My ten favourite Chick Corea albums ranked

[@AlmostEthical]

By far my favourite CC album was the first RTF album with Joe Farrell, Stanley, Airto and Flora. They conjured up the most incredible atmospheres, and Airto's drumming is a thing of beauty.

[@adamodimattia]

Akoustic Band studio album is my favorite if Chick's albums and one of my all time favorite albums in general.

[@ornleifs]

I totally agree that Chick was one of the greats in Jazz - his performance as a player is top notch and as a composer he was so brilliant - all the albums you mentioned are fantastic - my list would be a little different, I skipped the Return To Forever albums all of which are brilliant but of his solo albums these are my favourites. 1-My Spanish heart 2-Mad Hatter 3-Tap Step 4-Friends 5-The Leprechaun 6-Secret Agent 7-Piano Improvisation vol 1 8-Touchstone 9-Eye of the beholder 10-Children's songs

[@randygirard6691]

Correct me if I'm I wrong but I seem to recall an interview with Lenny White where he said that it only took 11 days to record Romantic Warrior. And they were staying at Alan White's house? During the making. This comment made by his wife cracked me up "It takes Alan 11 months just to get the snare to sound right!"

[@musicaldiscovery1434]

I think the reason that Chick's music was so accessible, and popular, was because he had the ability to compose pieces that were both technically advanced AND beautifully melodic simultaneously. Unlike his predecessors, like Miles and Coltrane, he did not find fascination in dissonance and disharmony. He also always chose to play with other musicians that had that same sensibility in their playing. If I were to compare him to other composers of different genres, I would say he was the equivalent of Chopin in Classical Music, Santana in Rock and Latin Rock and Jon Anderson in Prog Rock.

[@pkats9093]

So cool that Leprechaun is your number one! Admittedly I don’t know the entire vast collection of Chick’s work. But so far the Leprechaun and Mad Hatter are my two favs. True fusion masterpieces! I kinda like the whole fairy tale vibe also

[@CharlesAustin]

Chic Corea’s musical prowess can never be understated. Thank you for the reminder of how truly great he was !! Enjoying all your videos which are so inspiring and positive.

[@thomasrichmond2413]

Not being a musician myself, or a jazz aficionado, I’m impressed with myself that I had 3 of your 10 albums. Three Quartets was way over my head but beautiful. No need to say a word about Romantic Warrior. But my favorite by far was Touchstone. The compositions are still to this day mesmerizing.

[@Luke-db9fc]

"Leprechaun" is Renaissance plus Chick. Chick must have been listening to Renaissance. Thanks for recognizing the concept for Leprechaun is "Bonkers." It really was, and I didn't recognize it.

[@jacobheaney3836]

Great list Andy, Chick is one of my favourite composers along with Joe Zawinul & David Sancious. Heret my ranking: 1) Touchstone (1982) 2) The Leprechaun (1976) 3) My Spanish Heart (1976) 4) The Mad Hatter (1978) 4) Friends (1978) 5) Tap Step (1980) 6) Sundance (1974) 7) Secret Agent (1978) 8) Piano Improvisations (1972 9) Mystic Bridge (1982) 10) Duet (1979)

[@randygirard6691]

One more phase of chick's amazing career has to be the keith jarret chick corea mozart with orchestra phase. Mindblowing! IMHO of course.

[@yeptoo1148]

My favorit chick corea albums: "eye of the beholder", "Time warp" + "three quartets" + "akoustic band" + "now he sings now he sobs" "akoustic band live" + "remembering bud powell" 😊

[@nkkado]

So much about what I like about chick is his compositions. I love the logic - there's a bunch of tunes that I know by him that I've been able to pick out of my brain and transcribe for guitar, like tones for Jones Bones or friends. I also appreciate the children's pieces that are scattered through his career they're really great challenging piano.

[@davenatale850]

Interesting list, romantic warrior is a no brainer. When I'm working in my art studio, light as a feather often gets played also.

