Product details
- Label Columbia
- Artist Mahavishnu Orchestra
- Format 1LP
- Country United States
- Released Date 1971
- Genre Jazz
- Sealed No
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The Inner Mounting Flame by Mahavishnu Orchestra.
Few debut albums announce themselves with the ferocity of Mahavishnu Orchestra's "The Inner Mounting Flame." From the opening salvo of "Meeting Of The Spirits," this record fuses the electric intensity of rock with the harmonic daring of jazz, all composed by guitarist John McLaughlin. It is a sound that arrives fully formed, blazing and precise, the work of five musicians operating at the outermost edge of their instruments.
The lineup reads like a summit of virtuosos. McLaughlin's guitar leads the charge, but he is met at every turn by Billy Cobham's thunderous drumming, Rick Laird's grounding bass, Jerry Goodman's soaring violin, and Jan Hammer's piano. Together they move through a program that swings from the runaway momentum of "The Noonward Race" and "Vital Transformation" to the delicate, contemplative hush of "A Lotus On Irish Streams." The range is staggering, and the ensemble never loses its nerve.
Side one balances fire and grace, opening with "Meeting Of The Spirits" before drifting into the meditative "Dawn," then igniting again on "The Noonward Race." Side two carries that same restless energy, with "The Dance Of Maya" unfolding its shifting meters, the more spacious "You Know You Know" offering a hypnotic groove, and "Awakening" bringing the whole to a headlong close. Every track bears McLaughlin's compositional signature, tightly constructed yet given room to breathe.
The recording itself is a testament to careful craft. Engineered by Don Puluse and produced by McLaughlin, the album captures the group with clarity and force, letting each player's voice register within the density of the whole. Nathan Weiss handled management, while the visual presentation came from Ashok and Ron Coro's album design, with photography by Anthony Hixon lending the package its distinctive look.
This pressing includes the purple 9"x10" insert bearing the poem "Aspiration," a fitting companion to music that reaches so consistently toward the transcendent. The runouts are stamped, with the exception of the '1T' marking, which appears etched, a small detail that rewards close inspection for the collector who cares about such things.
For anyone tracing the roots of jazz fusion, "The Inner Mounting Flame" is essential listening and an essential object. It stands as one of the genre's founding documents, a record where technical brilliance and spiritual ambition burn together at full intensity. A cornerstone for the shelf of any serious jazz and blues enthusiast.
Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Meeting Of The Spirits
A2. Dawn
A3. The Noonward Race
A4. A Lotus On Irish Streams
B1. Vital Transformation
B2. The Dance Of Maya
B3. You Know You Know
B4. Awakening
Credits:
Rick Laird - Bass
John McLaughlin - Composed By
Ashok (2) - Design
Ron Coro - Design [Album]
Billy Cobham - Drums
Don Puluse - Engineer
John McLaughlin - Guitar
Nathan Weiss - Management
Anthony Hixon - Photography By
Jan Hammer - Piano
John McLaughlin - Producer
Jerry Goodman - Violin
Notes:
Comes with purple 9"x10" insert that contains poem "Aspiration"
Runouts are stamped, except '1T' which is etched.
Artist: Mahavishnu Orchestra
Supporting Artists: John McLaughlin
Format: 1LP
Genre: Jazz
Label: Columbia
Catalog Number: KC 31067
Release Year: 1971
Country: United States
Condition: Used
Media Condition: Near Mint (NM)
Sleeve Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)
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