Mahavishnu Orchestra- The Noonward Race (REACTION//DISCUSSION)

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

The Love of music has given me complete Devotion, I Surrender to its Inner Mounting Flame, leaving me with Visions of the Emerald Beyond. Peace.

[@-davidolivares]

I am in complete Shakti.

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

@@-davidolivares I dont know Weather to Report you during this Apocalypse.But my Adventures in Radioland, leave me Wired with every Blow by Blow. So Between Nothingness and Eternity- Peace until we Return to Forever.

[@ronrimsite6948]

Saw them in New York's Central Park back then. Religious experience!

[@jemp1965]

This Mahavishnu album is a true highlight, a gem of Jazzrock!!

[@SPONGETF]

To me, this is a highly emotional song. Those emotions include joy, wonder, abandon, enthusiasm, passion... who says emotional playing has to be rooted in sadness or grief?

[@coolguitarchannel]

I love Noonward Race. So much energy and vibrancy but so quirky with the eccentric highly rhythmic guitar-drums unison playing on the head of the track. The next song, Lotus on Irish Streams is simply beautiful. You will love it on first listen for sure.

[@randydoak6638]

You were boppin' your head to Billy's ultra-fast boogaloo. That dude was undeniable. Words can't describe the impact they had on listeners and musicians from my generation. I saw this group in Seattle after the release of this album. After cutting my teeth on The Beatles, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, etc. I felt I finally found some music that took all that to the next level, while other groups were playing it safe. They were one of those bands that could open up your head and dig deep into your emotions with pure music, no lyrics needed.

[@-R.Gray-]

First solo Jerry Goodman violin with effects, second solo Jan Hammer electric piano through a ring modulator. Hammer used to also play his keyboards through Marshall guitar amps to better match the sound of the others when they would go into "trading 4's" sections. On the album the pace of this song accentuates the contrast with the next song, which is acoustic and pastoral in nature. Also, this group was trying to appeal to the rock fans, who might not be into jazz as they knew it, but would like this high energy music. in general, the fusion players appreciated Miles Davis, but were also fans of the rock music that was happening. Both McLaughlin and fellow fusion pioneer Larry Coryell had jammed with Jimi Hendrix.

[@Rowenband]

The best jazz-rock band ! Just before BrandX. Thanks for doing this song today. Not my favorite track on the album, but it's a great song. If you do the whole album you will find 1 or 2 other speedy tracks. They must have had some kind of rage when they recorded that album. A kind of madness that I like a lot.

[@dannylgriffin]

BrandX is awesome. I did recommend JustJP to listen to Shakti, too.

[@Lightmane]

So glad to see you doing more Mahavishnu Orchestra.

[@jeffschielka7845]

😎

[@JustJP]

😎

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@JustJP 😎

[@Lightmane]

@@jeffschielka7845 😎

[@Lightmane]

@@JustJP 😎

[@-davidolivares]

Sorry you’re not completely well yet, hope you beat it soon. Now on to the song… Reminds me of yesterday’s race at work to get everything done. Should play this next time. Yes, it’s frantic but accurate to a tee. Fast and Fusionious. Reminds me of seeing the first G3, with Satriani, Vai, Eric Johnson after working overtime and driving furiously to get to the outdoor show and midway leaning back on the grass blown back by all the notes. Just too much for my weakened state. I did endure it though, and it was awesome. Peace and rushing Music

[@gaiaeternal5131]

I saw that version of G3 too, David, and it was also a bit of a speedfest. Shame as I'm a big fan of Joe and Steve and their use of space amid the mayhem.

[@rogerpitcher6540]

50 years on, still impresses the hell out of me.

[@ZalMoxis]

I saw the John McLaughlin Trio in Australia during the early 2000's..... man what a concert.... i would of loved to have seen MO back in the day.... I also saw Billy Cobham in a small club in Sydney in the 90's..... that was absolutely mind blowing too....

