Track Listing

1. Dream
2. Trilogy
3. Sister Andrea
4. I Wonder
5. Stepping Tones
6. John's Song

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #109083 in Music
• Released on: 2001-08-13
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Recorded during a brief stopover in London on June 25, 1973, these unprepossessing studio performances, despite (or maybe because of) the heavy compression (particularly on the drums) and a mixed-on-the-fly feel, convey far more of the edgy, go-for-broke energy, ferocious solo intensity, and telepathic interplay of Mahavishnu's peak 1973 live shows than their only live album (the August 12, 1973, Central Park performance caught on Between Nothingness & Eternity). McLaughlin's extended forms, "Dream" and "Trilogy", are made up of hyperkinetic blues vamps, classical elements from both the Western art music and Carnatic traditions, shifting minor modes and complex rhythmic cycles, while keyboardist Jan Hammer's "Sister Andrea" adds a welcome touch of funk to the formula. Unreleased tunes by violinist Jerry Goodman and bassist Rick Laird shed new light on their contributions to the band's overall repertoire, and everyone plays like their life depends on it--no one more so than Billy Cobham, whose ability to swing rock rhythms and depict a wide range of dynamic nuances is simply remarkable. Cobham's ferocious exchanges with the guitarist walk the line between Hendrix-style psychedelia and Coltrane-like dervish dances. A thrilling snapshot of fusion's musical possibilities before it all went sour. --Chip Stern

Customer Reviews

Not perfect but a 5 star must.
Some might have seen this release as a quick "cash in". Well it may have been the intention although not one likely to make a fortune!!
This final chapter of the jaw-dropping 'Mahavishnu 'One', is, at its weakest a little unsure of itself, even in this state it is still formidable. However, for much of the time it is a powerhouse. The three opening tracks are quite blistering at times. If my memory serves well, these three made up the "live" Mahavishnu CD released after "Birds of Fire"?
Okay the following 3 tracks have the "filler feeling" but they are none-the-less worthwhile. Cobham's light speed bass drums on Track 4 - "I Wonder" - nearly blow your eardrums out; it is awesome!
The sheer fire-power of this band is legendary and rightly so.
Other excellent Mahavishnus followed but none quite matched the original McLaughlin, Goodman, Hammer, Laird and Cobham line-up.
Do not miss this one!!

Mixed feelings
A lost classic indeed - but a flawed one. For me, there are lots of dud bits, and although I've played the CD frequently over many years, I find myself skipping over a couple of tracks which I've never warmed too. And on other tracks, there are places where the plot is lost or the music is clichéd.

But this is certainly one of my own favourite CDs of all time, because the good bits are awesome. For example, I would buy it again just for Sister Andrea, in which McLaughlin plays one of the most ecstatically lyrical guitar solos I've ever heard, with the rest of the band wrapping it up beautifully.

A lost classic
I have to disagree with the other reviews thus far, and declare (as a relatively recent convert) that this is my favourite M.O. album. The tracks here are much better sounding than in their 'between nothingness and eternity' versions, and the whole album, to these jaded ears is even better than the hallowed 'birds of fire'. It sounds as if the tensions which history has shown to have been tearing the band apart were directed straight into the music, which is as tense and dynamic as one could wish (parts of it sound like King crimson, whom I love).

Give it a try, you may be pleasantly surprised.