After attending an intimate set at Shippensburg U, I saw the Mahavishnu Orchestra open for Zappa on April 28, 1973 (weeks after Birds of Fire was released) at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. 👍

I was introduced to Mahavishnu Orchestra by a Drummer Buddy of mine we would hang out and just listen to the Albums Inner Mounting Flame, Birds of Fire, & Trident Sessions over & over Amazing Work.

I speak for many here when I say THANK YOU for doing this😇

Love Gary Husband too.

Beautiful, beautiful stuff here man... You are very good at making these documentaries! I'm so sad I'm not too up on my luck financially that I cannot support you but the day will come. You deserve to be supported and that subscriber number, even for the heavy content you are putting out, is way too low.

John McLaughlin is the first virtuoso guitarist I noticed. I remember watching him on TV with Mahavishnu at my grandparents' home in Los Angeles around 1976. I was two or three at the time. I just remember watching him with that odd double neck SG and hearing that trippy music. I remember my uncle and my grandfather were raving about the talent of this band. As other players came down the pike I compared them to McLaughlin. When I heard Return to Forever and DiMeola I compared his playing to McLaughlin. I'm not going to say one player is better than the other. Both are amazing. When they did the live album with Paco that was just perfect. My uncle and my dad played that album often.

Mclaughin was literally life changing to me. I had the Mahavishnu music book. The solos were not transcribed, just a suggestion of what mode or scale to use. Very liberating and the reason my first band was a jazz fusion band playing in odd time signatures!

There were times when listening to this while walking through the park that I was near tears reliving the memories of the effect the Mahavishnu Orchestra had on my life. It's amazing that 50 year old memories of music can have that much power today. You are also an excellent storyteller Andy.

Interestingly, ‘Emergency’ is Andy (XTC) Partridge’s favourite album. Andy should interview Andy.

Like most artists I ever became a fan of, I started my journey with John McLaughlin later in his career. I actually got the 1984 "Mahavishnu" album on cassette after I had become a huge fan of Jeff Beck. I had heard so many stories about how John and Jeff were the best fusion players (I know some will take umbrage about including Beck, but whatever) and I know they had much respect for each other. This album and group are not apparently treated as canon MO by all and since it utilized synth guitar and it was past the 1971-1976 Fusion era, I suppose that is why. Still, it got my toes wet. When I finally got the CD of "Birds of Fire", my ears where opened to a colossally talented group and extremely overwhelming sound compositionally and performatively. It had speed, power, but there was some delicacy on a couple of songs. I knew then why Beck had so admired McLaughlin. Additionally, Billy Cobham's drumming was as amazing as John's guitar to my hearing. I have picked a few more McLaughlin-related albums (including the Guitar Trio with Al Di Meola & Paco de Lucia) , Shakti and "Inner Mounting Flame"), but I haven't experienced the Apocalypse-era albums in full. Now my curiosity has been stirred, so I hope to continue to explore more as budgeting allows. If there was a time machine, I would love to see the Mahavishnu Orchestra/Jeff Beck tour of 1975! I have seen Narada Michael Walden with Jeff on tour in 2011 and love all the writing & playing he did on "Wired". Thanks for this overview of an amazing band!

Can never get enough Mahavishnu content. I first learned of them through my older brother. He went on and on about the warmup act at an ELP concert: How "Victor McLaughlin" double neck guitarist and how his band made ELP seem corny and lame! My brother was lucky enough to see them 2nd bill to Zappa as well. Everyone should check out that video where Zappa drummers and Ruth Underwood gathered to share their Zappa experiences. A dominant topic was how the Mahavishnu Orchestra affected them.

The original lie-up of the Mahavishnu Orchestra was truly a gift from the Almighty. The ability of this quintet to explore, probe and feed off one another was the thing that set them apart at the time. While using McLaughlin's music as the platform, they went into the universe of the unknown with their improvs. This was especially true in their live performances. I can empathize and sympathize with those who wanted a reunion of that original crew, but it was never meant to be. That was unfortunate for the fans, and I believe they may have been able to attain an even greater legacy.

