This is the greatest hommage of jml i have seen. You must see that. Go chronogilcaly to this albums you will see 1969 is a turning point in his career. It is a rare combination of hard work, chance and enconters. This man is a pure legend. Is integrity and dedication make the difference from others. Bless you John.
Brilliant video Andy John McLaughlin musical genius. one of the greatest guitarists of all time. His work with Miles Davis was incredible. mahavishnu orchestra where the greatest band ever. I love the album devotion with the dragon song great solo.
Thanks, Andy, this was great. John really doesn’t get the recognition he deserves, so it’s heartening to see knowledgeable and insightful content such as this on TH-cam. Looking forward to Part 2. The second half of his career is just as mesmerising as the first. Cheers.
Still my favorite fusion player. I first heard him in the seventies on TV when I was a small child. They showed a Mahavishnu concert on public TV in Los Angeles. I was watching it with my uncle, an extraordinary drummer. He was just raving about the band, and Billy Cobham. John was playing that great SG double neck. Over the years I only got more and more into his work, whether with Mahavishnu or solo work, electric or acoustic.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer JMac taught me what it means to be a truly unlimited guitarists, to be a total musician. While I'm still not at his level I do play notably better than I otherwise would have, and I credit his inspiration with my own growth. He's about accelerating your possibilities, not your ego. You hear that in his work. I like Di Meola too, but he's a much more egotistical kind of player. I think he and John come to guitar from totally different places.
Thanks Brian...I didn't want it to end up 2 hours long so I had to think how to pitch it. The other one I would like to do but seems impossible is Zappa. I'm thinking of doing essential albums...that will bring it down to about 50!
Wow, just discovered this and can i say Andy, as a massive Mclaughlin fan myself, this totally aligned with many of my own perspectives on these brilliant albums. Even passing comments like Tommy Campbell's drumming on Belo Horizonte (which like you, I love) are so spot on. Can't wait to see your other related content on his Mahavusnu stuff, Miles, Lifetime and the rest. One additional collaboration I absolutely love is Desert Song, a duet with Stanley Clarke off the School Days album, again, as you said so often in your commentary, stunning playing! I don't have the Graham Bond album so that will need to be sourced! So much resonance with my own thoughts and preferences, a massive thank you!
Thanks for this! I 've been fortunate enough to see Shakti (opening for '76 Weather Report) One Truth Band, Bela Horizonte band, and the "Friday Night" acoustic trio. The "One Truth" concert was my favorite of these.
wow i bet that Weather Report gig with Shakti opening was really something. I saw him twice in the...late 90's I think...Cambridge Corn Exchange, UK...his Free Spirits era.
Very useful video which I've just watched ahead of seeing the maestro this very evening in Manchester. Was totally unaware of the "Fuse One" recording so will need to seek it out!
Love Extrapolation, Oxley was always an exciting risk taking drummer and his work on this one is some of his best. Devotion stands out as the only album he put out w/ this level of dark narcotic heaviness. It eclipses nearly all stoner rock albums that have been getting released in recent years. The rawness and dirty sound of the recording really works on this one. Using Buddy Miles as a plodding almost robotic drummer is brilliant.
Thank you for such an enlightened discussion. I bough Visions when it came out not having heard a note of it, only parts of the 1st 2 albums. Changed my then 15 y/o mind forever. Need to track down some of the other releases, not too easy to find!
Hello. An interesting analysis of McLaughlin's work as soloist, and notable participant on a variety of albums. Good to see. I think mention could be made of his guitar work on Larry Coryell's 'SPACES' - phenomenal playing by both McLaughlin and Coryell! Also, Miroslav Vitous' 'Mountain the Clouds', an excellent album.