[@WELLBRAN]

Great...you really described him for what he was a few albums I did not know so will search for them but most I have already....you really know music. So knowledgeable

[@henrycrinkle821]

I'd never heard The Leprechaun before but on your recommendation I got hold of it and it's superb. So thanks for the heads-up. (My battered copy of 'The Allmusic Guide To Jazz' (3rd ed.) says 'A somewhat forgettable effort').

[@bucksmusic]

Again late here. Great list. He did some incredible stuff in the last 20 years Andy. "Trilogy" to name one straight ahead Jazz trio album from 2013. But my reason for commenting is something you didn't mention. Chick was a great drummer, and his drumming had a big influence on Steve Gadd. Sure you knew that - you can't say everything!

[@NiceGuyJK]

Yes, Touchstone! I love that record.

[@hansmagnusmalcolmsen9354]

One of my many favourites is Live In Montreux, feat. Joe Henderson, Gary Peacock, and Roy Haynes.

[@joewilley8818]

Thank you! Ive got so much Chick and Zappa to listen to.

[@joewilley8818]

Andy, I just listened to some of the Eletrick band and Imp’s Welcome from Leprechaun and they blew my freaking mind! Thanks again!

[@arnaudb.7669]

One of the greats of all time. My 10 (with one rule : no RTF and no Elektric Band in the ranking) : 1- Lyric Suite for Sextet 2- The Leprechaun (but not a fan of Gayle Moran vocals) 3- Three Quartets 4- The Mad Hatter (but not a fan of Gayle Moran vocals) 5- Now He Sings Now He Sobs 6- Friends 7- My Spanish Heart 8- Touchstone 9- Tones for Joan Bones 10- The New Crystal Silence Honourable mention : Corea/Hancock (the polydor one)

[@guillaumechabason3165]

Great video I wish it would last three hours So many albums to talk about from the Magician My favourite track is Masqualero from the Piano improvisations series

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Yes...I need to do a lot more videos about this guy...I may retitle this video based on your comment....

[@ronmurvihill5317]

In 1978 he released four albums including the smurf album and one of his very best, Mad Hatter. My favorite of all of his non RTF recordings is the little known Secret Agent.

[@terryjohnson5275]

Thanks Andy, do please keep on doing these your analysis and sheer enthusiasm about these records and artits makes both an entertaining but also very informative watch. I came here after seeing you on SoT with Pete Pardo then seeing that you major in on jazz rock fusion which I've grown to love over the past 30 years andi which doesnt seem to get that much coverage elsewhere (SoT excepted) I thought I'd stay around and check out as much of your content as I've got the time to do. I've got a fair bit of Chick's electric work and some of his acoustic, and his live 77 album was what helped me be able to listen to more larger band jazz as opposed to piano tro or quartet jazz, and its become a bit of a favourite listen - despite the vocals that thankfully dont appear too often. I have also never really been able to get into free jazz - probably maybe because I dont really understand it? Like the quote on that Ken Burns Jazz video series where one of the commentators says Miles' electric period was like playing tennis with just one racket, free jazz to me often feels a bit like playing tennis with one racket but no strings in a swimming pool on a cruise ship in the middle of a force ten gale. Thing is when in the right mood I really love those 69 - 74 Miles albums, though sometimes , like when watching Keith Jarretgo off on one at the live at Isle of Wight, if i'm not in the right mood I can sort of see where the guy on the Jazz documentary is coming from. Maybe I'll find that with Free jazz if I listen to it at te right time and n the right environment I may find a better appreciation for it - and maybe Chick's ARC will help - I'll certainly give it a go, so thanks for the tip and for giving an indication of what to listen out for. And maybe taht's one of the other reasons for not being able to get into it - actively listening rather than just hearing.

[@dbarker7794]

Shocking choice for number 1! Crystal Silence with Gary Burton would probably be my favorite. Anyway, thanks for talking about these Chick Corea albums. 👍

[@wagstaff6135]

I always loved "Tones for Joan's Bones" and "Now He Sings, Now He Sobs" -- but anything without reference to the Elwrong Hubble (sic) advocacy has an automatic advantage, to me.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thats completely right, those early albums are incredible and I agree with the whole L Ron Hubbard thing too. I rate Chicks first album as the greatest piano trio album of all time.

