Monday, March 25, 2013

40 Year Itch: Birds of Fire Cracks The Top 20




[Purchase]

Mahavishnu Orchestra's fusion-istic  follow-up to the #11 charting Inner Mounting Flame, Birds of Fire cracks the Tops 20 at #19 on March 31st , 1973 on its way to #15. Guitarist and sole composer John McLaughlin said of his road-tested band "We were on a wave, we were experiencing a success that was unforseen, and we were making light-year jumps in terms of playing together, developing new ways of playing."



   Birds of Fire offers listeners some of the loudest and most rocking fusion on the planet ("One World", "Biurds of Fire") as well as delicate numbers ("Thousand Island Park") that probably offered a map for where most jazz fusion wound up going. "Miles Beyond" is dedicated to Miles Davis with whom Mclaughlin once played. Incredible dynamics! With both McLaughin and ( on "One World")  drummer Billy Cobham especially shining.

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