Mahavishnu orchestra, seventies blind alley ?
Posted by: Peter Stockwell on 20 October 2003
I must have a locked groove for the seventies. After reaximanition of the Yes catalogue, and a delve in to Santana. I started poking at The Mahavishnu orchestra.
What started it off was a record fair at the exhibition centre at Paris's Porte Champerret, after paying 5.50€ entrance fee, I thought I shouldn't come away empty handed. But the prices in these fairs (and the F@µking smoke!!!) made finding a bargain an ordeal. I must remind myself never to go again.
In the end I bought two albums at 5€ each.
One of them was 'Inner Mounting Flame', and early 70s UK pressing which sounds particularly rich and 'there'. I find the music to be as beautiful and energetic as I remember from my yoof, and more so. The quieter tracks have an aching beaty from the combination of John McLaughlin's guitar and the violin of Jerry Goodman (I believe, I don't have the cover to hand as I type). Billy Cobham lays down a fine background for the other players too.
For those who've never listened but do know King Crimson, I'm reminded of the early 70s KC but there are no lame lyrics to ignore.
While I'm on the early 70s beat, another way to approach this music is to start with the Carlos Santana/John Mclaughin opus 'Love, Devotion & Surrender' which has just been released by Columbia Legacy as a nice price CD (without Copy Control, thank you). It's very well done, in terms of sound quality, sounding just a shade less 'there' than an early 70s LP on my rig, but commendable nonetheless. The music is an absolute classic of the era, a must have to my ears.
I also listened to Miles Davis this weekend and it's clear that Miles inspired both these musicians at this time. Check 'Live Evil' or 'Bitches brew' or 'Jack Johnson'.
'ears to you!
Peter
Posted on: 20 October 2003 by Peter Stockwell
Hock,
I try to break out of the seventies, but some things draw me back. And I marvel at how, while I said I liked it at the time, in some cases, I plainly didn't get all of it. Mahavishnu's Inner Mounting Flame is a good case, the santana Caravansera to Lotus period I got, but I get it better now.
I didn't know anything about Miles Davis in the early seventies, and although he was promoted as 'rock' by Columbia, or CBS as it was in the UK at the time, it didn't get anywhere near the exposure that the white rock bands did. Miles 'writes' about this in his autobigraphy, speaking of a tour with the Steve Miller Band where Miles was the warmup!
I played 'Live Evil' last night after 'Inner Mounting Flame' and it's a lot darker and funkier I find, that's a record it's taken 5 years or more to get!
What's the revival in jazz of that early seventies groove ?
Peter
Posted on: 21 October 2003 by Pete
Ages since I've listened to Birds of Fire, must go and dig it out tonight. And in the meantime I'll suggest Stanley Clarke's 1974 eponymous album as a top slice of 70s funky fusion, and 75's "Journey to Love" too (both of which are also in the list of things it's past time I listened to, sounds like a fustastic evening ahead...).
Pete.
Posted on: 21 October 2003 by Rasher
IMHO, Birds of Fire is the best by far - my first MO LP and the one I always return to. I Bought Love Devotion Surrender only recently on CD after not hearing it for 15 years (sold my LP's).
I think Peter, you are travelling the same road as me recently. You are only missing No Mystery by Return to Forever.
Posted on: 22 October 2003 by Peter Stockwell
Thanks everyone for the response, I thought that you'd not want to go up a dark alley with me ...
Hock'n'Nick, you've given me some food for thought, I'll try for the Laswell 'Divine Light' CD, as well as 'Extrapolation'. My nephew burnt me a trio disc with Maclaughlin, Defranco & Elvin Jones that revisits Coltranes work in the context of a hammond B3, Guitar & Drums set. Sadly it's not 100% convincing but it does have it's moments.
Nick, it's the 21st century, so maybe the late 60s is where it's really at ? the flower Kings of heard some of and I was tempted ... but didn't risk it. I only have space for another 300 CDs and about 200 LPs so everything has to count.
Peter
Posted on: 23 October 2003 by Stephen Bennett
quote:
Originally posted by Nick Lees:
_AHEM._ The second Henry Fool album was promised to us yonks ago. Mr Bennett?????
nick.lees at btinternet.com
Nick, did you get my reply re this?
I can only bow my head in shame but say that we are in the Studio next week. I'm hoping to have the Fool album, a new Fire Thieves and some stuff with Sara done by 2004!
Regards
Stephen
Posted on: 24 October 2003 by Peter Stockwell
Nick,
I do have several recordings made in the last 15 years, some of them are actually quite good.
Peter
Posted on: 24 October 2003 by Stephen Bennett
quote:
Originally posted by Nick Lees:
[QUOTE] Stephen,
Yes I did, but I thought it a good opportunity to have a cheap pop at the young slacker generation of today. When I were a lad, the aspiring young beat combo would be contracted to release 5 hit singles and two chart-topping albums a year as well as writing songs for Peter Noone and Helen Shapiro to cover.
As well as being contractually obliged to ingest superhuman amounts of drugs and wreck the odd hotel room.
nick.lees at btinternet.com
THURSDAY 23 October 2003 at 16:59.]
Nick
Only too true. I was supposed to work on a Hugh Hopper track last night. I watched 'Cherry Falls' on video instead.
I feel so bad.
Stephen (never used drugs, never trashed owt)
Posted on: 07 November 2003 by Top Cat
Try to get a copy of "The Trident Sessions" - it's basically the lost studio album from which the live tracks on "Between Nothingness and Eternity" were derived. Well worth seeking out - it's only on CD sadly.
My favourite remains "Between Nothingness and Eternity" due to the fact it was my induction to the Mahavishnuian way...
Still intrigued by that Sri Chinmoy stuff to this day - was the running part of the musical attraction (preparation for playing at 180bpm, perhaps?) or did that come later?
John
TC '..'
"Sun went down in honey. Moon came up in wine. Stars were spinnin' dizzy, Lord, the band kept us so busy we forgot about the time."
Posted on: 07 November 2003 by John C
The best exponent of this type of music (jazz/prog/rock) currently is Tim Berne. The last 3 records from his Science Friction band update and really add to the oeuvre. As Hock says the watered down version by McBride et al is a damp sqib.
The latest from Berne is a double live album And the Sublime (I think). A previous album The Shell game is top notch as well. Craig Taborn a really excellent piano player is on Fender rhodes and the formidable Tom Rainey on drums. The songs are loooong and have a little, well a large actually, Ornette influence thrown in. It's a great record probably, however despite many plays I just dont seem to get it as I'm afraid just as I didnt get McLoughlin apart from Extrapolation. Im going to see Berne live (yet again) in a few weeks to try to correct my lack of musical insight.
John
Probably some samples here
www.thirstyear.comactually here is better
http://www.screwgunrecords.com/I hate prog rock deeply
Posted on: 07 November 2003 by John C
The best exponent of this type of music (jazz/prog/rock) currently is Tim Berne. The last 3 records from his Science Friction band update and really add to the oeuvre. As Hock says the watered down version by McBride et al is a damp sqib.
The latest from Berne is a double live album And the Sublime (I think). A prvious album The Shell game is excellent. Craig Taborn a really excellent piano player is on Fender rhodes and the excellent Tom Rainey on drums. The songs are loooong and have a little, well a lot actually, Ornette influenced stuff thrown in. Its a great record probably however despite many plays I just dont seem to get it as I'm afraid just I didnt get McLoughlin apart from Extrapolation. Im going to see Berne live (yet again) in a few weeks to try to correct my lack of musical insight.
John
Probably some samples here
www.thirstyear.comI hate prog rock deeply
