958 Recorded: April 2, 1958 – April 3, 1958 Label: Columbia Format: LP——————————Jazz Track Released: 1959 Recorded: December 4, 1957, May 26, 1958 Label: Columbia Format: LP——————————Porgy and Bess Released: 1959 Recorded: July 22, 1958 – August 18, 1958 Label: Columbia Format: LP——————————UK: SilverKind of Blue Released: August 17, 1959 Recorded: March 2, 1959 – April 22, 1959 Label: Columbia Format: LP, Reel Tape—10—2129——4058—US: 5× Platinum AUS: 2× Platinum UK: 2× Platinum FIMI: PlatinumSketches of Spain Released: July 18, 1960 Recorded: November 15, 1959 – November 20, 1959 Label: Columbia Format: LP, Reel Tape—13————————US: Platinum UK: GoldSomeday My Prince Will Come Released: December 11, 1961 Recorded: March 7, 1961 – March 21, 1961 Label: Columbia Format: LP116—————————Seven Steps to Heaven Released: July 15, 1963 Recorded: April 16, 1963 – May 14, 1963 Label: Columbia Format: LP, Reel Tape62—————————Quiet Nights Released: December 16, 1963 Recorded: July 27, 1962 – April 17, 1963 Label: Columbia Format: LP, Reel Tape93—————————E.S.P. Released: 1965 Recorded: January 20, 1965 – January 22, 1965 Label: Columbia Format: LP——————————Miles Smiles Released: 1967 Recorded: October 24, 1966 – October 25, 1966 Label: Columbia Format: LP, Reel Tape—6————————Sorcerer Released: 1967 Recorded: August 21, 1962 – May 24, 1967 Label: Columbia Format: LP—16————————Nefertiti Released: March, 1968 Recorded: June 7, 1967 – July 19, 1967 Label: Columbia Format: LP—8————————Miles in the Sky Released: 1968 Recorded: January 16, 1968 – May 17, 1968 Label: Columbia Format: LP—5————————Filles de Kilimanjaro Released: December 1968 Recorded: June 19, 1968 – September 24, 1968 Label: Columbia Format: LP, Reel Tape—13————————In a Silent Way Released: July 30, 1969 Recorded: February 18, 1969 Label: Columbia Format: LP1343————————UK: GoldBitches Brew Released: March 30, 1970 Recorded: August 19, 1969 – January 28, 1970 Label: Columbia Format: LP, Reel Tape, 8 Track Tape351—80——————US: Platinum UK: GoldJack Johnson Released: February 24, 1971 Recorded: February 18 – April 7, 1970 Label: Columbia Format: LP, Reel Tape, CD, CS1594————————Live-Evil Released: November 17, 1971 Recorded: February 6, 1970 – December 19, 1970 Label: Columbia Format: LP, CD1254————————On the Corner Released: October 11, 1972 Recorded: June 1, 1972 – June 6, 1972 Label: Columbia Format: LP, CD1561————————Big Fun Released: April 19, 1974 Recorded: November 19, 1969 – June 12, 1972 Label: Columbia Format: LP, CD1796————————Get Up with It Released: November 22, 1974 Recorded: May 19, 1970 – October 7, 1974 Label: Columbia Format: LP, CD1418————————Water Babies Released: November 2, 1976 Recorded: June 1967 – November 1968 Label: Columbia Format: LP, CD19017————————1981–1991: Columbia/Warner Bros.The Man with the Horn Released: July 1981 Recorded: June 1, 1980 – May 6, 1981 Label: Columbia Format: LP, CD531————463530—Star People Released: April 1983 Recorded: September 1, 1982 – January 5, 1983 Label: Columbia Format: LP, CD1364————————Decoy Released: June 1984 Recorded: June 30, 1983 – September 11, 1983 Label: Columbia Format: LP, CD1691————————You're Under Arrest Released: September 9, 1985 Recorded: January 26, 1984 – January 1985 Label: Columbia Format: LP, CD1113——————2619Tutu Released: September 29, 1986 Recorded: January 6, 1986 – March 25, 1986 Label: Warner Bros. Format: LP, CD, CS14115—————3327FRA: GoldAmandla Released: May 18, 1989 Recorded: December 1988 – early 1989 Label: Warner Bros. Format: LP, CD, CS177—1—————4324Aura Released: September 12, 1989 Recorded: January 31, 1985 – February 4, 1985 Label: Columbia Format: LP, CD, CS——17———————Doo-Bop Released: June 30, 1992 Recorded: January 19, 1991 – February 1991 Label: Warner Bros. Format: LP, CD, CS190—1———21—407GER: GoldRubberband Released: September 6, 2019 Recorded: 1985 Label: Warner Bros. Format: LP, CD, digital download——1———————"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.