Honky Tonk Chateau👏🏼😂 Amazing Mahavishnu content as always Andy… I actually had the pleasure of seeing a very late incarnation of Mahavishnu live at the Hollywood Bowl in the 80’s

Gary is one of the greatest

Finally ! Andy talking about Mahavishnu Orchestra and John McFlipflop-about bleedin' time...

The Lost Trident Session is my favorite. Not as fiery as Inner Mounting Flame but has a deeper emotional heft to it for me. I love to watch the old footage of the original lineup, completely mind blowing to this day. Billy was such a powerhouse, they all were. Just a visceral musical experience…

As a so called fan of intriguing music I never heard of the John McLachlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra before I found this channel. 😯 Love what I have heard from them so far. 😍

I was absolutely fascinated by the back cover of The Inner Mounting Flame. John's appearance was so very different. The short hair! He looked so adult. His serenity and intensity heightened by the simplicity of his T-shirt. And then there was the Les Paul Custom, which seemed the perfect guitar for this astonishing "new" master to be wielding. Alas, that may not have been the guitar he used on the album. But in my mind it will always be so. Visions of the Ebony Beyond! A video of yours recently prompted me to at long last seek out Apocalypse, and Visions of the Emerald Beyond. So it was off to my go-to used cd's establishment, and bingo! Got 'em. Enjoying tremendously. TIMF does remain my favorite. I love his tone, and his approach, the fluidity of the jaggedy. A shout-out to the wonderfully cheeky wah-wah "WOW" that concludes The Dance of Maya.

Nice work. Might also want to mention that McLaughlin collaborated with Cobham and Goodman prior to formation of Mahavishnu on McLaughlin's "My Goal's Beyond" album.

I was blessed to see the Mahavishnu Orchestra many times in the 70's, beginning in 1974 at Winterland, SF, and other venues around the SF Bay Area. That was an incredibly exciting time to go to concerts and get inspired to play music.

Great video Andy!!

I also Like Visions of the emerald beyond the Best but by a narrow margin. over Inner mounting flames and Birds birds of fire. unfortunately I was not quite old enough to have seen them live .It's nice you can find that on KZfaq.

A very nice review. I was at the Central Park (Wollman Skating Rink) Mahavishnu Orchestra concert. I still remember the stunning effect the band created after just the first song. People were absolutely mesmerized. Sadly, nobody at the concert knew it work be they last (at lease in New York).

John’s mum was a violin player, which was the main reason he wanted a violin in the M.O.

great essay Andy! I wish I could have seen the first incarnation of Mahavishnu Orch., live back in the day. I had never thought about Mahavishnu Orch. being an extension of where Jimi Hendrix was heading before he died.

Love John McLaughlin and anything he does. First saw him with Shakti in 76 at a jazz festival in Juan la Pins. The preceding band? Billy Cobham. Just a boy out of high school from Canada. Also saw Jan Hammer's band a few years later. He also played with Jeff Beck on Wired.

The original Mahavishnu Orchestra was the best band I ever saw. Andy, have you ever discussed John's album Devotion? It's like his redheaded stepchild, but I love it.

Awesome video. Informative and enjoyable. Thank you Andy👍😎 from Australia

Oh, Gawd. Yet ANOTHER valentine to John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. HELL YEAH! BRING IT ON!

One of Your Very Best Episodes Andy !! in '75 I was tiring of my Rock Lp's and could play most every Song on Them and was looking for something New , I started High School and met a Transfer Student Who turned me on To the M.O. RTF , Tony Williams etc , And Now I could't play more than a Section or Two of any of these records . It was the start of a Quest for great music .Have You heard the Version of Sister Andrea from the unreleased Jeremy Steig Sessions , w/ Hammer ,Cobham and the Brilliant Tommy Bolin !! jan Likes this Version even better than the M.O. Version . Thank You and keep up the great work . Loving all the Wonderful Comments as Well .

