JOHN MCLAUGHLIN - Electric Guitarist (1979-1990) RM / APE (image+.cue), lossless

Since John McLaughlin's first two post-Shakti albums -- Electric Guitarist and Electric Dreams -- featured the word "electric" in their titles, it seems that the guitarist wanted to emphasize his more plugged-in side to those who might not have followed along on three previous releases featuring his acoustic world music band. He also thumbed through his impressive phone book to call in some of the cream of the 1977 crop of jazz fusionists to help him out on Electric Guitarist, a true return to form. Ex-Mahavishnu members Jerry Goodman and Billy Cobham assist in kicking things off just like in the old days with "New York on My Mind," a tune that could have been an outtake from his earlier Mahavishnu Orchestra work. Also along for the ride are Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, David Sanborn, Carlos Santana, Jack Bruce, and four legendary drummers including Cobham, Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette, and Narada Michael Walden. Unfortunately, the credits don't specify who plays on which track (well-written liner notes would help there), but anyone familiar with the distinctive styles of these artists can easily pick them out. McLaughlin is in fine form throughout, especially when playing clean, staccato, bent notes on the ballad "Every Tear from Every Eye." The majority of the selections stay in a more subtle but amped-up groove as McLaughlin shifts from dreamy to a faster, more straight-ahead tempo on the seven-minute "Do You Hear the Voices that You Left Behind?" A duet with Billy Cobham on "Phenomenon: Compulsion" provides the set's most frantic fireworks as both musicians air out their chops on a breathless, galloping piece with some of the guitarist's most furious picking. by Hal Horowitz  
Tracklist  
1 New York On My Mind 5:46
Bass – Fernando Saunders
Drums – Billy Cobham
Electric Piano, Organ, Synthesizer [Mini Moog] – Stu Goldberg
Violin – Jerry Goodman
2 Friendship 7:01
Bass – Neil Jason
Congas – Armando Peraza
Drums – Narada Michael Walden
Guitar – Devadip Carlos Santana 
Organ – Tom Coster
Percussion – Alyrio Lima
3 Every Tear From Every Eye 6:51
Alto Saxophone – David Sanborn
Drums – Tony Smith
Electric Bass, Bass [Taurus Bass Pedal] – Alphonso Johnson
Piano – Patrice Rushen
4 Do You Hear The Voices That You Left Behind? 7:40
Acoustic Bass – Stanley Clarke
Drums – Jack DeJohnette
Piano, Synthesizer [Mini Moog] – Chick Corea
5 Are You The One? Are You The One? 4:41
Bass – Jack Bruce
Drums – Tony Williams 
6 Phenomenon: Compulsion 3:21
Drums – Billy Cobham
7 My Foolish Heart 3:26
Arranged By – John McLaughlin
Composed By – N. Washington, Victor Young