I'm so, so glad you talked about Carla Bley"s "Escalator Over the Hill" . It's definitely not everybody's cup of tea...lol...but it's a one of a kind recording, to say the least. For those of you that have never heard it, please be aware that McLaughlin is only on a few cuts, but there are many amazing musicians and singers throughout in many different combinations; Gato Barbieri is astounding, as is Don Cherry, even Linda Ronstadt is unlike you ever heard her before or after. It's impossible to characterize the music; it's a bizarre mixture than includes elements of big band music, free jazz, avant garde 20th century opera, acid-rock, Indian music, Kurt Weill, Zappa, performance art-style nonsense "poetry" etc., recorded over a 2 or 3 year period in studios in several countries.
Have you heard the rehearsals tapes of Johnji playing with Bob Conford ? It's fascinating, because after running through such standards as Nardis, Johnji starts to teach Bob the changes to his own tracks (off Extrapolation). NB Bob actual wrote Hearts and Flowers on the B side of My Goals Beyond (His second solo album).
Very good Andy and without the head slapping inaccuracy's one often hears. As Colin Harper says in his book 'Bathed in lightning': 'He had been a professional musician since 1958 experiencing all the great movements in British music, from trad jazz to psychedelic rock. A bandmate of future members of Cream, Pentangle and Led Zepplin. But....and this is the point...'Always under the radar'. He also states that by 1969 he had had a career most musicians would have been happy to have had life long. I also remember someone calling him 'the least photographed man of the sixties'. A link, for anyone that hasn't heard it to the Danny Thomposon Trio at the BBC, with more of the 'Extrapolation' style of playing. th-cam.com/video/G-NhESr6PDI/w-d-xo.html
I'm not that big of a fan of Shakti, even though I saw the reformed band (Remember Shakti) twice. However, "Face to Face" is my favorite song of all time; I cannot describe how much I love it. As a point of reference, my favorite albums are _Larks' Tongues in Aspic_ (King Crimson), _Close to the Edge_ (Yes), _Revolver_ (Beatles), _Countdown to Ecstasy_ (Steely Dan), and _Visions of the Emerald Beyond_ (Mahavishnu). "Face to Face" is, in a word, sublime.
You got me thinking...he is using a wah wah on there isn't he? If so it must one of the few times he did that, perhaps on some of the Miles stuff too...
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I think Belo Horizonte is an outstanding record. It is light in the sense that it really is like sunshine mediterranean music, but it really has beauty and depth. The synth sounds are a bit dated but I don't mind that. His guitar playing is so fluid on this one too.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Yeah. If I remeber rightly I only liked 2 tracks from it, and there is a drum break on there somewhere that was sampled by a rap artist which got onto Top of the Pops (strangely enough). I love Shakte . I always thought that L Shanker was a complete and utter monster on those records, (along with Zakir Hussain of course). Mclaughlin was always good at recreating himself and pushing his music forwards. Do you like Jean Luc Ponty records aswell?
Excellent account of a superb artist , I always preferred the first version of Shakti than the electric follow up which I feel is slightly sterile at times. However, Floating Point, although not a Shakti project is absolutely fantastic as an Indian fusion album
Hey Andy on a side note...hav u ever heard of an unknown underrated aussie band called mackenzie theory....check out album Out of the Blue....love this....
McLaughlin is a titan. IMO He has stellar albums that I love--My Goal's Beyond, Electric Guitarist, and Mahavishnu albums Inner Mounting Flame and Birds Of Fire. He has albums I like, but don't love: Extrapolation, Apocolypse. Friday Night. And then a few I'm kind of indifferent to: Between Nothingness, Visions of the Emerald Beyond, Love and Devotion, Industrial Zen, and the Shakti stuff (which is ironically the only time I've seen him live.) But there is one album that is outstanding in his discography... outstandingly bad! It's the 1970 album "Devotion." I got it back in the 70's and was unimpressed. I quickly got rid of it. I listened to it again recently to see if it had improved with time. It had not. It's still just as bad. The compositions are abysmal, there are no dynamics in the arrangements. It's just bad jamming. And while the bass playing is adequate, it's the piss poor drumming that makes the album unlistenable. The drumming is plodding, unimaginative and counter-productive. I think they would have been better off with congas, or percussion, or nothing. Buddy Miles did similar disservice to Hendrix's work on Band Of Gypsys, but it wasn't this bad. I am shocked that McLaughlin allowed himself to be associated with such a poor release. Did he think this is what the "hippies" were listening to? Thank Chimnoy he changed direction forthwith.
