CHICK COREA - Return to Forever (1972) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The legendary first lineup of Chick Corea's fusion band Return to Forever debuted on this classic album (titled after the group but credited to Corea), featuring Joe Farrell on soprano sax and flute, the Brazilian team of vocalist Flora Purim and drummer/percussionist Airto Moreira, and electric bass whiz Stanley Clarke. It wasn't actually released in the U.S. until 1975, which was why the group's second album, Light as a Feather, initially made the Return to Forever name. Nonetheless, Return to Forever is every bit as classic, using a similar blend of spacy electric-piano fusion and Brazilian and Latin rhythms. It's all very warm, light, and airy, like a soft breeze on a tropical beach -- hardly the sort of firebrand approach to fusion that Miles Davis, Tony Williams, and the Mahavishnu Orchestra were exploring, and far less rooted in funk or rock. Corea also bathes the album in an undertone of trippy mysticism, not only in the (admittedly dated) lyrics, but in his cosmic keyboard wanderings, which remain melodic and accessible through most of the record. There's one genuine pop song in the groovy samba "What Game Shall We Play Today," and while "Sometime Ago" has similar elements, it's part of an ambitious side-long medley that features a stream-of-consciousness intro and a jubilant, Spanish/Mexican-style closing section called "La Fiesta," complete with castanets and flamenco modes. The title track is another multi-sectioned work, featuring Corea and Purim in wordless unison on two different, catchy themes, plus breezy work from Farrell and lots of Brazilian-flavored rhythmic interplay. And the dreamy, meditative "Crystal Silence" is an underrated gem waiting to be rediscovered. Certainly, this edition of Return to Forever wasn't inclined toward high-voltage jazz-rock (as the next one was), but this group's two albums still stand as some of the most imaginative and distinctive early fusion recordings. by Steve Huey 

Tracklist:

1.   Return to Forever – 12:06

2.   Crystal Silence – 6:59

3.   What Game Shall We Play Today (Corea, Neville Potter) – 4:30

4.   Sometime Ago - La Fiesta (Corea, Potter, Stanley Clarke, Joe Farrell) – 23:13

All tracks are composed by Corea except where noted.

Credits:

    Flora Purim – vocals, percussion

    Joe Farrell – soprano saxophone, flute

    Chick Corea – electric piano, Fender Rhodes

    Stanley Clarke – acoustic bass, electric bass

    Airto Moreira – drums, percussion

CHICK COREA & RETURN TO FOREVER - Light As A Feather (1972) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Always tied to a confusing time line, the first released recording from the original configuration of Return to Forever was actually their second session. An initial studio date from the ECM label done in February of 1972 wasn't issued until after the band had changed in 1975. The Polydor/Verve recording from October of 1972 is indeed this 1973 release, featuring the same band with Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Airto Moreira, Joe Farrell, and Flora Purim. There's no need splitting hairs, as both are five-star albums, showcasing many of the keyboardist's long enduring, immediately recognizable, and highly melodic compositions. Farrell's happy flute, Purim's in-the-clouds wordless vocals, the electrifying percussion of Airto, and Clarke's deft and loping electric bass guitar lines are all wrapped in a stew of Brazilian samba and Corea's Fender Rhodes electric piano, certainly setting a tone and the highest bar for the music of peer groups to follow. "Captain Marvel" -- the seed for the band sans Farrell and Purim that was expanded into a full concept album with Stan Getz -- is here as a steamy fusion samba with Corea dancing on the keys. By now the beautiful "500 Miles High" has become Purim's signature song with Neville Potter's lyrics and Corea's stabbing chords, and unfortunately became a hippie drug anthem. Perhaps Corea's definitive song of all time, and covered ad infinitum by professional and school bands, "Spain" retains the quirky melody, handclapped interlude, up-and-down dynamics, exciting jam section, and variation in time, tempo, and colorations that always command interest despite a running time of near ten minutes. "You're Everything" is a romantic classic that surely has been heard at many weddings, with another lyric by Potter sung in heaven by Purim, while the title track is Purim's lyric in a looser musical framework with Clarke's chart coalescing with Corea and Farrell's pungent flute work. As much as the others have become icons, the extraordinary sound of Farrell on this date should never be trivialized or underestimated. The final track, "Children's Song," was a springboard for several of Corea's full-length album projects, and is heard here for the first time via a trio setting in a slow, birthlike motif. The expanded version of this recording includes many alternate takes of four of these selections, but also includes "Matrix," which was not on any RTF albums, and there are four versions of "What Game Shall We Play Today?," which was only available on the ECM release. From a historical perspective, this is the most important effort of Corea's career, quite different than his prior previous progressive or improvising efforts, and the pivotal beginning of his career as the most popular contemporary jazz keyboardist in history. by Michael G. Nastos   

Tracklist:

1. You're Everything – 5:11

2. Light as a Feather – 10:57

3. Captain Marvel – 4:53

4. 500 Miles High – 9:07

5. Children's Song – 2:47

6. Spain – 9:51

Credits:

Chick Corea (electric piano), 

Flora Purim (vocals, percussion), 

Joe Farrell (sax, flute), 

Stanley Clarke (bass), 

Airto Moreira (drums, percussion).