[@bzbzob]

This is early. Some of the live stuff later is amped up like 2X speed. It is ridiculous, but so cool. The thing is, also, there are sweet spots all over the album (s) to give you a break of beauty. Then, back to the onslaught, ha ha. A thing to think about is that these are the only guys really to just go all out, so I am thankful they do. There are a few who always have and they are the ones people will and do remember. They are like rare big wave surfers or mega athletes, giving it everything they have, stepping to the edge and hanging on. Also, after hearing it awhile, it will slow down in your mind and become more relaxed for sure. The band itself got way more polished on Visions of the Emerald Beyond, some is downright beautiful and mellow. Anyway, THANK YOU!!

[@kenhellberg7973]

I called it Raga/Rock because of the Indian influence. I saw them live and was in awe.

[@shirleymental4189]

The violin is being played through a Leslie rotating speaker. That's why it has an organ like sound. One of my favorite tracks of all time, off of one of my favorite Albums of all time. I agree you need a lot of energy to listen to this blistering track, otherwise it will drain you. To be honest, you don't look particularly well at the moment so, yeah it's gonna feel like effort.

[@kenl2091]

You're picking up on the best Mahavishnu tracks, I think. Considering that you weren't very taken with Birds of Fire, that's quite brave! Speed fusion??? I like it.

[@jamesadkisson7510]

When you hear YES Relayer. And find out they were being inspired by bands like Mahavishnu and Return to Forever it makes sense.

[@JustJP]

Definitely does make sense now lol

[@gonzaloriquelme7737]

Welcome to the Mahavishnu's universe...

[@blitztim6416]

‘Music is the silence between the notes’ - Claude Debussy Very cool. Showing off. One song to just rip. McLaughlin can shed while being so relaxed. Got to see them open for Jeff Beck in LA many moons ago.

[@rickgarms7656]

I agree J..listening to this selection MOVES me to exhaustion! Still a major favorite of mine from Mahavishnu Orchestra.

[@gaiaeternal5131]

Hi JP. DP from UK, who is a bit Dazed And Confused by John and the boys. It's like those German autobahns - no speed limit on notes per second! Totally agree with your great reaction, Justin. I admire this more than like it. I too crave a bit of space amid the excitement and virtuosity, and I found it in 70s jazz/rock/fusion bands like Weather Report, Colosseum II and early Chicago.

[@-davidolivares]

I don’t know, Terry (Chicago) could be a note hog sometimes but, I still loved it. Prob note choices that made it so tasty.

[@gaiaeternal5131]

@@-davidolivares Agreed. Poem 58 off CTA. Need I say more?

[@porflepopnecker4376]

"Noonward" would be a great name for a newborn baby boy, especially if his last name was "Norkleson."

[@mrgoneshouse3663]

This album change the way I hear and listen to music...I went out ,saved my paperboy money and bought this album when I was 12......1971...and there was no turning back

[@markspooner1224]

Breathtaking! Thanks!

[@-davidolivares]

Oh yeah, forgot to breathe… ahhh, better. Thx, Mark.

[@markspooner1224]

@@-davidolivares I had you in mind David.

[@jibsmokestack1]

Cobham and Hammer would be sweating on stage the rest including John have a chilled zen demeanour not matter how intense the music especially Laird! Thanks for doing these as a hardcore jazzer it’s great to finally see newcomers review classics like these in depth!

[@focusstudios1296]

If you like space then you should definitely check out Heather by Billy Cobham and Climax: Theme for Astral Pirates by Lenny White, they’re both really beautiful masterpieces and probably best listened to in the context of their respective full albums, but amazing in their own right as well!

[@withwilltheresaway3802]

The Dance of Maya is the best experience on the album. Heard it in 1972 and have never forgotten it. Just one man's opinion.

[@nicksylvester426]

John,all in white , speaking in a calm voice , not sweating at all , exploding his spirituality all over tbe place.

