Cast Iron Guarantee - Return To Forever, Reaction!

[@NitroModelsAndComics]

I have had the great fortune of being able to listen to this for over 45 years. Never gets tiring, never gets old. Masters at their craft

[@realbser1956]

Now that’s the way to start your day. One of the best albums, any genre, ever recorded, IMHO. Great choice Rudy. There are not enough superlatives to properly describe this music or the musicians who played in this iteration of the band. Another one of those desert island albums to keep you going. Sadly, Chick Corea passed away in early 2021 but his impact on music cannot be overstated. Brilliance in each and every member of Return to Forever. Jim, when you do get the vinyl you should react to the remaining songs. If you can’t wait, maybe someone will buy you a coffee 😉

[@JimNewstead]

Maybe 🤔!!! It’s a great sounding album so far!

[@rudolfbecker4313]

Hi Realbser, almost forgot to thank you for your friendly words... this is RTF on their peak. Unfortunately I never saw them live, back in those days this wasn't my music, I had to grow many years older to really understand ... Fun fact: when I pronounce your name, it almost sounds like the german word Rülpser = burb 🤣🤣🤣

[@realbser1956]

@@rudolfbecker4313 My pleasure. It was a great request. Been a fan of Chick Corea and all of the different iterations of his various bands since the early 1970’s. So sad that he is no longer with us. 😊

[@MisterWondrous]

Perfect! Was this for me? I would certainly have asked for exactly this, as it is among my very favorite music and memories, having lucked into it fresh from the oven. Great for playing air instruments to. My best man, who died sadly last month, turned me on to this, when we were roomies in the '70s. He played guitar and I played mandolin, and we happened to witness 9/11 together, the week of his birthday. Worked for Bloomberg. Raced to the disaster to cover it. It covered him instead. So thanks from my heart, Jim. Extra special morning.

[@rudolfbecker4313]

Hello Mr Wondrous, I had anounced this the other week, you remember ? Glad you enjoyed it 😄🤘

[@MisterWondrous]

@@rudolfbecker4313 Yes indeed, although I though you were going with Lenny's "The Sorceress", which is also great. For me, the duel and the title cut are among the top 5 best songs in the rock spectrum. Loved it since the '70s. Relistened hundreds of times.

[@JimNewstead]

@MisterWondrous music is magic, it transports, remembers, teleports and time travels. Thanks.

[@rudolfbecker4313]

@@MisterWondrous the selection is hard, if you request the cast iron and have to skip songs ... but now Jim has the LP ... there'll be a "comeback" 😆🤘

[@wicky4473]

I love, love, love Chick Corea. Huge fan. A great loss when he passed. That lineup was probably the best…all the planets aligned. Each member top of their game. Brilliant.

[@rphilyaw1]

So cool to see your reaction to this classic, Jim. The virtuosity of these musicians is second to none, truly the definition of fusion. I was never able to see RTF live, but have been fortunate enough to see 3 of the 4 in their other ventures. I've always said, anyone can enjoy this amazing music - but I think that having at least a basic knowledge of music structure and composition raises your appreciation to a new level. Simply amazing musicians at their peak.

[@JimNewstead]

Incredible, as you say.

[@rudolfbecker4313]

Is this a cello ? No, it's Stanley's doublebass on which he is using a bow; I've seen that in live videos. Other than that I can only say, that it's always a big joy to share my own favourite music with friends. Romantic Warrior is a masterpiece and listening to it is pure ear candy as you said. They've got quite a few more great songs, but no album is as good is this one in its entirety

[@JimNewstead]

Thanks again for this Rudi, I can’t wait to hear the whole record!

[@Lucca-An-Aspiring-Poet]

AH! LOVE THIS! COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES, SEEING THAT YOU ARE COVERING THIS GEM! I have a pristine original Japanese Pressing, and it just transcends my being, the sound quality is just 'unheard of'.