[@hansmagnusmalcolmsen9354]

Trivia: "Friends" also has an alternative cover - with two frogs, a dolphin, and a rabbit, playing instruments.

[@splifftachyon4420]

Nice to see some love for The Leprechaun...it's long been a favourite of mine.

[@neilloughran4437]

I remember putting off getting Leprechaun because people seemed to say it was weak but I listened to it eventually and loved it! Love Leprechaun's Dream especially... great Rhodes and flute solo... I think "Humpty Dumpty" takes it for me... every now and then I try and play it on piano but it's a bit beyond my current skill level to try and play the melody and retain the harmonic foundation... the live Blue Note in Tokyo concert is bonkers... esp Tumba!

[@devereauxclandestine1272]

Hard to pick a representative top ten from such a large body of work. His duets with Gary Burton are great and I do love the first two RTF albums, but then I like Flora Purims singing . Chicks fender rhodes stuff with Miles on albums like Filmore East was savage! Somebody should have had a quiet word with him about those bloody Smurfs though! : )

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I agree, I could do another top ten now full of albums I love equally to all those I covered. Then I could do another top ten of Chick on other peoples albums. If I just covered his albums with Miles there would be a ton of my favourite albums of all time. I might have to do a few top tens of Chick...

[@georgelamie7001]

Did you know there are 4 bonus tracks on the cd issue of Three Quartets? Must have!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Yes I have listened to them, but i grew up with the vinyl version and know it so well. But that line up was killer...

[@arnaudb.7669]

Please can you do a show about your ten favourite ECM albums ?

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

That's a brilliant idea...i just had a quick glimpse through my vinyl and it's an interesting mix...

[@evertcanaday8100]

Griffith Park collection honorable mention if not top 5.

[@elbib2446]

romantic warrior is my fave chick album,havent heard all of these,interesting list,i like his more recent stuff with vigil band feat charles altura on guitar ,on a different note ,a quick recommend,if you havent heard it,check out mingo lewis flight never ending album,full on jazz rock classic,some of the tunes/arrangements later resurface on al di meolas land of the midnight sun album,but randy sellgren plays guitar on the mingo lewis album,actually just as good as al di meolas versions,and randy sellgren,who i dont know much about,is on fire,a must have kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6mcpaemec-or5o

[@elbib2446]

more randy sellgren guitar,heavy duty player kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4KViaqBetNqp7s

[@adamodimattia]

Chick was my favorite even over Herbie.

[@geoffccrow2333]

Live with herbie hancock

[@ricardoluna7114]

The Mad Hatter??!!

[@geoffccrow2333]

Is sessions

[@mattf9076]

Agree on Chick being more interesting than Jarrett. In fact there are many pianists I like more than Jarrett. They are not in front of Jarrett because of his singing, which I absolutely hate but do my best in filtering it out. I can't explain it either, Jarrett is scary talented but his music does not hit me as hard as the others. I still listen to Jarrett probably 25-30 hours per year.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Jarrett is an immense talent and with so many albums there are so many masterpieces there. I would do a top ten of Jarrett, I have many albums but not enough to give a good overview. I would need to find another angle but I would like to cover him. But I sense an arrogance in his music, it's the same sort of arrogance I hear in Al Di Meola, It's hard to explain, and I love both those artists but that is why for me Jarrett is not quite Chick and Di Meola is not quite McLaughlin.

[@mattf9076]

​@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I will defer to you in determining if there is arrogance in Jarrett's playing, I don't detect it. I say this because many of the albums you have reviewed were a lot more detailed and thorough than I initially thought. What I do know, as a person Jarrett is arrogant, so maybe it naturally does come out in his playing? He gets mad at the audience for making any noise, but then he can squeal like Eric Cartman for 2 hours. If he is so genius or if I were that genius and I let out a squeal like him, I would work diligently on silencing it. It is almost like he is thinking "I am so good and special, I can make noises and people still come to see me". I would wager that if Keith were coming up today, he would not sing or if I he did, it would be 1 instance, because the internet would tear him apart. Pre-Internet people had more power.

[@robertgough508]

I really like your analysis butvget rid of the false hair

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Haha...strange comment...