[@twelvemonkeys8786]

This is so good.. Didnt want it to end.. Another great upload.. Black expresso is good.. 😂

[@shyshift]

I think this tune is great and describes perfectly what a before noon day in a big city is like. These guys were in their 20’s and John had recently left Miles Davis. The Dance Of Maya is my favorite track and I can’t wait until you get to that. It’s not as manic to be sure.

[@michaelbaucom4019]

Weird, I get a Chicago( the band) vibe from this, guitar work especially( reminds me of Terry Kath). I can imagine a horn section kicking in on this. Also getting Gentle Giant vibes too......Excellence

[@jibsmokestack1]

Try to check out The Tony Williams Lifetime live versions of this tune with John, Tony Williams, the incomparable Larry Young on Organ and Jack Bruce from Cream on Bass! They make this later version seem tame!

[@palantir135]

I really want to recommend Stomu Yamashta with the album Go live from Paris. It’s also jazz rock/fusion. Licorice can help against the tickle in your throat if you have to talk much. Dutch licorice if you can get it. Or regularly drink warm drinks like tea.

[@JustJP]

Oh I've been guzzling tea😁😁😁

[@palantir135]

@@JustJP try not to scrape your throat when it tickles because that will increase the tickling due to damages made to the lining of your throat.

[@wendellwiggins3776]

Like I've mentioned before, this was the FIRST MAHA and it did SHOCK & AWE us teens as an introduction to this new kind of JAZZ & ROCK - very influenced by MILES DAVIS' who's earlier album "Bitches Brew" "included & introduced" many of the young musicians like John McLaughlin & other leaders of JAZZ FUSION to the world. To me THIS ALBUM was M.O's WARM UP album. Its was their, "STRETCH YOUR MUSCLES and loosen the bones" album. BECAUSE (as I have said & suggested before) their 2nd Album "BIRDS OF FIRE" is the masterpiece & is where IT ALL COMES TOGETHER. The songs are TIGHTER, MORE COHESIVE & ARRANGED with all the LOOSE ENDS CLEANED UP. BOF is perfection !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So when you finally get through with this album please graduate to BIRDS OF FIRE. In fact you should hear all of MAHA albums IN SEQUENCE of ORDER. Even the next incarnation of the band with Jean-Luc-Ponty (Zappa Violinist)) should only be heard after hearing all of this incarnation with Jan Hammer & Jerry Goodman. I saw both bands LIVE including their 3rd ALBUM for free, recorded in NY Central Park in 1973. PEACE

[@ganazby]

Holy shit.

[@JustJP]

😇💩

[@yw1971]

Get to 'One Word' by them, the best of their. Also 'Taurian Matador' from their live show of 1973.

[@philt4346]

That is a great groove and there is space in the changes with a lot of release. You definitely need to get your ear in for Jazz/Fusion. The Noonward Race means the race towards noon i.e. this is a very busy morning condensed into one track. Going for a lunchtime jog, come on.

[@sicko_the_ew]

It might be an idea to visit it again after a suitable break, knowing what to expect? (If you're back ready for some more _Meeting of the Spirits_ , you're going to start out with the wrong expectations). As with all things, too, you have to be in the right mood (just like you have to be in the right mood to listen to the Moonlight Sonata every time), but sometimes it's fun to give your mood a poke. Tell it to adjust for you, and see where that goes. I like the track, but then I like the Dixie Dreggs, too (and there are similarities with that music?). Maybe you should give the Dreggs another shot every ever so often, too, then. Pick a mood first, then see if it works on the music (instead of the other way round). I don't think I've ever done this. Just sounds like an interesting idea to try out, that's all. And then just in case you're already done with the previous video, I'll give you a link to to a video that partly explains a slightly mysterious "effing dog" (also maybe requiring prior mood selection instead of music selection to match mood). Sorry if this is a repetition for you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6LXnn1tesx9g5Y

[@MisterWondrous]

They are so advanced, they were besting Snarky Puppy 50 years ago.