A the September 30, 2008, re-release Kind of Blue – 50th Anniversary Collection reached number 92 in the Belgian albums chart in 2009. B 1987 reissue
Live albums Year TitleLabel FormatDate recorded Peak chart positions Certifications(sales thresholds) US Top Jazz Albums In Person Friday Night at the Blackhawk, San Francisco, Volume 1ColumbiaLP, Reel tape—— In Person Saturday Night at the Blackhawk, San Francisco, Volume 2ColumbiaLP, Reel tape—— Miles Davis at Carnegie HallColumbiaLP, CD59— Miles & Monk at NewportColumbiaLP, CD—— Miles Davis in EuropeColumbiaLP, Reel tape, CD116— Miles in BerlinCBSLP—— My Funny ValentineColumbiaLP, CD138— Four & MoreColumbiaLP—— At Plugged Nickel, Chicago, Vol. 1CBSLP—— At Plugged Nickel, Chicago, Vol. 2CBSLP—— Miles in TokyoCBS/SonyLP, CD—— Miles Davis at Fillmore: Live at the Fillmore EastColumbiaLP, CD1231 Black Beauty: Miles Davis at Fillmore WestColumbiaLP, CD—— In ConcertColumbiaLP, CD15213 Jazz at the Plaza Vol. IColumbiaLP, CD—— AghartaColumbiaLP, CS, CD16816 PangaeaColumbiaLP, CS, CD—— In Paris Festival International De Jazz May, 1949(with Tadd Dameron Quintet)ColumbiaLP, CD—— Dark MagusColumbiaLP, CD—— We Want MilesCBSLP, CD1592 Amsterdam ConcertCelluloidLP, CD—— Live Miles: More Music from the Legendary Carnegie Hall ConcertColumbiaLP, CD—— Miles! Miles! Miles!SonyLP, CD—— Miles & Quincy Live at MontreuxWarner Bros.CD, SC—1GER: Gold 1969 Miles: Festiva de Juan PinsSonyCD—— At The Royal Roost 1948 - At Birdland 1950, 1951, 1953CharlyCD__ Live Around the WorldWarner Bros.LP, CD, CS—4GER: Gold Miles in ParisWarner Bros.VHS, CD—— At Newport 1958Columbia/LegacyCD, LP—— Live at the Fillmore East, March 7, 1970: It's About That TimeColumbia/LegacyCD—3 In Person Friday and Saturday Nights at the BlackhawkColumbiaCD, LP, Reel Tape68— Birdland 1951Blue NoteCD—— Live at the 1963 Monterey Jazz FestivalMonterey Jazz Festival RecordsCD—8 Bitches Brew LiveColumbia/LegacyCD—— Live in Europe 1967: Best of the Bootleg Vol. 1Columbia/LegacyCD1967171— The Lost SeptetSleepy Night2CD—— Merci Miles! Live at VienneWarner, Rhino2CD, 2LP—— "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.
Compilations and remixes Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications(sales thresholds) US Top Jazz Albums Cont. Jazz Albums BEL (Fla.) FRA NLD NZL NOR SWE SWI Modern Jazz Trumpets Recorded: January 17, 1951 Released: 1951 Label: Prestige