I like your reviews but why oh why do people mispronounce his surname. There’s no F n F in his name also. No PH. Ask a Scotsman’s or Irish man. Apart from that great review.
Purchased and listened to Electric Dreams as a High Schooler in the late '70's. It's a masterpiece that's held up well over the decades. This Dude's a bit insufferable... a snob !
"Extrapolation" is a Beautiful Album. Discovered it after hearing "Birds of Fire". Mind Blown....
The first I heard and honestly my fav.
This is the greatest hommage of jml i have seen. You must see that. Go chronogilcaly to this albums you will see 1969 is a turning point in his career. It is a rare combination of hard work, chance and enconters. This man is a pure legend. Is integrity and dedication make the difference from others. Bless you John.
I’ve started collecting his works. I love his guitar work. He is likely the greatest guitarist alive. Total master.
Brilliant video Andy John McLaughlin musical genius. one of the greatest guitarists of all time. His work with Miles Davis was incredible. mahavishnu orchestra where the greatest band ever. I love the album devotion with the dragon song great solo.
Thanks, Andy, this was great. John really doesn’t get the recognition he deserves, so it’s heartening to see knowledgeable and insightful content such as this on TH-cam. Looking forward to Part 2. The second half of his career is just as mesmerising as the first. Cheers.
Thanks Phillip
Still my favorite fusion player. I first heard him in the seventies on TV when I was a small child. They showed a Mahavishnu concert on public TV in Los Angeles. I was watching it with my uncle, an extraordinary drummer. He was just raving about the band, and Billy Cobham. John was playing that great SG double neck. Over the years I only got more and more into his work, whether with Mahavishnu or solo work, electric or acoustic.
I think there are a few bands that change the direction of your life and JM and MO are in that category
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer JMac taught me what it means to be a truly unlimited guitarists, to be a total musician. While I'm still not at his level I do play notably better than I otherwise would have, and I credit his inspiration with my own growth. He's about accelerating your possibilities, not your ego. You hear that in his work. I like Di Meola too, but he's a much more egotistical kind of player. I think he and John come to guitar from totally different places.
Brilliant Andy. Concise and informative.
Thanks Brian...I didn't want it to end up 2 hours long so I had to think how to pitch it. The other one I would like to do but seems impossible is Zappa. I'm thinking of doing essential albums...that will bring it down to about 50!
Wow, just discovered this and can i say Andy, as a massive Mclaughlin fan myself, this totally aligned with many of my own perspectives on these brilliant albums. Even passing comments like Tommy Campbell's drumming on Belo Horizonte (which like you, I love) are so spot on. Can't wait to see your other related content on his Mahavusnu stuff, Miles, Lifetime and the rest. One additional collaboration I absolutely love is Desert Song, a duet with Stanley Clarke off the School Days album, again, as you said so often in your commentary, stunning playing! I don't have the Graham Bond album so that will need to be sourced! So much resonance with my own thoughts and preferences, a massive thank you!
Thanks for this! I 've been fortunate enough to see Shakti (opening for '76 Weather Report) One Truth Band, Bela Horizonte band, and the "Friday Night" acoustic trio. The "One Truth" concert was my favorite of these.
wow i bet that Weather Report gig with Shakti opening was really something. I saw him twice in the...late 90's I think...Cambridge Corn Exchange, UK...his Free Spirits era.
Very useful video which I've just watched ahead of seeing the maestro this very evening in Manchester. Was totally unaware of the "Fuse One" recording so will need to seek it out!
