1. Meeting Of The Spirits (6:52)
2. Dawn (5:10)
3. Noonward Race (6:28)
4. A Lotus On Irish Streams (5:39)
5. Vital Transformation (6:16)
6. The Dance Of Maya (7:17)
7. You Know, You Know (5:07)
8. Awakening (3:32)
The Inner Mounting Flame – 1971
This album changed my life. After mowing a neighbors lawn and making $5 I got on my bike and rode down to my favorite record shop. While looking through the bins I noticed the album cover, I thought the flame was way cool, so I bought it and brought home. I soon as I dropped the needle down and heard the first chord, . . I was scared and intrigued at the same time, I thought, OMG what is this music. Well as they say, « The rest is history ». I’ve been a fan ever since.
It was 1971 and I was a freshman music major heavily influenced by Wes, Johnny S and Jim Hall. Several friends and I drove to Columbia MO to see this new band, the Mahavishnu Orchestra playing at the University. Inner Mounting Flame just came out that day and we picked up a copy at the local record store before heading to the concert. Needless to say the intensity, creativeness, and musicality of this ensemble left us in awe. On our drive back home it must have been at least 30 minutes before anyone could utter a comment. It was THAT GOOD. I’ve been an avid follower of John and his music ever since. Congratulations John on your illustrious and long standing career of music excellence. Keep it coming!!
I will never forget the first time I heard the opening track on « Inner Mounting Flame ». As a kid who grew up playing violin and getting to know the qualities of classical music, became obsessed by progressive rock as a teenager but somehow found rock music not enough challenging for my taste. Then I heard John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and I was thrilled! Powerful, fast, poetic, intelligent, symphonic music that still lives and gives me goosebumbs when I hear it. This first album was also an outstanding recording technically, and it’s a shame it hasn’t been released on SACD in 24 bit and HD resolution!
The man » guitar gods » look up to! Listen here and you will never wonder why.