Have all these OG albums. Amazing!

In the phase of putting the band together, after Billy's involvement, John's first choice was definitely Jean-Luc Ponty as violinist and Tony Levin as bassist. But that didn't work for various reasons. After Jan was recruited, Gene Perla was also initially discussed. Rick was ultimately chosen as the final member because of his time together in London with John. But everything was fine and brilliant the way it was in the end. For me, Mahavishnu was and still is the best, hottest and most groundbreaking band in the world.🙏 By the way, Jan tried to bend tones very early on using a Bode frequency shifter with his fender rhodes. But his playing on the Minimoog certainly made him the absolutely unattainable master of fusion-jazz-rock improvisational art. After the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Rick accompanied Stan Getz on a European tour, replaced - also on tour - Stanley Clarke with Chick Corea's Return to Forever, and is also said to have been heard alongside Jeff Beck.

Mahavishnu Orchestra has always been my All-Time favorite Band! And I love all the off shoots that come directly from 'MO',quite incredible! Great video Andy,as Jeff Beck is the artist I followed the most,but I always loved Jazz-Rock-Fusion most of all!

I was in a power trio and we covered the live version of Freeway Jam from the Jeff Beck w/ Jan Hammer Group into an abbreviated version of Sunlit Path from Between Nothingness and Eternity. Got several versions from rehearsals and one from our only gig on tape. Gig was video taped as well. Love this music!

Fantastic video and fascinating account of a band that I missed at the time. Guess I was too young and dependent on radio safe airplay. Thanks, Andy.

Tony - You the MAN!!! I was blissed to have seen/heard the Mahavishnu Orchestra perform at (3) different venues in Chicago in '73 & '74. Every performance was a musical epiphany for moi.

Great history and narration Andy!

Thank you for another excellent video. I think this band opened the door for a lot of other bands to explore jazz fusion. It's unfortunate that by the 1980's, fusion had lost the progressive ethos and energy. Even many great fusion musicians had to resort to making albums of hair salon music. Not sure it will ever quite come back, but I still hope it does in some new way.

His playing on Gemini/Double Image from Miles Davis Live Evil is what got me into jazz. Very different from his later, faster, stuff but equally intense.

Great video !! Cheers

Fantastic. Keep up the good work !

"Visions of the Emerald Beyond" is an incredible album. I can still remember hearing "Eternity's Breath" for the first time and being overwhelmed by its spiritual power and beauty. Perhaps if John had released it and "Apocalypse" under a different band name they would have been better received. But the split was bitter and fans were upset. John didn't help matters by claiming the second group was the true Mahavishnu Orchestra.

Strange that I never gave this orchestra a listen because I did listen to Cobham Mc laughlin, Ponty, Walden and Hammer there still is something to discover that,s nice great docu

I'll take quirky over a perfect AI feeling production any day!!!

While i do love the earlier albums as well i need to go +1 on your praise for VOTEB. Yes! Truly one of the best albums ever made! Have listened to it for 35-40 years but it´s been weeks now so tonight´s the night. Such a remarkable record that´s kept growing for decades even though I already loved it on first listen.

whoops you did it again Andy - enjoy reliving my favourite band ever's history from someone who appreciates them as much as I do . My memories of hearing - Inner Mounting Flame for the 1st time - lifting it off my TurnTable - looking at the disc silently and slipping it back in the sleave - thinking - I am not exactly sure what I just heard - but it was like nothing else I ever heard - could nt listen to it for a week - then tried it again - and was forever in love with it ! - Then finding his 2 Douglas recordings DEVOTION and MY GOALS BEYOND , in a small shop in SF . CHEERS MATE !