It's ok...interesting but not mindblowing
me too never heard of it! I opened up a second youtube page to save Fuse 1 for later research, gonna check it out in a minute
Love Extrapolation, Oxley was always an exciting risk taking drummer and his work on this one is some of his best. Devotion stands out as the only album he put out w/ this level of dark narcotic heaviness. It eclipses nearly all stoner rock albums that have been getting released in recent years. The rawness and dirty sound of the recording really works on this one. Using Buddy Miles as a plodding almost robotic drummer is brilliant.
Thank you for such an enlightened discussion. I bough Visions when it came out not having heard a note of it, only parts of the 1st 2 albums. Changed my then 15 y/o mind forever. Need to track down some of the other releases, not too easy to find!
Hello. An interesting analysis of McLaughlin's work as soloist, and notable participant on a variety of albums. Good to see. I think mention could be made of his guitar work on Larry Coryell's 'SPACES' - phenomenal playing by both McLaughlin and Coryell! Also, Miroslav Vitous' 'Mountain the Clouds', an excellent album.
I have discussed both those albums on other videos. I could do more on Spaces but not a big fan I'm afraid.
One truth band is my number one
I wish John had made more albums with this band and played more banjo !
Yes that banjo solo on electric sighs is nice
Great show Andy! Did you forget Larry Coryell Spaces? Killer solos from John!
Amazing album, I talked a little bit about it on my Larry Coryell/Eleventh House vid
Recommend some good books to check out in your book shelf there!
I'm so, so glad you talked about Carla Bley"s "Escalator Over the Hill" . It's definitely not everybody's cup of tea...lol...but it's a one of a kind recording, to say the least. For those of you that have never heard it, please be aware that McLaughlin is only on a few cuts, but there are many amazing musicians and singers throughout in many different combinations; Gato Barbieri is astounding, as is Don Cherry, even Linda Ronstadt is unlike you ever heard her before or after. It's impossible to characterize the music; it's a bizarre mixture than includes elements of big band music, free jazz, avant garde 20th century opera, acid-rock, Indian music, Kurt Weill, Zappa, performance art-style nonsense "poetry" etc., recorded over a 2 or 3 year period in studios in several countries.
Me too glad he mentioned it. Escalator is wonderful
Have you heard the rehearsals tapes of Johnji playing with Bob Conford ? It's fascinating, because after running through such standards as Nardis, Johnji starts to teach Bob the changes to his own tracks (off Extrapolation). NB Bob actual wrote Hearts and Flowers on the B side of My Goals Beyond (His second solo album).
Very good Andy and without the head slapping inaccuracy's one often hears.
As Colin Harper says in his book 'Bathed in lightning': 'He had been a professional musician since 1958
experiencing all the great movements in British music, from trad jazz to psychedelic rock. A bandmate of future members of Cream, Pentangle and
Led Zepplin. But....and this is the point...'Always under the radar'. He also states that by 1969 he had had a career most musicians would have
been happy to have had life long. I also remember someone calling him 'the least photographed man of the sixties'.
A link, for anyone that hasn't heard it to the Danny Thomposon Trio at the BBC, with more of the 'Extrapolation' style of playing.
th-cam.com/video/G-NhESr6PDI/w-d-xo.html
Good stuff 😊
I'm not that big of a fan of Shakti, even though I saw the reformed band (Remember Shakti) twice. However, "Face to Face" is my favorite song of all time; I cannot describe how much I love it.
As a point of reference, my favorite albums are _Larks' Tongues in Aspic_ (King Crimson), _Close to the Edge_ (Yes), _Revolver_ (Beatles), _Countdown to Ecstasy_ (Steely Dan), and _Visions of the Emerald Beyond_ (Mahavishnu).
"Face to Face" is, in a word, sublime.
It's an amazing composition, one of Shakti's finest moments. I think you will like this then: th-cam.com/video/k7j60WFotD8/w-d-xo.html
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Yeah, I've seen that before. According to my comment, 3 years ago.lol
Oh My, your shiet is my high school coloursM love these old vids, and enlightening me with your knoledge.