[@rudolfbecker4313]

well there are some RTF fans in youtube 😆 my son, the vinyl collector in the family will be jealous of your Japanese Pressing. I'm not asking what you paid, but I'm sure, you could make a lot more, if you would sell it ... what you're not gonna do, I'm 100% sure 🤣

[@JimNewstead]

I’m not jealous. Nope. Not at all!

[@progperljungman8218]

I've only got that plain ol' vinyl... But it's always something special when Jim or any other great reactor discovers something you listened to in the time of it's release (although it probably took me a couple of years after this was released - still, part of the soundtrack of my teens ❤)

[@markdrechsler5660]

In addition to several great albums as Return to Forever, each of these four musicians has an extensive and excellent body of work, including solo albums, other bands and projects, and collaborations. Four very rich veins of musical gold. Keep digging!

[@rudolfbecker4313]

if you buy everything of all 4 you get poor 😆 I have about 12 of Al, 7 or 8 of Chick, 4 of Stanley and 2 of Lenny ... and of course the several live recordings after the reunion ... unfortunately never saw them live

[@WELLBRAN]

All the solo albums..will take some time!

[@ronjm945]

Progressive Jazz Rock Fusion! A masterwork by four phenomenal musicians.. I have tickets for Al DiMeola for the fifth time, he is still touring and is sublime. Seek him out and you will not regret it. R.I.P. Chick Corea…

[@alberthaust4542]

I don't know if you heard, Al had a heart attack and thus far cancelled his concerts for the rest of this year.

[@ronjm945]

Yes he rescheduled for the spring 😊

[@jacksonbrawn6638]

Was able to see the Romantic Warrior tour with this line-up back in the day... AMAZING!

[@rudolfbecker4313]

Wow, must have been awesome ... my best Jazzfusion concert so far was Klaus Doldingers Passport ... and I saw Candy Dulfer .. do you know her ?

[@jacksonbrawn6638]

@@rudolfbecker4313 Not familiar with Candy, will look her up. I have seen orig Mahavishnu line-up. the classic RTF line-up (as mentioned), Vital Information, and Chic's electric band, oh and Holdsworth a couple times.... I think that is it for the fusion....

[@jacksonbrawn6638]

Bela Fleck and Flecktones too if that counts... 🙂

[@rudolfbecker4313]

@@jacksonbrawn6638 Weather Report is another Jazzfusion Band, but different from RTF or Mahavishnu. I also like the first 3 Billy Cobham solo albums. Best of german Jazzfusion are Klaus Doldingers Passport and the band Kraan, their 75 live Album is great, you might check the titles Holiday am Marterhorn and Sarahs Ritt durch den Schwarzwald. Best video of Candy is Pick up the pieces at Leverkusener Jazztage - I think it's the one of 2017... I could check my files and send it to you 😉

[@ericmeredith8754]

Rudi. Great selections. First time hearing these band. Blew me away. I have to check Out whole album! Maybe even add to my vinyl collection! Great reaction Jim!!!

[@rudolfbecker4313]

Hi Eric, glad you like it ... Romantic Warrior is a masterpiece .. my son owns the vinyl ... as Jim says unbelievable good recording, producing everything

[@JimNewstead]

Thanks Eric 👍🏼

[@simonal1989]

Fantastic video and highly recommended album! The acoustic guitar work on the second track reminds me of Trevor Rabin's style

[@yes_head]

Trevor was a John McLaughlin devotee, and JM was an influence on Al Di Meola. So in some respects Trevor was a second generation follower of both JM and Al Di Meola.

[@simonal1989]

@@yes_head Trevor picked Apocalypse as one of his desert island discs.

[@rogerpitcher6540]

I also love the early iteration of RTF with Joe Farrell and Flora Purim. Jazzier, Light as a Feather, so to speak. Always fine ensemble playing.

[@realbser1956]

Light as a feather, I see what you did there. 😊

[@jacksonbrawn6638]

BTW: If you are going to look for the vinyl, pick up Where Have I Known You Before also. Another classic, same lineup, the predecessor to Romantic Warrior and was my intro to RTF (so a special place in my heart... ). But really, anything RTF is great!

