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(5CD) 5 classic albums in replica card sleeves : 'Inner Mounting Flame','Birds Of Fire','Between Nothingness & Eternity','Apocalypse' & 'Visions Of The Emerald Beyond'.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This 5-album collection is outstanding value: for around £12, you can acquire almost all the essential work of John McLaughlin's legendary MO in one package.
The first three albums `The Inner Mounting Flame', `Birds of Fire' and - recorded live in Central Park NYC in 1973 - `Between Nothingness and Eternity' feature the original virtuoso line-up of McLaughlin, Hammer, Goodman, Cobham and Laird. The later two albums feature line-up changes and the deployment of orchestral strings, and don't quite have the dynamism, the take-your-breath-away energy-burst of the first three. They're good, though, and important milestones of this busy period in the evolution of rock-jazz fusion.
The only conspicuous absence is the later-released `The Lost Trident Sessions' featuring the studio material planned for the third album, some of which is performed live on BNAT but which is otherwise unavailable; and the lesser known `Inner Worlds', from 1976. The inclusion of these disks would have completed the package, but you'll have to buy them separately.
Some reviewers have complained about mistakes and omissions in the sleeve notes offered with this package, a criticism with some merit. However, it's important to keep a sense of perspective. If you buy this package, you will acquire almost all the music of the greatest fusion band ever, on high-quality digital CDs, at an unbeatable price. If having the sleeve notes is important to you then get them off the web, or go buy the individual CDs separately.
Meanwhile, just listen: the production quality of the sound is exemplary, like the original albums, and at this price you can't go wrong.
The first three albums `The Inner Mounting Flame', `Birds of Fire' and - recorded live in Central Park NYC in 1973 - `Between Nothingness and Eternity' feature the original virtuoso line-up of McLaughlin, Hammer, Goodman, Cobham and Laird. The later two albums feature line-up changes and the deployment of orchestral strings, and don't quite have the dynamism, the take-your-breath-away energy-burst of the first three. They're good, though, and important milestones of this busy period in the evolution of rock-jazz fusion.
The only conspicuous absence is the later-released `The Lost Trident Sessions' featuring the studio material planned for the third album, some of which is performed live on BNAT but which is otherwise unavailable; and the lesser known `Inner Worlds', from 1976. The inclusion of these disks would have completed the package, but you'll have to buy them separately.
Some reviewers have complained about mistakes and omissions in the sleeve notes offered with this package, a criticism with some merit. However, it's important to keep a sense of perspective. If you buy this package, you will acquire almost all the music of the greatest fusion band ever, on high-quality digital CDs, at an unbeatable price. If having the sleeve notes is important to you then get them off the web, or go buy the individual CDs separately.
Meanwhile, just listen: the production quality of the sound is exemplary, like the original albums, and at this price you can't go wrong.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is easily the best starting place for anyone interested in discovering the heady 70's Mahavishnu brew. Whilst I agree with the previous reviewer that more scrutiny of the liner credits/notes should have been carried out by the folks at Sony I do think to actually count the number of errors made seems a little over the top to me. A sense of perspective is needed, methinks. Sorry - for me life is too short to worry about these - just enjoy the music. Having grown up with the music I know who played what and there is always the net if one needs more info. All in all this and the accompanying McLaughlin set are superb value for the price and I would unreservedly recommend them to anyone wishing to discover the world of one of Britain's, nay the world's, best guitarists.
9 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
... Because Sony has removed it. Only the cds come into de the pocket, with their original LP Covers, very well packaged.
The only pain is that "The Lost Trident Sessions", a post-humous album available separately, has not been included.
The whole set is remarkable and a document of jazz-rock fussion second to none. A Mojo magazine poll considered "The Inner Mountain Flame" as the best jazz-rock fussion album of all times, beating even so remarkable albums such as the famous "Third" by Soft Machine.
The magic of the band lasted through the two following albums. 'Birds of fire' keeps the quality standard of Inner Mountain and the dialogue between the musicians is a smart and sophisticated conversation between superb players. The third album 'Between Nothingness and Eternity'includes all the pyrotechnics the band was capable of. The ensemble disbanded for the last two albums. 'Apocaypse' is remarkable by having George Martin as a producer and the last album included, 'Emerald'has the presence of Mr. Ponty on violin.
