Produced by Bob Thiele and recorded at Electric Lady studios with engineer Eddie Kramer, Barefoot Boy is one of Larry Coryell's finest recordings as a leader. "Gypsy Queen" was recorded prior to bassist Mervin Bronson's arrival at the studio, and features the percussion section locking into a groove over which Coryell lays down a riff and Steve Marcus cuts loose with a fiery soprano sax solo. When it's his turn to solo on this opening number, Coryell turns up the heat, sounding like a cross between Jimi Hendrix and Sonny Sharrock. (Coryell played with Sharrock on Herbie Mann's Memphis Underground.) "The Great Escape" finds Coryell cooking over a bass and percussion groove, with Marcus on tenor sax. "Call to the Higher Consciousness" is a side-long 20-minute jam in which all the players take a ride, with Marcus once again cooking on the soprano sax. Roy Haynes is superb throughout, working in tandem with the percussionists to keep the music moving. This recording is a noteworthy example of the possibilities inherent in the early days of fusion, blending the electrifying energy of rock with the improvisational excitement of jazz. Jim Newsom
Tracklist :
1. These Are Odd Times ( 7:54 )
Written-By – Larry Coryell, Steve Smith, Tom Coster
2. Plankton ( 4:34 )
Written-By – Larry Coryell, Steve Smith, Tom Coster
3. Wrong Is Right ( 7:16 )
Written-By – Larry Coryell
4. Bubba ( 6:02 )
Written-By – Larry Coryell
5. Cause & Effect ( 0:49 )
Written-By – Steve Smith, Tom Coster
6. Night Visitors ( 8:08 )
Written-By – Larry Coryell, Steve Smith, Tom Coster
7. Miss Guided Missile ( 8:37 )
Written-By – Larry Coryell, Steve Smith, Tom Coster
8. First Things First ( 7:51 )
Written-By – Larry Coryell
9. Night Visitors Revisited ( 2:19 )
Written-By – Steve Smith, Tom Coster
10. Finale Wes & Jimmy ( 11:13 )
Written-By – Larry Coryell, Steve Smith, Tom Coster
Personnel :
Bass – Benny Rietveld (tracks: 2, 6, 10), Victor Wooten (tracks: 1)
Drums, Producer – Steve Smith
Guitar, Co-producer – Larry Coryell
Keyboards, Co-producer – Tom Coster 