[@rudolfbecker4313]

the 2nd best right after Romantic Warrior

[@relativetimeworx8459]

There's a whole world of "fusion" from the 70s that has been largely overlooked by those who do retrospectives and reviews that feature a lot of progressive rock. RTF, Jean-Luc Ponty, Dixie Dregs, Mahavishnu Orchestra... on and on. If you want a real unique treat - check out "One Night In San Francisco" - an acoustic concert by Al DiMeola, John McLaughlin and Paco DeLucia. Fabulolus.

[@coachhannah2403]

Oh, that is a wonderful album, and quite a show. Not sure how, but I stumbled onto that show! Quite the trio of music talent!

[@JimNewstead]

I still have a mountain of Music to hear!

[@coachhannah2403]

Fabulous music. I got to see them on that tour in '76 or '77!

[@wicky4473]

Amazing, wish I was lucky enough to have seen them.

[@coachhannah2403]

@@wicky4473 - Saw them at Great America (SF) for their reunion tour, too!

[@rudolfbecker4313]

they were in Germany in 1976, I lived in the countryside and didn't know yet, what I was going to miss 😆

[@ithaliem]

This album had a great influence to Yes, their album Relayer to be exact. No wonder. At that time prog and jazz fusion came very close to each other. And did you notice, the 2nd song was played with acoustic instruments only!

[@dhfenske]

Yes, these two albums are close. I love them both. I think, though, it would have been that these gents making Romantic Warrior would have been influenced by Relayer. Relayer came out in 1974 and Romantic Warrior in 1976.

[@yes_head]

Yeah, this is post-Relayer. Jan Hammer and Mahavishnu Orchestra have largely been credited as the main influence on Patrick Moraz's work on Relayer, although that's not to say there weren't other keyboard wizards in the fusion world at the time, Chick here being one of them. But I don't think its a stretch to think of this album as a response to the music being put out by Yes, ELP, and Genesis.

[@ithaliem]

You are right. I was remembering an interview of Moraz where he spoke about the influence of jazz-fusion to his music but my mind got it wrong.

[@andrewhamer2512]

Seminal fusion album. My favourite is "Duel".

[@rudolfbecker4313]

Mine too, Primus inter pares, if you know what I mean 🤘

[@JimNewstead]

Isn’t it fantastic!

[@timcoombe]

When RTF were hanging out with Yes, Steve Howe’s wife asked Lenny White how long this album took to record. “2 weeks”, replied Lenny White. Steve’s wife was astounded replying “2 weeks! It takes Yes 2 months to get a snare drum sound”

[@ronojoysen5324]

Hi, Jim - your reaction has inspired a further comment. I first heard Romantic Warrior in my 20s (by chance) and have never stopped listening to it since - I'm now 68! This album - and everything Chick Corea's ever done - has helped shaped my life in so many deeply empathetic, spiritual and joyful ways impossible to describe. To top it all - I was fortunate beyond belief to meet Chick for a little while some years ago when he visited India, not too long before he passed. His music is truly Forever Music. Thanks for playing Chick - and especially Romantic Warrior, the best of the best of the best!!! Cheers!

[@JimNewstead]

Just wow! Thanks for sharing

[@fretmyster]

Great one of my all time favourite albums👍

[@wicky4473]

Same here!

[@healdogtoe2c]

I remember hearing this when it came out while I was in High School and being blown away. The writing and musicianship and creativity were astonishing to my young ears, for the duration of the entire album. Glad you enjoyed this.

[@Unibabble]

That synth solo in Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant is one of the greatest keyboard solos I have ever heard. A jewel.. Love this album so much, and I got to see them on this tour - my second ever concert, and it was utterly mind blowing. I also saw them on the 40th anniversary tour of this album. The local newspaper review of that concert said something like "...Apparently it's not only Viagra that gets middle aged men excited" - ha ha!

[@yes_head]

Oh Jim. Never heard any RTF? It might be because they're an American band that were contemporaries of Weather Report and Herbie Hancock's 70's fusion bands. It's easy to get lost in the chops fest going on, but there's also meat on the bones compositionally. But any music collection that includes the great prog rock of the 70's should also include this album.

