Rediscovered Mahavishnu a couple days ago...

[Deluge Of Sound]

And just when I thought I was getting anywhere with my music, I threw on The Inner Mounting Flame and got humbled again. I swear, every time I listen to this record, I can't even speak.


For those of you who haven't had the chance to experience it yet, I give you the Mahavishnu Orchestra:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRM8N1987qA&fmt=18

[Passinwind]

You should've seen the reaction that music created when it came out! I saw the original lineup open for T-Rex in early '72, believe it or not.

[Barkless Dog]

Amazing group, a big inspiration to me.

[jerry]

Originally Posted by Passinwind

You should've seen the reaction that music created when it came out! I saw the original lineup open for T-Rex in early '72, believe it or not.

I saw them open for somebody who I can't remember and asking for a moment of silence at the height of boogie phase, and just lay waste [in my mind anyway] to the headliner. Be afraid, be very afraid.
In those days there were a lot of great opening acts, I also saw the Alphonso Johnson era Weather Report as a opening act at a basically rock show.
I still break out all the old Mahavishnu at least once a year, a great time for that very misunderstood "fusion" music.

[emblymouse]

Dropping the needle on 'Inner Mounting Flame' always resets my gauges!

I saw them on that first tour not knowing what to expect. As a sophmore in HS I owned a copy of McLaughlins' 'Extrapolation'. Boy was I in for it! Quite literally a jaw dropping experience to hear that fusion sound for the first time. And buddy, it was LOUD! The most powerful thing I had ever heard, and Ted Nugent used to play my school gym!

I have to laugh whenever I hear some doofus 'shredding' on 6 strings. Guess you had to be there...

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by jerry

I saw them open for somebody who I can't remember and asking for a moment of silence at the height of boogie phase, and just lay waste [in my mind anyway] to the headliner. Be afraid, be very afraid.
In those days there were a lot of great opening acts, I also saw the Alphonso Johnson era Weather Report as a opening act at a basically rock show.

Bill Graham was especially cool about that sort of pairing.

I saw an article online by someone who had to follow Mahavishnu on a bill like that -- I think it was someone in the New Riders. Hilarious stuff. MO once played at the high school auditorium in Westport CT when I lived near there, but that wasn't even all that unusual at the time.

I later saw Shakti pretty much lay waste to a few big acts too, including Weather Report in the Jaco era, oddly enough.

[RHFusillo]

I bought that album when it first came out; could not deal with it for several years. I was vaguely aware of the Staples HS gig mentioned in the previous post (I grew up in Norwalk) -- I was a little too young.

[jumbosilverette]

When I saw them at the Santa Monica Civic in '73? I actually left the auditorium a little scared.

[5StringBlues]

I've only heard bits and pieces of Inner Mounting Flame so help me out here:

John Mc- guitar
Rick Laird - bass
Billy Cobham ? - drums

Who are the other musicians on this album?

[KJung]

Originally Posted by 5StringBlues

I've only heard bits and pieces of Inner Mounting Flame so help me out here:

John Mc- guitar
Rick Laird - bass
Billy Cobham ? - drums

Who are the other musicians on this album?

Jan Hammer and Jerry Goodman... the classic line-up.

I purchased the remaster of this and Birds of Fire. It's a bit hard for me to 'go back to that time' at this point, but the music is still powerful, and like the other old coots above, when I heard this in the seventies, I was like 'what the h*** is THAT'. Amazing stuff.

[5StringBlues]

^ thanks

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Passinwind

Bill Graham was especially cool about that sort of pairing.

I saw an article online by someone who had to follow Mahavishnu on a bill like that -- I think it was someone in the New Riders. Hilarious stuff. MO once played at the high school auditorium in Westport CT when I lived near there, but that wasn't even all that unusual at the time.

I later saw Shakti pretty much lay waste to a few big acts too, including Weather Report in the Jaco era, oddly enough.

I was at a concert back then where Jean Luc Ponty (with Ralphe Armstrong on bass) opened for Renaissance. They burned SO hard, and when Renaissance came out, half the crowd left after the first tune Talk about a musical b**** slappin' that was.

I could just see the promotor lining this up... Renaissance... symphonic prog rock. Jean Luc Ponty... he playes the violin?.... perfect! Hah!

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by KJung

the other old coots above

Geezer!

when I heard this in the seventies, I was like 'what the h*** is THAT'. Amazing stuff.

Yep. That one and Bitches Brew opened up a whole new world for a lot of us back then.

[Thor]

I saw them twice. The first time was in a hockey rink at Brown
University. I was front and center about 10 feet away
from John.

Very humbling to realize that no matter how good you think
you can get, you ain't EVER going to be that good. Crushed
me for a bit musically. I got over it. Or accepted it. rather.

At this show John was using the Doublenecked Gibson 12/6
string. During a solo, he pops a G string on the six. He flys up
to the 12 neck, I swear he didn't miss a note.

A roadie comes out and threads up a new G while he is
playing. When it's ready John flips back down to the G, bends
it to the note he wants. Then his hand flies out like a snake
and he tunes it. My jaw just dropped, I can't believe he did
that.

A year later I saw MO open in Carnegie Hall for It's a Beautiful
Day. I would have HATED to have been IABDay's violinist.
White Bird is a pretty song, but to come on after Jerry
Goodman? Your worst musical nightmare!

