Previously unheard Miles Davis album set for release

His forgotten 1985 project 'Rubberband' is finally released in full this September

Published 13th Jun 2019

The Miles Davis estate is finally ready to release his forgotten album ‘Rubberband’ 34 years after it was originally recorded and 28 years after his death. Davis shocked the music world in 1985 when he left Columbia Records after 3 decades to join Warner Bros. In October of that year, he began recording the album ‘Rubberband’ in Los Angeles at Ameraycan Studios with producers Randy Hall and Zane Giles. The musical direction Davis was taking during the sessions marked a radical departure, with the inclusion of funk and soul grooves, Miles himself on keyboards, as well as plans to feature powerhouse vocalists Al Jarreau and Chaka Khan. Eventually, the album was shelved, and Davis went on to record ‘Tutu’ with Marcus Miller instead, leaving the ‘Rubberband’ songs unheard and untouched until now.

Davis’ fans finally got a taste of the iconic trumpeter’s long-lost album last year with the release of a 4-track ‘Rubberband EP’ for Record Store Day. Now, the entire 11-track album will be released in full on September 6th via Warner / Rhino CD, LP, and digital. The original producers Hall and Giles, and Davis’ nephew Vince Wilburn Jr. have led the project (Wilburn Jr. played the drums on the original session) and they have featured newly recorded vocals from acclaimed US singers Lalah Hathaway and Ledisi.

‘Rubberband’ includes liner notes from George Cole, writer of ‘The Last Miles’, and features an original painting by Miles Davis as the cover art.

Track Listing:
“Rubberband Of Life” – featuring Ledisi
“This Is It”
“Paradise”
“So Emotional” – featuring Lalah Hathaway
“Give It Up”
“Maze”
“Carnival Time”
“I Love What We Make Together” – featuring Randy Hall
“See I See”
“Echoes In Time/The Wrinkle”
“Rubberband”