[@ronojoysen5324]

RTF, finally. Wonderful!

[@2wayplebney]

A great album. My mate Geoff showed up with this and Todd's first Utopia album many years ago. Socks were blown off.

[@wicky4473]

Absobloodylutely must do the entire album one day!

[@JimNewstead]

I will 👍🏼

[@cheesesteak59]

One of the greatest albums of all time.

[@normanmacfarlane6724]

Romantic Warrior , one of my FAVOURITE albums. Saw Chick Corea in Perth , Western Australia in the late 70s , actually met the gentleman at Perth Airport the next day. An incredible band.

[@petertrotman7708]

The vinyl pressing is way better than the remastered cd/streaming version IMO. The album has a medieval vibe to it which you kinda wish was theme music Game of Thrones. Sorceress is another fantastic track but the whole album is peak writing and incredible musicianship. A benchmark album for it's time. Can't believe Al Di Meola's age on this. Cheers.

[@rudolfbecker4313]

As Jim says in the comment, that I had told him, that my son, a drummer himself, being used to nowadays "noise" said how great the recording is, everytime we listened to it ... I think it's the only JazzFusion LP in his collection, as he is a metal/progmetal guy 😆🤘

[@Archentides]

Appreciate that one. Interestingly, part of track 5, The Magician, was used locally here in Southern Maine, USA, as the music on a TV commercial for Palace Playland, Old Orchard Beach. This is around 1982... I'm sure they didn't pay for it!

[@PavlozKapeliz]

That album is monumental. Period....

[@harryvendryes]

One of two albums I bought because I liked the cover artwork. The other being Clear Air Turbulence. Both superb.

[@evertvanderhik5774]

Nice reaction. When I heard it first more than 30 years ago it was too complex for me. I had to grow into it and now it's pne of my favourites

[@alanshields1638]

Been listening to them since the 70's, check out some of their catalogue. Very impressed with the headphones....what are they?.Cheers

[@kenl2091]

I have heard this before but not for several years. Like many fusion albums, it hooks you in with the fast technically dazzling opener (the gateway drug) then slips you the slower exotic-smelling hard stuff (the other two tracks) which is really just mid 20th century jazz injected with funk and played on electric instruments. I'm aware that they can play and know their way through any number of modes and scales but, for rock fans like me, fusion needs plenty of meaty riffs to go with the jazzy noodles and sadly, this was a bit too vegan.

[@rudolfbecker4313]

Hi Ken, thank you for your honest words. Maybe you should try jazzmetal - ever heard of Panzerballett ?😊

[@kenl2091]

@@rudolfbecker4313 Always honest! I had certainly heard of Panzerballett but not actually heard them until now! I KZbind Planet Z and was pleasantly surprised. It's definitely jazz metal with the jazz mainly being supplied by the brass and keyboards. I always like saxophones to be completely unhinged, more like David Jackson from VdGG, and these were a little too 'conventional' most of the time but overall, a successful true fusion of jazz and metal.

[@JimNewstead]

Fair doos Ken, fair doos.

[@rudolfbecker4313]

@@kenl2091 I have an album on which they cover the Simpsons, Abba, Frank Zappa, Rammstein and ESC winning Nicole of Germany (1982) ... isn't that a wild mix ? I love it 🤘

[@matweb8195]

This album was the beginning of a 'journey' for me, still ain't finished either (thankfully).

[@rudolfbecker4313]

you don't find something like RTF nowadays but I really like Snarky Puppy and The Aristocrats ... what are your suggestions ?

[@matweb8195]

@@rudolfbecker4313 I don't know. Try Jean- Luc Ponty?

[@rudolfbecker4313]

@@matweb8195 very good idea, if I didn't have already 11 of his albums, thank you .....any other idea?

[@williambarabanitz3858]

This is my favorite album, and the title cut my fave track. Fusion/progressive music is the genre that is I most enjoy (Mahavshnu Orchestra, King Crimson, etc., too). I like new things, but can't seem to warm-up to bands like Polyphia and Animals As Leaders. More traditional young artists like Lage and Mancuso are appealing to me, though. Maybe narrow-mindedness, lack of sophistication, and/or regression on my part. Any listening suggestions on current fusion/progressive groups are welcome.