[@DaveyL1954]

For those of us musicians who compose music, trying to come up with something original is probably the most difficult thing to do. The Mahavishnu Orchestra came up with something absolutely new with their first album. I was 17 at the time, and saw the Mahavishnu in Manchester England 1972. I was a music student about to go to music college. What I realised at the time that this was radically different in terms of structure, notes used, sequences devised, and a brilliantly high skill level. I met John M. in May just gone. My bucket list has been completed. An excellent choice of music. Now listen to the first track of Birds Of Fire, opening title track. Jan Hammer gets a MiniMoog to play with.

[@noonward]

Great to hear! Happy you met John!

[@toshibautoob]

Some music cannot be fully appreciated upon a first listening. You like jazz and must know this. Also sometimes you have to be in a certain mood for different songs/bands. Try this on a different day.

[@JustJP]

100% agreed!

[@simonagree4070]

One of my favorite records of all time. Try some tea with lots of honey and a bit of lemon for that cough.

[@trondsatre8615]

I agree with your evaluation; I love 70’s jazz-rock, but Mahavishnu Orchestra gets so, how can I put it, hyper.

[@dannylgriffin]

As Zappa would say, their music is statistically dense.

[@dannylgriffin]

Oh, yeah, forgot to mention--please listen to Jerry Goodman's album "It's Alive." (1987 live album). Very melodic, very different from Mahavishnu Orchestra. Every song will leave you smiling. He even plays the theme from Perry Mason. But that's not the best, just the encore.

[@davidthibodeau6886]

The remaster of this album has the live version of this song and it's insane. McLaughlin and Cobham go back and fourth just by themselves for a long time. I like it better than this version but it is long. The live concert on KZbin of this song is great too.

[@mickcapewell6369]

Now, of course, for the 238th time, I’ll tell you that you need to listen to Colosseum’s Valentyne Suite...which has both fury and space! 😎

[@JustJP]

On my list🙂

[@mjm5081]

❤

[@grega8586]

At about 5:20 ...yep, my take :-D I'd have to be in the right mood for this. Not bad, just different. The beginning reminded me a little of the music they'd play in tv shows of the late 60's, early 70's when in a younger people's club ;-) Like Adam-12 or Dragnet

[@timcardona9962]

Wait...wut? The opening to this sounds like music from the Dragnet tv show??

[@grega8586]

@@timcardona9962 Not THE music from Dragnet, but the music they would play if the detectives went into a club or party ;-)

[@jm4dhs]

@@grega8586 Listen to the opening theme to Danger Man (Patrick McGoohan) from 1964. The three big notes are the same as used on Noonward Race

[@swimszoots]

Though it's not my favorite, I do love this track. I know I've heard something great when I'm exhausted at the end of it. :-)

[@robertsullivan6246]

Listen to the last song on the CD for speed fusion!

[@jeremyb5640]

I'm with you entirely Justin. I definitely admire the musicianship and power, it's hugely, hugely impressive, but as a track it's too overblown and too much. Get well soon, that cold's been lingering a while now.

[@wendellwiggins3776]

As I've told JP, This First M.O. Album was their "warm up / stretch your legs / get acquainted to a new genre" album. AS a teen this album was a true eye opener at the time but the next album BIRDS of FIRE is the masterpiece, where they were UP & AWAKE & finally READY with perfectly still bold yet beautifully arranged and well-arranged & crafted songs & complete album. Look forward to him listening to it someday

[@jeremyb5640]

@@wendellwiggins3776 Thanks Wendell. I'll check out Birds of Fire. Hopefully JP reviews that in due course too.

[@robertsullivan6246]

Live version: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYqsep6khcdknKc

[@glenndespres5317]

Not exactly what we used to call ‘date music’, but… yeah! Qualitah from that Mooshoo-vishnu Orchestra! Yeah, if you are not physically and mentally ‘up’ for it, this will just drain you.

