By: John W. Patterson
our first question is obvious. Is this 1998 remastered re-release worth grabbing to replace
that other CD of this you already own? Yes.The difference is immediately obvious in this superior
reissue. There is new warmth, clarity without that cold digital thinness, and an almost LP aura
present. When checking recording output levels against my older CD track by track the difference
was obvious. My old CD registered -7 compared to +4 for the re-release. Remixing brings out the
drums noticeably. That washed-out, bland slurry of sound is gone! For once you hear the infinite
mastery of each artist crisply, with good separation, and punch. Some source tape hiss still
remains especially on "Dawn". No biggee. Consider the extensive liner notes and groovy
historical photos included as a nice bonus.
This has got to be one of, if not the most influential albums ever released. Jazz rock fusion
successfully exploded onto the scene in 1971 with this singular vision of guitar legend John
McLaughlin. Mclaughlin collected the arsenal of Jerry Goodman on violin, Jan Hammer on keys,
Rick Laird on bass, and Billy Cobham on drums.The musicianship, the spirit, the conversational
soloing, the unique compositions, the intensity, and the overall effect this release holds is far too
superb for this reviewer to dare confine in mere words. Whether it's "The Dance of Maya" or
"You Know, You Know", to this day you hear echoes of The Inner Mounting Flame. Consider
this. I sat many of my other albums aside to forever collect dust when I discovered The
Mahavishnu Orchestra and I remain a jazz rock fusionist to this day, 28 years later.
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Vol. 16, No. 6: Apr.-May 2012