Composed by Chick Corea and Neville Potter

RETURN TO FOREVER - Where Have I Known You Before (1974) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This Return to Forever set finds guitarist Al DiMeola debuting with the pacesetting fusion quartet, an influential unit that also featured keyboardist Chick Corea, electric bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White. On this high energy set, short interludes separate the main pieces: "Vulcan Worlds," "The Shadow of Lo," "Beyond the Seventh Galaxy," "Earth Juice" and the lengthy "Song to the Pharoah Kings." Acoustic purists are advised to avoid this music, but listeners who grew up on rock and wish to explore jazz will find this stimulating music quite accessible. by Scott Yanow

Tracklist:

1. Vulcan Worlds (7:54)

2. Where Have I Loved You Before (1:01)

3. Shadow Of Lo (7:34)

4. Where Have I Danced With You Before (3:11)

5. Beyond The Seventh Galaxy (3:11)

6. Earth Juice (3:45)

7. Where Have I Known You Before? (2:20)

8. Song To The Pharoah Kings (14:21)

Credits:

Chick Corea / organ, synthesizer, percussion, piano, clavinet)

Al DiMeola / acoustic guitar, guitar, electric guitar

Stanley Clarke / organ, bass, percussion, bass guitar

Lenny White / percussion, bongos, conga, drums

RETURN TO FOREVER — Romantic Warrior (1976-1990) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The most popular and successful lineup of Return to Forever -- Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, and Al Di Meola -- was coming off the Grammy-winning No Mystery when it recorded its third and final album, Romantic Warrior. It has been suggested that in employing a medieval album cover (drawn by Wilson McLean), using titles like "Medieval Overture" and "Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant," and occasionally playing in a baroque style, particularly in Clarke's "The Magician," Corea was responding to Rick Wakeman's successful string of albums on similar themes. Certainly, the music suggests that the musicians have been listening to Wakeman's band, Yes, among other progressive rock groups. But they bring more of a traditional jazz approach to their sound, particularly in the opening statement of intent "Medieval Overture" and the original side one closer, "The Romantic Warrior," both of which feature extensive acoustic piano soloing by Corea. The original side two -- Di Meola's "Majestic Dance," "The Magician," and "Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant" -- is much more in a jazz-rock style, with Di Meola particularly rocking out on extensive, fast-paced electric guitar solos. Meanwhile, the rhythm section of Clarke and White is always extremely busy, maintaining a funky, driving pulse and several cross rhythms no matter what's going on above it. This is particularly noticeable, naturally, on White's sole composition, "Sorceress," but it continues to keep the music in the fusion camp even when Corea is sounding like a more traditional jazz pianist. Romantic Warrior is the sound of a mature band at the top of its game, which may help explain why it was Return to Forever's most popular album, eventually certified as a gold record, and the last by this assemblage. Having expressed themselves this well, they decided it was time for them to move on.  by William Ruhlmann  

Tracklist :
1  Medieval Overture  5:14
Written-By – Chick Corea
2  Sorceress  7:34
Written-By – Lenny White
3  The Romantic Warrior  10:52
Written-By – Chick Corea
4  Majestic Dance  5:01
Written-By – Al Di Meola
5  The Magician  5:29
Written-By – Stanley Clarke
6  Duel Of The Jester And The Tyrant (Part I & Part II)  11:26
Written-By – Chick Corea
Credits
Bass [Alembic Bass With Instant Flanger, Piccolo Bass], Acoustic Bass, Bell Tree, Bells [Hand Bells] – Stanley Clarke
Drums, Timpani, Congas, Timbales, Bells [Hand Bells], Drums [Snare Drums], Cymbal [Suspended Cymbals], Other [Alarm Clock] – Lenny White
Electric Guitar [Electric Guitars], Acoustic Guitar, Guitar [Soprano Guitar], Bells [Hand Bell], Slide Whistle – Al Di Meola
Piano [Acoustic Piano], Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Clavinet [Honer Clavinet], Synthesizer [Mini Moog, Moog 15, Micro Mini Moog, ARP Odyssey, Polymoog], Organ [Yahama Organ], Marimba, Percussion – Chick Corea