However, the best gems of this compilation are the three first albums. From this period comes the missing 'Lost Trident Sessions'that is sold separately.
McLaughlin on guitar and Cobham on drums are, arguably, the best musicians on the band. Their dialogue reminds that of Townshend with Moon in the Who band or that conversation the Hendrix's guitar has with the drums kit of Mitchell. The most skillful play and the most exciting lines come from this tandem. However, the remaining musicians deserve respect and perhaps are underrated because of their humbleness within the band. As a matter of fact, they left precisely because they were excluded in a McLaughlin and Cobham show within some festival whose name I do not remember.
I find that this albums will specially appeal to those who, like me, treasure the King Crimson recordings with the Fripp-Brufford-Wetton-Cross line-up.
The only pain is that "The Lost Trident Sessions", a post-humous album available separately, has not been included.
The whole set is remarkable and a document of jazz-rock fussion second to none. A Mojo magazine poll considered "The Inner Mountain Flame" as the best jazz-rock fussion album of all times, beating even so remarkable albums such as the famous "Third" by Soft Machine.
The magic of the band lasted through the two following albums. 'Birds of fire' keeps the quality standard of Inner Mountain and the dialogue between the musicians is a smart and sophisticated conversation between superb players. The third album 'Between Nothingness and Eternity'includes all the pyrotechnics the band was capable of. The ensemble disbanded for the last two albums. 'Apocaypse' is remarkable by having George Martin as a producer and the last album included, 'Emerald'has the presence of Mr. Ponty on violin.
However, the best gems of this compilation are the three first albums. From this period comes the missing 'Lost Trident Sessions'that is sold separately.
McLaughlin on guitar and Cobham on drums are, arguably, the best musicians on the band. Their dialogue reminds that of Townshend with Moon in the Who band or that conversation the Hendrix's guitar has with the drums kit of Mitchell. The most skillful play and the most exciting lines come from this tandem. However, the remaining musicians deserve respect and perhaps are underrated because of their humbleness within the band. As a matter of fact, they left precisely because they were excluded in a McLaughlin and Cobham show within some festival whose name I do not remember.
I find that this albums will specially appeal to those who, like me, treasure the King Crimson recordings with the Fripp-Brufford-Wetton-Cross line-up.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Classic Original Album Series
When I saw the reviews for this box I ordered a copy right away. I had the 1st and 2nd on album and Apocalypse on cd - selling those paid for the box! Read more
Published 3 months ago by Andrew Aitken
Mahavishnu Orchestra - The Complete Columbia Albums Collection
For just over thirty quid you can get all the albums plus Nothingness to Eternity expanded by an hour and a brilliant live Noonward Race as well as a book. Read more
Published 3 months ago by R. GARDNER
Not My Style Of Music
To be honest I purchased this set on the basis of having heard only two tracks at my relations house. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mr. Charles H. Huxtable
Wonderful fusion music and guitar playing
John McLaughlin can play guitar faster than anyone - not sure that's a good thing in itself, but there is no doubt he is a complete master of his instrument. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. Terry Richardson
All the music but no frills
5 great albums in paper sleeves with the original album art. No additional notes but if you have the original albums on vinyl then it won't matter. Fantastic value for money.
Published 19 months ago by malc400
What a bargain
Brilliant value! The five cd's here show the Mahavisnu Orchestra at there incendiary best. The amazing thing apon re-listening to these albums is the extraordinary energy. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mr. S. Dodson
Superb!!
A fine retrospective from one of the most innovative bands of the 70's. Some of the later stuff is less inventive and probably done to attract a wider audience,more encouraged by... Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2010 by Bartman
Boring or Staggering?
I stumbled across this box set at the local record shop a few months ago. It brought memories of the 70's flooding back. Read more
Published on 12 May 2009 by J. Smart
Brilliant and cheap
This is a fabulously cheap way of acquiring this music. Marvellous playing by all the personnel in each incarnation of the group. Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2008 by Sebastian Rolfe
Mahavishnu 5-cd set
Very poorly presented product to represent a great band. There were no fewer than a dozen mistakes in the liner and back cover for this set, a list of which I sent to someone at... Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2007 by M. Chapman
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