[@vdggmouse9512]

How does this fit - on the album? It is on the album presumably for a reason. When it was made in 1971 they weren't thinking that obsessive cut and pasters would be going through all albums and grabbing little bits from all their favorite bands on planet Earth and creating playlists. Think about this - there would never be the 45 minute album experience with the way you listen or presumably listen to your music - if your goal is adding to your playlist. Artists would just release one song at a time and the public would add it or not add it to their playlist. Does this song add to the enjoyment sitting where it is on the album 'The Inner Mounting Flame'? That's all it was created for - to follow up the previous song - and to lead into the next song. It's only job is to bridge those two other movements - of which you never really addressed whether or not it was good in that role. Your constant obsessive search for the ultimate playlist is obfuscating your understanding of the goal of what an album made at that time was for - to be an album ride. A ride that the listener either chooses to go on or not go on - but when judging the merits of each individual song for the purpose of playing it as a stand alone song - well it was never made to do that in the first place. Obviously - you can do whatever pleases you - but the Mahavishnu Orchestra expected we listeners to evaluate this album in its entirety where this song has its place. Dig it?

[@shirleymental4189]

@VdGGmouse Yep, I dig it mate. I don't have spotify for a reason. I may be old school but I listen to complete Albums. All the good Albums from the great eras were put together like a novel, with a beginning middle and end. And with the 2 sides of vinyl, sides 1 and 2 often very different chapters. Anybody who play's Albums and uses 'shuffle' should be soundly slapped.

[@progqueen6219]

I hear you and I agree to a certain point. Atleast music from the 70's and older was mostly made entirely for the album listen and is best enjoyed as such. I know for a fact that Justin listens more than once to the songs and also the whole album, if he does a complete album over time. He can speak for himself, but I think his goal with this channel is what he says in the description, to discover music he's unfamiliar with, or he's digging deeper into :)

[@vdggmouse9512]

@@progqueen6219 You're right Prog Queen - I'm coming at this from the wrong angle. I'm in my 60's and I still think and buy music 'for the amount of pleasure that the ALBUM will bring me.' I've never bought songs one at a time - and the only singles I ever bought were in the 60's and that was just from two artists (guess which two - hint - both British) - so I always think of music acquisition in terms of albums. I suppose the younger folks think along the lines of making their playlists one song at a time. JP is learning new artists and new music - just going about it the way one would expect the now generation to do it. But we learned mostly from album to album to album to album ......and on and on and on. I guess I'm an old dog and can't learn new tricks - and you know what? You're right.

[@vdggmouse9512]

@@shirleymental4189 I guess at this point, Shirley - we turned into our parents.

[@shirleymental4189]

@@vdggmouse9512 Now calm down young man! I find JP an agreeable fellow and have watched him grow over the last year or so. I enjoyed listening to 'the lamb' with him, which -obviously - can only be done by listening to complete sides. The point is, if he'd listened to the next track 'A lotus on Irish streams' it would have soothed his brow and made more sense of the preceding fury. PS. I get too much fun out of watching him react to Philip Glass's 'Spaceship' and seeing if I can pin point the *exact time* the will to live leaves him. Heh! Heh!

[@manjay49]

I am 75. I saw MO Version 1 in July 1972 Umass Amherst USA. You said imagine what it was like. I don't need to. It was indeed devastatig. Tbey did .most of The Inner Mounting Flame. They opened with Dream which was not released until 1999. By 1969,I had seen Hendrix 5x, The Who 4x, Led 5x, Cream, Jeff Beck 4x, Jethro Tull, Roland Kirk, Tony Willams Lifetime 3x, Mountain 2x. Many more. But after I saw MO I did not go to another show for 3 years. Why? Because I figured what's the point? Who or what can top that? I will only be "disappointed". I was ruined. They set bar too high. Finally in 1975 I did go see a show. It was MO, the 4 piece. JM, Ralf Armstrong on bass, Stu Goldberg on keys, Narada Michael Walden on drums. In a way, that lineup was actually more insane. So I stopped my jazz fusion journey there. Happy. Fulfllled.