I think the Devotion album has the best production of all the McLaughlin albums. His guitar sound is sublime on that one.
You got me thinking...he is using a wah wah on there isn't he? If so it must one of the few times he did that, perhaps on some of the Miles stuff too...
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I think Belo Horizonte is an outstanding record. It is light in the sense that it really is like sunshine mediterranean music, but it really has beauty and depth. The synth sounds are a bit dated but I don't mind that. His guitar playing is so fluid on this one too.
@@louisgreen3915 Have you heard Music Spoken Here, the follow up? Thats a strange album...
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Yeah. If I remeber rightly I only liked 2 tracks from it, and there is a drum break on there somewhere that was sampled by a rap artist which got onto Top of the Pops (strangely enough). I love Shakte . I always thought that L Shanker was a complete and utter monster on those records, (along with Zakir Hussain of course). Mclaughlin was always good at recreating himself and pushing his music forwards. Do you like Jean Luc Ponty records aswell?
@@louisgreen3915 Yes, I like Ponty..Enigmatic Ocean..Holdsworth...need I say more :)
Excellent account of a superb artist , I always preferred the first version of Shakti than the electric follow up which I feel is slightly sterile at times. However, Floating Point, although not a Shakti project is absolutely fantastic as an Indian fusion album
Famous Goth rocker John McGothlin
Hey Andy on a side note...hav u ever heard of an unknown underrated aussie band called mackenzie theory....check out album Out of the Blue....love this....
Mahavishnu Ranking : th-cam.com/video/8pw_REHI9hI/w-d-xo.html
I'm hip to Fuze 1.
Tony Williams Lifetime Ranking: th-cam.com/video/H9HPtNfgEs0/w-d-xo.html
McLaughlin is a titan. IMO He has stellar albums that I love--My Goal's Beyond, Electric Guitarist, and Mahavishnu albums Inner Mounting Flame and Birds Of Fire. He has albums I like, but don't love: Extrapolation, Apocolypse. Friday Night. And then a few I'm kind of indifferent to: Between Nothingness, Visions of the Emerald Beyond, Love and Devotion, Industrial Zen, and the Shakti stuff (which is ironically the only time I've seen him live.) But there is one album that is outstanding in his discography... outstandingly bad! It's the 1970 album "Devotion." I got it back in the 70's and was unimpressed. I quickly got rid of it. I listened to it again recently to see if it had improved with time. It had not. It's still just as bad. The compositions are abysmal, there are no dynamics in the arrangements. It's just bad jamming. And while the bass playing is adequate, it's the piss poor drumming that makes the album unlistenable. The drumming is plodding, unimaginative and counter-productive. I think they would have been better off with congas, or percussion, or nothing. Buddy Miles did similar disservice to Hendrix's work on Band Of Gypsys, but it wasn't this bad. I am shocked that McLaughlin allowed himself to be associated with such a poor release. Did he think this is what the "hippies" were listening to? Thank Chimnoy he changed direction forthwith.
❤️🤍🙏🏿
Again who is John Magofflin ? Pray tell dear brother Andy . Is he " incredible " or " important " ?
Is he a relative of John Maguffin ?
I like your reviews but why oh why do people mispronounce his surname. There’s no F n F in his name also. No PH. Ask a Scotsman’s or Irish man. Apart from that great review.
I heard him play live. He didn't say his name. Zakir Hussain said it one way and Bela Fleck said it the other way.
Purchased and listened to Electric Dreams as a High Schooler in the late '70's. It's a masterpiece that's held up well over the decades. This Dude's a bit insufferable... a snob !
This great dude but it"s pronounced Mc Loch Lin
Thanks for that. There is evidence out there that suggests my pronunciation is not far off how JM says it.
yeh man i got a little bit enraged every time he said mac larf lin like "mac 'avin a larf...lin". Nuh uh. 😆
I heard him play live in 2023. His band mates say it both ways. He didn't say his name.
This man can’t even say johns name right FFS