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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 6, 2020 10:42:03 GMT
To paraphrase Jeff Beck
"Mahavishnu Orchestra was the band that changed everything"
(please correct me if you know the exact words)
I decided I had to play all the albums again recently, nudged on by seeing my own Birds of Fire recently.
Had to hear what the latest system upgrades have revealed.
My first Mahavishnu album was Birds of Fire, arguably their best.
However
The Inner Mounting Flame
is as close to essential as you get.
Played early this morning, the separation of the instruments and detail now revealed took me by surprise.
Hearing all the instruments playing separately gives the brain an awful lot to deal with. Previously they were much more of a wall of sound.
Not adequate English, I'll try harder
Give it a go
I am going to go through them all again before I can assemble my thoughts adequately
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Post by rfan8312 on Feb 6, 2020 14:25:18 GMT
Mike, if you had to recommend 2 tracks from Mahavishnu's entire catalogue for someone looking to get their feet wet in the Maha pond which would they be. If that is possible.
BTW, there is a John McLaughlin track called To Bop Or Not To Be, that is pretty damned cool, in fact I purchased it.
Also his side project Trio Of Doom (McLaughlin, Jaco Pastorius, Tony Williams) another purchase, has some stellar tracks
.
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Post by Slinger on Feb 6, 2020 15:12:22 GMT
I saw him with the Mahavishnu Orchestra in '72. Capability Brown, Gary Wright's Wonderwheel and Lindisfarne were also on the bill. The main attraction was Yes; Alan White debuted on Drums, and they premiered "Close to the Edge".  |
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Post by MartinT on Feb 6, 2020 15:24:49 GMT
I like Alan White's time with Yes. His sense of timing is superb on Fragile.
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 6, 2020 17:13:38 GMT
Mike, if you had to recommend 2 tracks from Mahavishnu's entire catalogue for someone looking to get their feet wet in the Maha pond which would they be. If that is possible. BTW, there is a John McLaughlin track called To Bop Or Not To Be, that is pretty damned cool, in fact I purchased it. Also his side project Trio Of Doom (McLaughlin, Jaco Pastorius, Tony Williams) another purchase, has some stellar tracks . There are multiple Mahavishnus The first is arguably the best version. JM, Billy Cobham, Jan Hammer, Jerry Goodman, Rick Laird Birds of Fire is usually the album people go for, where I started and arguably their best. The one I pick from that is track 7, One Word Any of the others for the 2nd track apart from Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love Mahavishnu Mk2 is an excellent band too JM, Jean-Luc Ponty, Narada Michael Walden. Gayle Moran, Ralph Armstrong, Phillip Hirschi, Carol Shire, Carol Shive, Russell Tubbs The band I saw at The Albert Hall - stunning, wonderful Visions of the Emeral Beyond is their best IMO On the Way Home to Earth - is stunning After that you have JM as Mahavishnu mostly acoustic work. Onto him later ! |
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Post by MartinT on Feb 6, 2020 21:34:44 GMT
I didn't know that Jean-Luc Ponty was in Mahavishnu. An excellent performer.
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 6, 2020 21:37:17 GMT
Try Visions of the Emerald Beyond for some very fine work by JLP
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Post by MartinT on Feb 6, 2020 21:54:57 GMT
Will do. I've owned Cosmic Messenger since my university days.
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Post by Slinger on Feb 6, 2020 22:22:28 GMT
The lineup I saw was:
John McLaughlin - guitar
Jan Hammer - keyboards
Jerry Goodman - violin
Rick Laird - bass guitar
Billy Cobham - drums
Not something I'd ever even thought about before, but I cribbed this from Wikipedia...
The band's first lineup featured English guitarist "Mahavishnu" John McLaughlin, Panamanian drummer Billy Cobham, Irish bassist Rick Laird, Czechoslovakian keyboardist Jan Hammer, and American violinist Jerry Goodman. Talk about a "league of nations" band.
Jerry Goodman had played with a band of Jazz-Rockers named Flock, who recorded a couple of albums for CBS in '69 and '71 which I own.
