SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT: MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA REALLY KNEW HOW TO OPEN UP AN ALBUM

December 2nd, 2007 at 11:59am
Kip Wingerschmidt

mclaughlinjam John McLaughlin is perhaps the most purposeful shredder I have ever heard. And nowhere is that more apparant than in the opening tracks of his supergroup’s seminal albums.

Check out these choice ’70s heavy prog-fusion cuts:

mahavishnu-birdsoffire 1) Mahavishnu Orchestra – “Birds of Fire”, from Birds of Fire (1972) – This was my favorite album by the ‘Vish when I was in tenth grade, and it still is. Goes well with ganja.

mahavishnu-imf 2) Mahavishnu Orchestra – “Meeting Of The Spirits”, from The Inner Mounting Flame (1971) – This is the perfect song to seduce a vampire to.

mahavishnu-voteb2 3) Mahavishnu Orchestra – “Eternity’s Breath Part 1” – from Visions of the Emerald Beyond (1974) – For those who’ve found Jesus in the form of Krishna with a fuzz box. To be immediately followed by “Eternity’s Breath Part 2”, no exceptions!