1 Black Comedy (take 2)
12" LP: Mosaic MQ10-177
CD: Columbia Legacy C6K 67398, Columbia Legacy C6K 90925, Columbia CK 65684, Sony SRCS 8575/80, Sony SICP 663/8, Sony SRCS 9711, Sony SICP 830, Sony SICJ 30073, Columbia Legacy 86975 24922 [= Columbia (F) 86975 52492] (CD 30)

2 Black Comedy (new take 12)
12" LP: Columbia CS 9628, Mobile Fidelity Sound Laboratory MFSL 2-45437, CBS/Sony SONP 50023, CBS/Sony SONZ 54014, CBS/Sony SOPL 168, CBS/Sony 18AP 2073, CBS/Sony 23AP 2573, Mosaic MQ10-177
CD: Columbia CK 48954, Columbia CK 65684, Columbia Legacy C6K 67398, Columbia Legacy C6K 90925, Mobile Fidelity Sound Laboratory UDSACD 2147, CBS/Sony 32DP 728, Sony SRCS 5711, Sony SRCS 9305, Sony SRCS 8575/80, Sony SICP 663/8, Sony SRCS 9711, Sony SICP 830, Sony SICJ 30073, Columbia Legacy 86975 24922 [= Columbia (F) 86975 52492] (CD 30)

According to the track sheets for this session the original title for "Black Comedy" was "Riverside." Although the Quintet devoted more than forty minutes to this tune, the two takes listed here are the only complete ones. Williams seems much more tentative on the alternate take 2 released in the Quintet box (Mosaic MQ10-177, Columbia Legacy C6K 67398). By the time he gets to the master take 12 he is playing with his typical effervescent brashness. Vintage Tony Williams!

In addition to its busy studio schedule (six dates in just over a month), the Quintet was also busy with live dates, including the Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis (May 26); Showboat Lounge, Philadelphia (May 29-June 5); Village Gate, New York (July 16-28, with Buster Williams and Miroslav Vitous subbing for Carter); the Laurel Jazz Festival (August 2); the New York Jazz Festival at Randall's Island (August 17); Count Basie's Club, New York (mid-August) -- Dave Holland's first gig with the Quintet, and Hancock's last. During this period several players joined the group for the odd engagement: Stanley Cowell (p); Marshall Hawkins, Cecil McBee, Gary Peacock, Bill Plummer, Reggie Workman, and Buster Williams (b); Jack De Johnette (d). Chick Corea joined the Quintet in time for a week at Peyton Place, Baltimore (September 17-22), then Chicago's Plugged Nickel Club (September 25-29); Royce Hall on the UCLA campus (October 5), Las Lomas High School Auditorium, Walnut Creek (October 6), San Francisco's Both/And Club (October 8-20), Shelly's Manne-Hole (October 22-November 3).