[@threestringsomg]

Rhubarb and custard on Broadway with Orbital and supporting Mahavishnu Orchestra, whos fans consider likes of Penguin Cafe Orchestra to be well posh.😂

[@timballard27]

Stanley Clarke = Monster bassist. Have a listen to Lopsy Lu off his 1974 solo album.

[@cheesesteak59]

Also, check out Stanley's solo acoustic bass video on youtube. Astonishing.

[@fernandotor3266]

What a line up...chick korea. Jazz Master

[@fernandotor3266]

Dont recall drummers name. Chick. Al dimiola. Stanley clark. Drummer billy coban? Glorious album

[@ravirr8407]

If you like this id recommend the Stanley Clarke solo album thats browish maroon.

[@wicky4473]

Still drinking that same cup of coffee I got you a few weeks ago? Must be time for a warm up!

[@JimNewstead]

Haha!

[@geoffcartertheoreticalstru6484]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6bVepuAgbqBpNk . this is the point that Lenny White resooves the track, the album & the universe with a ride bell of god

[@alberthaust4542]

Just so you, if you search "Return to Forever Reaction" your video doesn't appear. Perhaps "selection" wasn't a good word to use in the title.

[@WELLBRAN]

You need chick corea in your musical education

[@davidlane2737]

Not my favorite music. Perhaps you should give Soft Machine a listen. Thanks Jim.

[@JimNewstead]

I’m sure I will!

[@MrJavanaut]

You are not alone. Many jazz fans like me hate this later version of RTF. I am a jazz fan and a big fan of Chick Corea and John McLaughlin, Miles Davis ( all eras), etc., etc. I saw Mahavishnu on their first tour in 1972. I saw RTF with Bill Connors in 1973 and later with DiMeola in 1976. And I can't listen to this album! I bought it when it came out and I have hated it ever since! It sounds like music designed for a pin-balll machine or a video game or a sci-fi/fantasy cartoon that I would never pay to see! Now I am going to listen to "Hymn to the 7th Galaxy" three times in a row to wash this artificial sweetener out of my system!

[@davidlane2737]

@@MrJavanaut I don't really understand jazz, I find it very busy and complicated. Thanks for your reaction and enjoy your music.

[@LGBTQ71]

Not realy my cup o tea prbaby because Jazz is definately something I am certain not at all a jazz fan. And for me it's unfortunately not for me. Please dunnae shoot me.

[@rudolfbecker4313]

not everybody can like everything 😆 I'm sure Jim has pleased with one or the other reaction .... I'm wondering what's your favourite music ?

[@JimNewstead]

We can’t all like everything, though I try to!

[@billnole2188]

Hey Jim, don't feel bad as RTF sold well in North America, especially the USA but not in GB or Europe. Romantic Warrior was big my senior year of high school and it blew my friends and I away. After this album, Chick broke up the band and Al Di Meola went solo and put out some of my favorite albums in the late 70s, Elegant Gypsy and several others. Stanley Clarke went solo, putting out 2 fantastic albums, School Days and Journey to Love. We hooked up with Jeff Beck throughout his career. Chick Corea went acoustic after Romantic Warrior but the band put together a reunion in 2008 and put out a tour album. Lenny White was a fabulous drummer. All musicians had strong jazz backgrounds.

[@wicky4473]

I reckon we’re about the same age. I absolutely adored this album when I was 18. Still do!

[@rudolfbecker4313]

Lenny White's Venusian Summer is another great solo album having Al di Meola, Larry Coryell , David Sancious, Hubert Laws, Larry Young and others 🤘

[@jbognap]

Romantic Warrior is the 14th best selling jazz record of all time (Gold).

[@alysiakrasilnikova1121]

Is' inopinabile... Return to forever, Gentle Giant, Wheather Report and Genesis, is' the great, complex and creative bands all the time.