What a fantastic video have a wonderful day Andy ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊 also i am a fan of John McLaughlin to be honest

I bought Birds of Fire when it came out, I made a cheesy super 8 film for my English class in H.S. and used Celestial Terrestrial Commuters as the soundtrack. Lots of blank expressions from the class!😄 Also, I don't know if it was ever fixed, but my cover has a major typo on the back cover, it lists Rick Laird as Rick Lard!

In April 1973 I saw the Mahavishnu Orchestra in an old art deco movie theater built in the twenties, the sound was huge. Even though it had upper and lower balconies, I'd estimate only 1200 to 1500 seats max. Three months later Beck, Bogert & Appice played the same room and, again, the acoustics were perfect. Years later I worked for a company Jan Hammer called one day to order some cabling and connectors. My music nut buddy took the call and asked Jan why he didn't tour with Jeff Beck or Mahavishnu anymore. Jan said he made ten times more money writing snippets of music for TV and never had to leave town. That long green gets the job done.

Would love to see you interview John or Jan, please!

Can’t be arsed with all the philosophical patter, for the most part. I’m too old to be bothered. This is why I’m subscribed. And for the humour, of course. More biscuits? Excellent vid. Mahavishnu to Infinity. Thanks.

Thnx to Andy and Gary (great thoughts) : "Mahavishnu shockt the world to submission " ... absolutely

YES ... Thank you for sharing this to the world!

Thank you very much for the background and history of this band. I learnt so much of a band I have loved from the very beginning.

For many McLaughlin fans, this replayed what we already know. But Andy, thank you for this tasteful brief history. Beautifully done and was truly a gift. In short, The Mahavishnu Orchestra kinda ruined expecting much from other musicians. I do appreciate and listen to many genres but I cannot resist comparing them to John's first band and all the rest than came after. His output was/is amazing. But I will always hold, Visions of the Emerald Beyond and the epitome of what musicians can do. That recording is something else and that is truly an understatement. THANK YOU AGAIN!

I am the "public" who DID buy Emergency! in 1972. I wore out In a Silent Way. When Maha hit I was ready to have my mind blown. When I fake John's style I just let the hands go nuts and throw in a 5th or a root or a dominant seventh here and there and folk are fooled.

Thanks Andy

Stu Goldberg is awesome. Check out his Solo, Duo,Trio album (with Coryel and L. Subramanium) as well as his work with The One Truth Band.

Thank you! Very well done!! I saw the first Mahavishnu Orchestra three times, and they werestartingly good, from first note to last!!!

Apocalypse - if Jimi was alive, he would have been listening exclaiming: "damn, damn".

Looking forward to watching this one :)

Have seen them twice, mind blowing!

The Mahavishnu Orchestra coincided with the maturation of the boomers. By the late seventies boomers were out of university and starting careers and families. Our musical interests were losing influence as the industry concentrated on simpler formulaic styles like disco and punk. Soon the beginnings of consolidation of the music industry would make the genesis of more eclectic music even harder. I remember feeling like we were entering something of a musical desert at the time.

Another great video, matey!

As a child, I was aware of the Mahavishnu Orchestra but never heard their music. I had an idea that the music was connected to the Counter-Culture and the Eastern nexus introduced into Western music by George Harrison. I think I imagined them being an amalgam of Ravi Shankar and a Buddhist Spiritual Retreat complete with incense, patchouli oil and plush rugs. But when I finally heard them I realized how wrong my stereotype was. This was a radical musical synthesis. I admire the fact that John went by the name of The Mahavishnu after Sri Chinmoy named him that. The guru realized his greatness and acknowledged it accordingly. Cheers.

Great great video a lot of insight comments from Gary husband or very insightful wonderful guest I only listen to birds of Fire enjoy it tremendously and I've got Santana and John McLaughlin few albums a co-produced if you look at it from a Santana fan I personally was disappointed with it but if I change my perspective and look at it from a McLaughlin fan I enjoy it and appreciate what they've done anyhow carry on

The following was never heard at the end of a Mahavishnu concert: "Well that was some lovely jazz, should we go for drinks?" - More like "Dude. You're here for the late concert? You won't need the acid/shrooms/mescaline, save it for afterwards, you're gonna want it to put your mind back together! Pass the doobie, please...".