[@PerryPapanier]

Dream was on Between Nothingness & Eternity released in 1973.

[@manjay49]

@PerryPapanier Yes. But when I saw MO 1 July 20 1972 they opened with Dream. I know this for sure because I had bought Inner Mounting Flame in late 1971 and had been listening to it solidly since then. And as the tune was being played I realized it was nothing that was on IMF. After they finished, JM stepped up to the mic and said to the totally stunned audience: "That was Dream".

[@mcasual7657]

i liked at the end speedy riff 2 times, long note speedy riff 3 times long note speedy riff 4 times long note then speedy riffs explodes and self destruct

[@jfergs.3302]

Hmmm. Some great playing, as you'd expect, and fine segments, but this didn't grab me like the previous tracks did. The 1st minute I found a little chaotic. Once it settled if definitely picked up. And again with the crackin' solo's, but at times the underlying rhythm passages got a little repetitive. Yeah, not actually bad, but not as appealing as those previous tracks, for me anyway.

[@dannylgriffin]

You should definitely listen to Shakti w/John McLaughlin! Acoustic, it will blow your mind, especially if you like percussion. I'd start with their 1977 album Natural Elements, but you could also do their 1976 album A Handful of Beauty. There are more. :)

[@JustJP]

Ty Danny! Ive done a few tracks from Shakti, I liked what I heard+

[@dannylgriffin]

@@JustJP Ha, I must have missed those. Sorry. :)

[@JustJP]

@@dannylgriffin no worries at all!😁

[@onemerlin]

I listened to this to start my Sunday morning and had the same reaction - almost too much. I suspect it flows better in album context, but I just wasn't ready for the onslaught. I'll need to hear it again from a different head space.

[@twelvemonkeys8786]

Utopia, the ikon.. Need more Todd Rundgren

[@robertsullivan6246]

Again, violin through a Leslie speaker which makes it sound like an organ.

[@realbser1956]

This track is why I always had a hard time with the some MO music. At times it seemed very self indulgent. Just my opinion. Hope you feel better J.

[@michaosanna]

nowadays, confronting with the Afghanistan disaster (caused by two US gouverments, the EU gouverments and the UK), i found myself listening to some very agressive music. I'm thinking of things like this early mahavishnu like the "inner mounting flame", van der graaf and hammill, some zappa tunes (didn't frank tell us that there are no tune or chord can be awful enough to describe the actuall situation of the world - this is now more true than ever!) Sad greatings from germany, another failed state.

[@progqueen6219]

This is good. Have to say I still prefer Weather Report over Mahavishnu Orcestra from what I've heard of the two. That might be because Mahavishnu is perhaps a little too guitar centric for my taste and Weather Report is more of group effort (don't get me wrong, Mahavishnu is packed with excellent musicians). And yes, I've so far only heard Weather Report with Jaco... (My favourite being "Mr Gone" of the albums I've heard.) That lingering cough of yours might just be the symptom of how sick you where at the time, unless offcourse you're a smoker (and I pretty sure you're not). In any case I hope it disappears soon :)

[@JustJP]

Ty! I'm all better now, but I think there's still a few videos of me being a bit under lol🤭

[@progqueen6219]

@@JustJP That's good to hear :)

[@relinquishh]

Sonic the Hedgehog music

[@sidecardog5244]

Nice mellow chill song:)😳 I think I need to lower my dose of ADHD meds.

[@-davidolivares]

Gimee some.

[@JustJP]

🤭

[@sidecardog5244]

@@-davidolivares What? Gimee Some Loving? Every day?

[@-davidolivares]

@@sidecardog5244 Share The Land

[@sylvaindupuis5595]

It's good, but as you say, a little too much. I would listen to it, but not often.

[@linusfotograf]

I like the groove but they could’ve needed a conductor here. It sounds too improvised.

[@handzar6402]

It's jazz fusion......it pretty much is improvised.