Miles Davis Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Time After TimeMiles Davis6rank/position

MILES DAVIS – Time After Time

When we hear the term “standard number,” we tend to picture songs born before the war or in the ’50s and ’60s.

However, the piece introduced here is a gem of a standard that emerged in the 1980s.

“Time After Time,” included on American singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper’s blockbuster 1983 album She’s So Unusual—she’s also widely known as a great admirer of Japan—is a quintessential ’80s ballad that remains beloved even now, in the 2020s.

It’s been used countless times in commercials, and even younger music fans can instantly recognize it when they hear its wistful melody.

In fact, “Time After Time” has also become a standard in the jazz world, continually covered by many artists.

A direct catalyst was none other than the emperor of jazz, Miles Davis, who recorded an instrumental version in 1984, shortly after the song’s release, and issued it as a single the following year, in 1985.

After that, it became a recurring feature in Miles’s live performances.

Of course, beyond jazz, it’s an eternal ballad that continues to be covered across genres.

Be sure to enjoy both the original version and Miles’s cover!

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KOH-1

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Blue in GreenMiles Davis7rank/position

Miles Davis – Blue In Green (Official Audio)

This piece by Miles Davis gracefully sets the tone for a special night with a quiet, meditative atmosphere.

The whisper of a muted trumpet blends with the crystalline resonance of the piano, conjuring in the mind a scene like a watercolor where blues and greens softly bleed together.

Its introspective beauty elevates the space without intruding on dining or conversation.

The work appears on the 1959 August release Kind of Blue, an album renowned as a masterpiece of modern jazz.

Employing modal jazz techniques that are not bound by traditional chord progressions, this landmark recording has continued to be cherished worldwide, earning an exceptional 5× Platinum certification for a jazz album.

Brimming with charm, it adds a refined, adult mood to a calm dinner or an evening at the bar.

On Green Dolphin StreetMiles Davis8rank/position

Miles Davis – On Green Dolphin Street (Audio) (Official Audio)

A beloved classic cherished by jazz greats who defined modern jazz—such as Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, and Oscar Peterson—On Green Dolphin Street has been widely covered by many artists, from instrumental versions to vocal renditions.

Among them, Miles Davis’s performance left perhaps the most powerful impression on listeners.

The piece also became a film.

If you’d like to immerse yourself more deeply in its world, be sure to watch it as well.

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Ryo

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SummertimeMiles Davis9rank/position

Summertime

This piece was composed by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess.

Although it is a lullaby in content, it has been performed by many artists as a jazz standard up to the present day.

It’s short with a simple progression, so it’s a song enjoyed in a variety of arrangements—from ballads to funk.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Swing SpringMiles Davis10rank/position

Swing Spring

Miles Davis is one of the most famous jazz trumpeters in the world and is known in Japan as the “Emperor of Modern Jazz.” His prowess as a trumpeter is exceptional, and he leveraged his advanced performance skills to venture not only into jazz but also into genres like hip-hop and electric jazz.

His renowned piece “Swing Spring” is a work themed around spring, characterized by a buoyant, springlike, and smooth melody.

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Ryo

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