Thanks for those. I only knew the Santana. Brian Auger's was surprisingly good, but he's no Larry Young!

Lightning only strikes one. There times from the beginning of a measure to the end the mesaure there was no way to see who was taking which note of the lead. Five instruments in one mind, even though I was hanging onto the edge of the stage.

6:35 in other words, Jerry would produce the Hendrix "bends" vibe John couldn't

👍👊❤

Wow; I've had Inner Mounting Flame and Birds of Fire, Visions of the Emerald Beyond, and then, much later, the Lost Trident Sessions. Andy recommends "Visions..." in one of his other videos, and it is definitely excellent.

This is a really good video! Very informative and interesting. Any chance of doing something similar with Return to Forever?

Back in the 70s, I picked up the double live festival lp Mar Y Sol (another cheap punt in the second hand market stall), which features an insane version of The Noonward Race. Peaked too soon? If you want a thrill, quite possibly. Search it out. But there are other moods that are satisfied by the 'studio' albums. I bought The Inner Mt Flame next, and finished with Between Nothingness & Eternity and Visions of the Emerald Beyond. Enjoyed Shakti too.

I’ve been meaning to ask you, Andy….were you ever on the ‘One Word mailing list with Marco Anderson and Massitmo?

John Mclauglin was One Bad Yogi!

Did u mean to say, as soon as John arrived in NY (not London) for recording In a Silent Way. I always said someone should do a documentary on this band n its influences. Now we have one. Thanks

Thanks for all you do Andy. Wonderful concise Video for anyone newly interested in The Mahavishnu Orchestra. Have a question, you made a comment about John recording with Miles at a club in 1970. It is a small club in my home town called The Cellar Door. I was wondering if it is a known in the UK ? I was an incredible space to hear music, but only about 150/200 seats. Caught so much music there when I was a teenager.

There was literally no way Mahavishnu Orchestra could have lasted a day longer than it did. Because the band was more of a chemical reaction than a music group. All this kinetic energy produced a once in a lifetime fission reaction of tremendous talent and creativity. Mahavishnu belongs to a particular time and place, but the music they produced is eternal.

I'll try Emerald Beyond one more time, if you say so.

John saved the boring Sister Andrea with his most magnificent solo

Andy, I really enjoy your KZfaq channel 👍 I’ve always been a huge Mahavishnu fan. On a side note would you be so kind as to tell me what program or app you’re using to produce the cool video fx you are using ? Thx so much ✌️❤️🎵

Mahavishnu May be the only thing we all agree on.

Great video. A bit of a change of format: more edited, Andy not on screen but instead band images, a bit faster-pace. I like it, though for a change sake. Keep doing your more traditional videos as well.

If Visions of the Emerald Beyond is the greatest album of all time, can we agree that Eternity's Breath 1 & 2 is the greatest song of all time? Just maybe...

19:08 more like there is one people

What I’ve never heard discussed is John McLaughlin incorporating the 12 string guitar in the music. Unusual choice, did he see Jimmy Page using the twin neck or was it the other way round?

I love your stuff. I understand the complexities, but if you could play examples, more people could understand your points.

Funny, they were going to 'change the world through music' and collapsed due to the same petty egos that cause all problems.

Andy, I love your content & I love Mahavishnu. However, your seemingly purposeful decision to include flubs in narration & breathing & swallowing sounds between tales is distracting at best, jarring at worst. Maybe you're going for a quirky, DIY vibe but I don't think this is the best way to achieve that. Perhaps hiring an editor would help. Better presentation would enhance your stellar content. Just one man's opinion. Cheers!

Well done Andy, top notch!