"Love for Sale" from Miles Davis's 1958 sessions is an extended performance of Cole Porter's risque standard, featuring four soloists stretching out over the 64-bar AABA form in B-flat minor at approximately 210 BPM. Davis opens with one chorus of trumpet, his muted tone and rhythmic daring creating an atmosphere of sophisticated tension. Adderley follows with two powerful alto saxophone choruses, his ability to generate swinging momentum within Porter's minor-key harmony demonstrating why Davis valued his presence in the band. Coltrane then delivers two extraordinary choruses of tenor saxophone, his sheets-of-sound approach pushing the harmonic boundaries of the composition. Evans closes with two choruses of piano that balance the preceding intensity with characteristic understatement. The 64-bar form means each chorus is essentially double the length of a standard 32-bar tune, demanding exceptional sustaining power from each soloist. The performance is one of the longest on the album and showcases the sextet's collective stamina and individual brilliance. Porter's harmony provides a sophisticated framework that rewards the kind of adventurous improvisation this band was uniquely equipped to deliver.
