The Mahavishnu Orchestra, in its original incarnation, lasted just four years, but in that brief time, the pioneering quintet set both the template and the high-water mark for fusion music. No band ever rocked as hard in a jazzy place as guitarist John McLaughlin's charging ensemble. McLaughlin had already built a firm reputation in his native England as a keen improviser with blues and rock leanings when he was invited by drummer Tony Williams in early 1969 to join him in New York. Almost immediately, McLaughlin was swept up into the very epicenter of the burgeoning fusion movement, appearing on in 1969 alone three of the genre's most significant recordings: Emergency! (by the newly-formed Tony Williams Lifetime) and In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew, the epochal Miles Davis albums that kick started fusion. When it was time for McLaughlin -- who, in his initial New York stay, had quickly developed from a gifted player to a brilliant one -- to form his own band, he brought together musicians who could apply full-force rock energy to improvisatory jazz skill. Keyboardist Jan Hammer, violinist Jerry Goodman, and drummer Billy Cobham were each extravagant virtuosos eager to match McLaughlin at his own game; bassist Rick Laird contained the passion with his steady bass lines. Dubbed the Mahavishnu Orchestra, the new band released its debut recording, The Inner Mounting Flame in August of 1971: fusion as we know it was now fully born. Younger listeners raised on rock responded to the band's vitality and extraordinary musicianship; before long The Mahavishnu Orchestra was appearing with the likes of The Byrds and Aerosmith. Subsequent hit albums built on The Inner Mounting Flame s innovations; Hammer added synthesizers to his arsenal, developing a keyboard style nearly as influential as that of McLaughlin's frenetic guitar work and Cobham's rumbling percussive attack. But it was nearly inevitable that the life span of such a dynamic ensemble would be brief. The Mahavishnu Orchestra threw down the gauntlet; fusioneers who followed have been trying to catch up ever since. The Complete Original Mahavishnu Orchestra Columbia Albums Collection (5 CDs):1. The Inner Mounting Flame (1971) 2. Birds Of Fire (1973) 3. The Lost Trident Sessions (1973) 4. Between Nothingness and Eternity (1974) 5.Bonus Disc: Between Nothingness And Eternity [Disc 2]
P**N
Complete Collection Information
Until recently, this set had only been sold on Sony's "Pop Market" website, which is absurdly secretive, not revealing song line-ups for product, so it is impossible for fans to know (before buying) if their box sets contain any previously unreleased material. I've now purchased this set from Amazon.com, and so I can now reveal the specifics. The contents are:1."The Inner Mounting Flame"(original 1971 Don Puluse mix), plus a bonus track: a 15 minute "Noonward Race" live at the "Mar Y Sol" festival, which was originally released on a 2-L.P. ATCO Records "Mar Y Sol" various artists set)2.Birds of Fire3.The Lost Trident Sessions4.Between Nothingness & Eternity5."Unreleased tracks from Between Nothingness & Eternity".Tracklisting: "Hope", "Awakening", "You Know, You Know","One Word", "Stepping Tones", "Vital Transformation", "The Dance of Maya". These tracks were all recorded August 17 & 18,1973 at Wollman Rink in New York.The booklet with the box set gives the basic information for each album , but does not reproduce the liner notes for "The Lost Trident Sessions". Also, I would note that I would have preferred the late 1980's Mark Wilder remix of "The Inner Mounting Flame" because of its superior sound quality, but I've got it elsewhere in my collection.The Disc Five of unreleased material is worth the price of the box set's purchase. Some may complain about the omission of later Mahavishnu Orchestra albums, but the set is titled "The Original Mahavishnu Orchestra-The Complete Columbia Albums Collection", and so it is complete; all the released albums by the original John McLaughlin/Jan Hammer/Rick Laird/Billy Cobham/Jerry Goodman line-up.
