1 Rated X (issued version)
12" LP: Columbia KG 33236, CBS/Sony SOPJ 90/1, CBS/Sony 28AP 2163/4, CBS/Sony 36AP 1783/4, Vinyl Me, Please A017
CD: Columbia Legacy C2K 63970, Columbia Legacy C6K 06239, CBS/Sony 50DP 712/3, Sony SRCS 5726/7, Sony SRCS 9126/7, Sony SRCS 9741/2, Sony SIGP 22/3, Sony SICP 848/9, Sony SICP 1228/9, Sony SICP 20055/6, Sony SICP 30272/3, Sony SICP 1581/6, Columbia Legacy 86975 24922 [= Columbia (F) 86975 52492] (CD 44)

This session represents the recording debut of Davis' new working band. Al Foster had participated in the March session that produced "Red China Blues," and he stayed until 1984. Lucas and Forman remained with the Davis working group until 1976.

"Rated X (take 8?)" may be from August 23 -- it is the same tune as what was issued as "Chieftain" on the Complete On the Corner Sessions (Columbia 88697-06239-2).

Immediately after this session the Group hit the road: Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival (September 10); Paul's Mall, Boston (September 14-17); Spectrum, Philadelphia (September 23); Lincoln Center, New York (September 29); Stanford University amphitheater, Palo Alto (October 1); Civic Theatre, San Diego (October 8).

Several of the reviews of these concerts are very critical; e.g. "[this music] is someone clearing their throat, cats fighting in the alley, a kid dragging a stick along a picket fence, a dog howling in the night, or even fingernails screeching against a blackboard, a most nerve-wracking sound. And what's worse? All of that going on at the same time... Now, it's usual for musicians to warm up and tune up before actually going into their performance and Davis followed suite [sic]. However, the entire performance sounded as if it was a continuous tuning up. Imagine 45 minutes of people tuning instruments!"

Bill Laswell's Panthalassa (Columbia CK 67909, Sony SRCS 8457) includes a 6:04 remix of this material, and the collaboration Panthalassa: The Remixes (Columbia CK 69897, Sony SRCS 8906) includes two others, 6:38 and 8:01.