MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA / JOHN MCLAUGLIN - Inner Worlds (1976-1994) RM / FLAC (tracks), lossless

The state of the second Mahavishnu Orchestra continued to be volatile in 1975, with violinist Jean-Luc Ponty out, keyboardist Gayle Moran replaced by Stu Goldberg, and all string and horn backings removed, leaving just a steaming quartet and this lone remarkable album. The addition of Goldberg, a more interesting musician than Moran, is significant, but the biggest charge is provided by the leader who, in tandem with the latest electronic equipment, turns in some of his most passionately alive playing of the whole Mahavishnu series. The leadoff track, "All in the Family," has fantastic energy and drive, pushed on by Narada Michael Walden's drums and marimba. "Miles Out" has John McLaughlin doing some inspired jamming with his guitar hooked into a "360 Systems Frequency Shifter" (an electronic device with the wildly fluid sound of a ring-modulator), and he moves over to an early guitar synthesizer on "Morning Calls," "Lotus Feet," and the streaking title track. There is some funk residue from Visions of the Emerald Beyond on "Planetary Citizen," yet oddly enough, the so-so soul vocals from Walden on several tracks, and one by bassist Ralphe Armstrong, do not harm the cause, as the playing of the quartet is so fiery. But this somewhat overlooked album would be the last hurrah for the Mahavishnu concept for nearly a decade -- and when it returned, the sounds it produced would bear little by Richard S. Ginell 

Tracklist:

1 All In The Family 6:00
Bass Guitar – Ralphe Armstrong
Drums, Congas, Marimba [Bass], Shaker – Narada Michael Walden
Guitar, Guitar Synthesizer – John McLaughlin
Organ, Piano – Stu Goldberg
Written-By – John McLaughlin
2 Miles Out 6:44
Bass Guitar – Ralphe Armstrong
Drums – Narada Michael Walden
Guitar, Effects ['360' Systems Frequency Shifter] – John McLaughlin
Synthesizer [Mini-Moog (Customized Mini-Moog, Steiner-Parker Synth)] – Stu Goldberg
Written-By – John McLaughlin
3 In My Life 3:20
Backing Vocals – Stu Goldberg
Bass Guitar – Ralphe Armstrong
Piano, Lead Vocals – Narada Michael Walden
Twelve-String Guitar [Acoustic], Backing Vocals – John McLaughlin
Written-By – McLaughlin, M. Walden
4 Gita 4:23
Bass Guitar – Ralphe Armstrong
Drums, Lead Vocals – Narada Michael Walden
Guitar Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – John McLaughlin
Organ, Piano – Stu Goldberg
Written-By – John McLaughlin
5 Morning Calls 1:20
Guitar Synthesizer – John McLaughlin
Organ – Narada Michael Walden
Written-By – John McLaughlin
6 The Way Of The Pilgrim 5:14
Bass Guitar – Ralphe Armstrong
Drums, Timpani [Tympani] – Narada Michael Walden
Guitar, Guitar Synthesizer – John McLaughlin
Piano, Synthesizer [Mini-Moog (Customized Mini-Moog, Steiner-Parker Synth)] – Stu Goldberg
Written-By – M. Walden
7 River Of My Heart 3:37
Acoustic Bass – Ralphe Armstrong
Lead Vocals, Piano, Percussion – Narada Michael Walden
Lyrics By – Kanchan Cynthia Anderson
Written-By – M. Walden
8 Planetary Citizen 2:14
Bass Guitar, Lead Vocals – Ralphe Armstrong
Clavinet, Backing Vocals – Stu Goldberg
Drums, Backing Vocals – Narada Michael Walden
Guitar, Backing Vocals – John McLaughlin
Written-By – Ralphe Armstrong
9 Lotus Feet 4:22
Congas, Bells [Sleigh Bells] – Narada Michael Walden
Guitar Synthesizer – John McLaughlin
Synthesizer [Mini-Moog (Customized Mini-Moog, Steiner-Parker Synth)] – Stu Goldberg
Written-By – John McLaughlin
10 Inner Worlds Part 1& 2 6:33
Bass Guitar [Brassmaster Bass] – Ralphe Armstrong
Drums, Gong, Timpani [Tympani] – Narada Michael Walden
Guitar, Effects [Frequency Shifter], Guitar Synthesizer, Synthesizer [E-mu Synthesizer/Sequencer] – John McLaughlin
Synthesizer [String], Synthesizer [Mini-Moog (Customized Mini-Moog, Steiner-Parker Synth)] – Stu Goldberg
Written-By – John McLaughlin to this power-packed music.