B**R
Classic With A Great Bonus
The original Mahavishnu Orchestra only lasted a short time, but they created a tremendous body of work. Not quite rock but too loud for jazz, they blazed the trail for fusion and left everyone far behind. This collection has both studio albums - with not a bad cut between them -and the live 'Between Nothingness and Eternity', which, unusually for the time, had all new music on it and was more expansive, with the shortest cut being nearly ten minutes long.Tensions among such high powered individuals were perhaps inevitable, especially concerning songwriting royalties, and the group broke up after only two short years. It was a real pleasure when decades later 'The Lost Trident Sessions' was released, a complete album recorded and abandoned during the last days of the group. Much of the material overlaps the live album, with less intensity but greater precision and accuracy. It often sounds slightly incomplete and doesn't quite reach the heights of the first two albums, but it is still superior material to everything else to come from other contemporary bands.But the real treat of this box set, besides the remastering, besides the great price, and besides the informative booklet, is the bonus album of live material. This stuff is as smoking hot as you would expect and clocks in at a generous running time. A lot of the classics are covered, often at blistering speed. This alone is worth the price of the box set. But wait, there's more! The first album also has a 15 minute bonus live cut from the Mar-Y-Sol festival.The Mahavishnu Orchestra may not be everybody's cup of tea, and jazz traditionalists dismiss them as too loud and fast. But for the fan of early 1970s music, of jazz fusion or progressive rock (the band is closer to King Crimson than anyone else, in truth), they were the Kings of the Mountain. And, IMHO, none of the band members ever reached quite this spectacular height of achievement again. And at a bargain price!
J**N
Magic in a Box
This is a wonderful way to either introduce yourself, or someone else, to the majesty, power, and wonder that was the original quintet of trail-blazers and musical pioneers known as the Mahavishnu Orchestra. The lure and bonus, for those who are already well-versed and true believers, is the bonus disc of previously unreleased tracks from the live sessions that made up "Between Nothingness and Eternity," which itself, as a separate release, is selling for about $18 on most "fusion" or "prog-jazz" sites, AND a live bonus track, "Noonward Race," on the Inner Mounting Flame CD.Amazon has a fair price, and Amazon merchants do even better. (Seriously, about $22 for the entire set....a movie and a large popcorn will cost you more.)The music itself is legend, and I will not go into detail here in that regard.This box set is a simple decision. The liner notes are fairly brief, but for those interested in details, I heartily recommend "Power, Passion & Beauty," by Walter Kolosky, a very good biography of the life and times of the M.O., for which Amazon has the best price of anyone.As a musician, and longtime aficionado of stimulating music of all genres, this collection is thrilling to me, and this is a simple, easy way to enter the magnificent world of the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Be warned, however, that if you like this, the multitudinous releases of John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham, Jan Hammer, and everyone with whom they played....indeed the entire world of electric jazz in its prime from 1968 to 1978, will beckon. Oh, poor you.You can thank me later :)
J**L
Astonishing Musical Virtuosity with More Live Tracks For the Taking!
I can't say enough good about this box set. Everything sounds better, and the extra live tracks from the Central Park concert which gave us "From Nothingness To Eternity" are blindingly overwhelming feats of technical and raw musical power, along with stunning virtuosity. This version of Mc Laughlin's band changed contemporary Jazz/Rock music forever, and for the good. Hearing the extended set of the live NYC gig is an absolute pleasure, and worth buying this box set for alone. Enjoy hearing some of the world's best play at their best!
E**A
Mahavishnu madness... It's all good...
This was only purchased for the remixed live album "Between Nothingness and Eternity" and the "Unreleased tracks from Nothingness and Eternity". It was well worth the money too.The original live album always sounded a little "thin" to me, but this remixed album is a monster. Everything is louder and the drums sound a lot beefier. The second disc has some real gems on there, especially the extended 14 minute version of "Dance of Maya" -It's bonkers!The other albums aren't any different to previous releases except for "The Inner Mounting Flame" which has a live version of "Noonward Race" tagged on the end of the album.The discs are presented in card slip sleeve cases, with a booklet in a simple box. Nothing too fancy. The fancy stuff is on the discs!Top stuff from a top band.
M**S
excellent
well i have all the lps and cds, and even mar y sol lp, but this contains the extra live stuff from between nothingness and thats worth me buying again, i remember as a young guitarist and wanting to be the fastest and this changed my whole approach, of course i was missing the point of spiritual intensity and john has continued to this day, he continues to be one of the greatest influences of many guitarists and of other great guitarists, we need to play this to the new generations and it will continue to inspire them to the sometimes short bland fixes they have now. of course there are others chick corea and weather report to name two.if you have not got it it has to be amongst the best music alongside the greats of miles and coltrane and all the the other improvising musicians.
S**E
Simply Glorious
Superb album collection of the original lineup of the dazzling, ferocious, lyrical and funky Mahavishnu Orchestra. Music that simply takes your breath away....plus a bonus of previously unreleased live material that now completes Between Nothingness And Eternity. Seriously NECESSARY life-enhancing music....utterly recommend!
G**K
One of The Greatest Bands Ever
Amazing Collection of Great Music
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