Return to Forever - The Anthology / 2CD set

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2008 CD collection.

Selected out of their virtual explosion of creativity the band culls tunes from their classic albums Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy (1973), Where Have I Known You Before (1974), the Grammy-winning No Mystery (1975) and their top-selling gold record Romantic Warrior (1976) – 20 tracks that propelled the band into history and made them a titanic influence on an entire generation of players. Free-form FM radio of the 70’s played these tunes alongside rock peers Yes, King Crimson and Genesis and other burgeoning jazz crossovers like Headhunters and Mahavisnu Orchestra in a heady aural stew of progressive jazz & rock.

Mick Guzauski, whom has a Grammy to his credit for Eric Clapton’s Back Home and Latin Grammy’s (Alejandro Sanz, Thalia), approached this with a sincere yet workmanlike esthetic taking the original master tapes right back down to the basics and building it all back up with studio tools certainly not available back then; most are considered cutting edge even in the present. Not a reinvention or reimagination – more a restoration of how the band really sounded before less-than perfect digital transfers and other vagaries of the industry’s rapid transition to CD. You’ll wonder if your stereo really wasn’t that good back then – trust us, it was fine – no one has ever heard Return To Forever like this.

Truly, no one has ever held a collection such as this, uniting the Electric period from the vaults of two major labels (Sony & Universal) on a single must-have set. Nearly all the music from that startling and concussive Electric period is represented here, over two and a half hours of RTF-ness across the two discs. Highlights will be different for every fan though surely the frenetic "Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy" is on most people’s list as well as Stanley’s loping syncopated "Dayride", Lenny’s funky radio hit "Sorceress" and Al’s arena jazz-rock workout "Majestic Dance". Remember this band is comprised of four real leaders: gifted with huge chops and composers of melodic, challenging rhythms

Clearly, contemporary bands like Medeski, Martin and Wood, Rudder, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, the Flecktones et al have felt the imprint of RTF’s iconic canon. Even the hip hop contingent has found riffs for clever sampling and artists including Lupe Fiasco and Dr. Dre acknowledge the power of the group’s grooves.

Designed by Peter Gabriel’s (Real World) Creative Director, Marc Bessant the comprehensive and personal nature of this release is displayed in its ample parts.

Never-before-seen photos of the band, individual recollections from each band member and a deeply honorific and entertaining narrative liner essay from Miles Davis reissue producer Grammy-winner Bob Belden all contribute to the top-notch treatment this collection exudes on every page (and every groove.)

(88807230847)

SKU 88807230847
Barcode # 88807230847
Brand Concord Jazz

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