American Garage - Pat Metheny Group (1979) (1LP Vinyl) - Near Mint (NM)

Condition: Used

Media Condition: Near Mint (NM)

Sleeve Condition: Near Mint (NM)

Condition Notes:

American Garage by Pat Metheny Group.

Recorded in June 1979 at Longview Farm in North Brookfield, Massachusetts, "American Garage" captures the Pat Metheny Group at a moment of joyous forward momentum. There is a wide, open spirit to this music, the sound of a young band chasing something bright and expansive, and the record has stood the test of time as one of the group's most beloved statements.

Side A opens with "(Cross The) Heartland," a piece whose title tells you everything about its horizon-seeking ambition, followed by the shimmering "Airstream" and the reflective "The Search." Flip to Side B for the title track, "American Garage," and the closing epic simply and fittingly called "The Epic." Across these five compositions, the interplay never lets up, and every performance feels built to reward repeated listening.

At the center is Pat Metheny on 6 and 12-string guitars, doubling as producer and, alongside keyboardist Lyle Mays, as composer of the material here. The Metheny and Mays partnership is the beating heart of the album, guitar and keyboards weaving together with an almost telepathic ease. Underpinning it all are Mark Egan on bass and Danny Gottlieb on drums, a rhythm section that gives the music both its lift and its grounding.

The album carries the unmistakable stamp of ECM, with Manfred Eicher serving as executive producer and the recording released under the ℗ 1979 ECM Records GmbH banner. Kent Nebergall handled engineering duties with Jesse Henderson assisting, and Richard Niles is credited as production manager. That collaborative craftsmanship shows in the clarity and space of the recording, qualities that have made this era of ECM so treasured by collectors.

The physical presentation is every bit as considered as the music. Basil Pao contributed the design, with cover photography by the acclaimed Joel Meyerowitz and additional photography by Rob Van Petten. It is a package that treats the listener to a complete artistic vision, sound and image working in concert.

For those who pay attention to the pressing itself, the lacquer was cut by Bill Kipper, with plating handled at Europadisk. This is a record made by people who cared about how it would sound in your hands and on your turntable, an object worthy of a place in any serious jazz collection. "American Garage" remains an essential document of a group finding its voice, and it plays as fresh and generous today as it must have felt in the summer it was made.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. (Cross The) Heartland
A2. Airstream
A3. The Search
B1. American Garage
B2. The Epic

Credits:
Mark Egan - Bass
Basil Pao - Design
Danny Gottlieb - Drums
Kent Nebergall - Engineer
Jesse Henderson (2) - Engineer [Assistant]
Manfred Eicher - Executive-Producer
Pat Metheny - Guitar [6 & 12-string Guitars], Producer, Composed By
Lyle Mays - Keyboards, Composed By
Bill Kipper - Lacquer Cut By
Rob Van Petten - Photography By
Joel Meyerowitz - Photography By [Cover]
Richard Niles - Production Manager [Thanks For Help]

Notes:
Recorded June 1979 at Longview Farm, NO. Brookfield, Mass.

℗ 1979 ECM Records GmbH

‘Mastered At Europadisk’ stands for a ‘Plated At’ role.

Artist: Pat Metheny Group

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: ECM Records

Catalog Number: ECM-1-1155

Release Year: 1979

Country: United States