I have to say, I have always liked Dance of the Maya. I love
the transition in the bridge section back to the main theme.
Simple but brilliantly effective.

Open Country Day of off Birds of Fire is another great tune.
The Live album is killer as well. Good stuff.

And you're right, a lot of rock guys were just blown away when
they heard MO.

[Matt Dean]

Originally Posted by KJung

I was at a concert back then where Jean Luc Ponty (with Ralphe Armstrong on bass) opened for Renaissance. They burned SO hard, and when Renaissance came out, half the crowd left after the first tune Talk about a musical b**** slappin' that was.

I could just see the promotor lining this up... Renaissance... symphonic prog rock. Jean Luc Ponty... he playes the violin?.... perfect! Hah!

I saw Jean Luc Ponty with Ralphe Armstrong on bass during the same era and I remember being mesmerized by Ralphe Armstrong. He just flat out killed.

I also bought the Inner Mounting Flame when it came out... I remember taking the album to a rehearsal right after I bought it to play for our guitar player.... it ruined his night; I don't even think he could play after listening to it that night.

[dougjwray]

Originally Posted by Thor

I saw them twice. The first time was in a hockey rink at Brown
University. I was front and center about 10 feet away
from John.

Very humbling to realize that no matter how good you think
you can get, you ain't EVER going to be that good. Crushed
me for a bit musically. I got over it. Or accepted it. rather.

At this show John was using the Doublenecked Gibson 12/6
string. During a solo, he pops a G string on the six. He flys up
to the 12 neck, I swear he didn't miss a note.

A roadie comes out and threads up a new G while he is
playing. When it's ready John flips back down to the G, bends
it to the note he wants. Then his hand flies out like a snake
and he tunes it. My jaw just dropped, I can't believe he did
that.

A year later I saw MO open in Carnegie Hall for It's a Beautiful
Day. I would have HATED to have been IABDay's violinist.
White Bird is a pretty song, but to come on after Jerry
Goodman? Your worst musical nightmare!

I have to say, I have always liked Dance of the Maya. I love
the transition in the bridge section back to the main theme.
Simple but brilliantly effective.

Open Country Day of off Birds of Fire is another great tune.
The Live album is killer as well. Good stuff.

And you're right, a lot of rock guys were just blown away when
they heard MO.

I was also at that Carnegie Hall show. (It was December 29, 1971.) What I remember is that I heard a few snickers when they came onstage because McLaughlin's very short hair, cleancut face and immaculate, white shirt were sort of out of style. "Who's that straight dude? Heh, heh."
Then they launched into "Meetings of the Spirit", and on the downbeat the girl sitting directly in front of me jumped out of her seat. I mean, she actually lifted a few inches into the air-- the only time I've ever seen that. The Mahavishnu Orchestra proceeded to get a standing ovation after every song, and when they were done, half the crowd left. Poor It's a Beautiful Day, indeed.
"The Inner Mounting Flame" had just been released, and while I had it, and was obsessed with it, I have a feeling that most of the audience had no clue.

[emblymouse]

Dance of the Maya is one of those recordings that cannot be played too loudly. That riff defines heavy for me. And Cobham is so nasty!

[Thor]

Originally Posted by dougjwray

I was also at that Carnegie Hall show. (It was December 29, 1971.) What I remember is that I heard a few snickers when they came onstage because McLaughlin's very short hair, cleancut face and immaculate, white shirt were sort of out of style. "Who's that straight dude? Heh, heh."
Then they launched into "Meetings of the Spirit", and on the downbeat the girl sitting directly in front of me jumped out of her seat. I mean, she actually lifted a few inches into the air-- the only time I've ever seen that. The Mahavishnu Orchestra proceeded to get a standing ovation after every song, and when they were done, half the crowd left. Poor It's a Beautiful Day, indeed.
"The Inner Mounting Flame" had just been released, and while I had it, and was obsessed with it, I have a feeling that most of the audience had no clue.

No kidding, you were there? Wow, small world! Yeah, I was home on Xmas break. I grew up in Westchester.

Yes, it rates up there as one of the finest shows I have ever
seen.

I forgot, I saw them headline on a later show in Providence
at the then Loews Ocean State Theater. Mott the Hoople opened.

The show got weird fast when somebody threw an
empty fifth of Jack bottle at the guitarist when he was
playing. Guy jumped off the stage and started pummeling the
drunk. They then all left the stage.

Later, John comes out and says something spiritual, meditates
for about 3 minutes with the curtians closed. Then they went
on with their show. One of the stranger things I have seen
happen.

[Lazylion]

Originally Posted by 5StringBlues

I've only heard bits and pieces of Inner Mounting Flame so help me out here:

John Mc- guitar
Rick Laird - bass
Billy Cobham ? - drums

Who are the other musicians on this album?

Originally Posted by KJung

Jan Hammer and Jerry Goodman... the classic line-up.

When you've had your fill of Mahavishnu Orchestra, check out Jerry Goodman's previous band. They were called The Flock.

[jerry]

Originally Posted by Thor

Very humbling to realize that no matter how good you think
you can get, you ain't EVER going to be that good. Crushed
me for a bit musically. I got over it. Or accepted it. rather.

I remember thinking that when I discovered jazz and the jazz clubs in NYC & Jersey, up until that time I just wanted to be good enough to maybe join Humble Pie.....but, Ron Carter, Buster Williams, Will Lee, Anthony Jackson, a 18 year old Marcus Miller? Next life I guess.