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Post by karatestu on Feb 7, 2020 7:07:53 GMT
I love Mahavishnu Orchestra. My favourite albulm is strangely The lost Trident Sessions. Some of the tracks are faded in and out so you can tell they were probably just parts of longer pieces of music but that doesn't detract from the explosiveness of the music, often going from melodic quiet sections in to full on Cobham machine gun like onslaughts. Fantastic. And the sound is good too.
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Post by Firebottle on Feb 7, 2020 8:26:26 GMT
I only have 'The Inner Mounting Flame'. One of my all time favourite tracks is 'You Know You Know',
I love the way it builds and the fantastic interplay between musicians.
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 15, 2020 10:41:33 GMT
The lineup I saw was: John McLaughlin - guitar Jan Hammer - keyboards Jerry Goodman - violin Rick Laird - bass guitar Billy Cobham - drums Not something I'd ever even thought about before, but I cribbed this from Wikipedia... The band's first lineup featured English guitarist "Mahavishnu" John McLaughlin, Panamanian drummer Billy Cobham, Irish bassist Rick Laird, Czechoslovakian keyboardist Jan Hammer, and American violinist Jerry Goodman. Talk about a "league of nations" band. Jerry Goodman had played with a band of Jazz-Rockers named Flock, who recorded a couple of albums for CBS in '69 and '71 which I own. Wish I'd seen Mk 1 version, as well as Mk2 You may know Jan Hammer's real name is Kladivo (Kladivak ?)- cannot find any mention of this anywhere so I could be making it up |
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 15, 2020 10:48:29 GMT
Back to the task....
Inner Mounting Flame is well made. The best Mk1 album and possibly their best in terms of quality.
I used to think I was daft as I could not work out if guitar or violin or keyboards were playing certain parts.
After the recent upgrades I now know they often play them together, such is the separation.
A torrent of notes played identically on separate instruments is quite something.
Inner Mounting Fame is essential, Considering it was their first album makes it even better.
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 15, 2020 11:21:39 GMT
Birds of Fire was my first Mahavishnu album and it took me a very long time to 'get it'. Happy coincidence I taped it onto cassette and played it in the car countless times. One day everything clicked and i knew it was magic. Still have the memory of playing it loud between carriages on a Swiss train with my then girlfriend and her mate. Just had to keep on hearing it even though we were travelling from GB to Switzerland. karatestu and Firebottle you have to play this - as well as all their albums  Not as well made as Inner mounting Flame. Bought a remastered version in the hope it would improve. Nope The rebuilt from the master tapes SACD delivers better, as much as it can. Essential album. One of the albums of all time. Give it a few goes if not immediately smitten More detail available on a good system |
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Post by Slinger on Feb 15, 2020 13:05:29 GMT
Have you tried this one, Mike?
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 15, 2020 13:11:43 GMT
Next album *recorded* although we had to wait 26 years to hear it
The Lost Trident Sessions is a studio album, released on 21 September 1999 through Sony Music Entertainment.
It was originally recorded in June 1973 at Trident Studios but was not released until 26 years later.
(Wikipedia)
Certainly worth having. Compared to Birds of Fire a step down.
I had to have it
As they lost the tapes to above a live album with much the same tracks was released
Arguably better than The Lost Trident sessions this is after they had played the tracks on tour and become familiar with them
More together for me although not quite so well made as recorded, pretty well, live
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 15, 2020 13:13:41 GMT
Have you tried this one, Mike? Thanks Paul Have it. Must try soon on the upgraded system. I imagine the 2 guitars will be separated better than I have ever heard them before. More intricacies revealed I hope.... |
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Post by Slinger on Feb 15, 2020 13:18:30 GMT
It was always one of my favourites. I'm a big Carlos fan.
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 15, 2020 13:20:47 GMT
I struggled with it.
Might still
Stunning in places, *very* intense in lots of others
Committed Carlos fan here too
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 16, 2020 20:48:51 GMT
Listening to Love Devotion Surrender now
The separation I now have makes it a different album.
Much easier to get on with and to discover
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