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FM Broadcast 9.4 - This could be considered as one of the best live documents of the band I have ever heard. While there is the faintest amount of FM static in the background during quiet parts, this does not distract in any way the absolute mastery of music that this band delivered. Just stunning, and I can imagine how many young musicians must have been inspired after hearing this band live. Do yourself a favor and grab this, it’s phenomenal. My Father’s Place, Roslyn, NY 3rd April, 1974 1. -Can You Understand 2. -Let It Grow 3. -Kiev 4. -Things I Don’t Understand 5. -Ashes Are Burning 6. -Prologue
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Boston 1973 - Soundboard 9.7 - Professionally recorded for broadcast, as you can expect with a jazz rock combo the sound has to be extraordinary due to the nature of the musicianship and sound they each produce - in other words it is easier to manage the sound when it isn't over distorted and ear-splittingly loud. This is, as a result, a lovely sounding tape (during the quiet sections there is some minor tape noise in the background but it disappears as soon as the music starts). New York 1974 - Audience 9.0 - I had a hard time figuring out whether this was an aud or a soundboard because of the proximity of the vocals. I determined it had to be a semi-professional audience recording because of the crowd responses being pretty well picked up in the tape after songs...if it was a board tape that would not be as audible (if at all). But it could still easily pass as a board tape if you didn't take that into account - so is it a board tape? It is very good for this venue, Carnegie Hall acoustics did not lend themselves well to loud rock music, if this is indeed an audience tape they did a fantastic job! Return To Forever Jazz Workshop Boston, MA, USA May 15th, 1973 Disc 1 01. Announcer intro 0:28 02. Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy 3:39 03. Chick introduces the band 1:23 04. Spain 13:49 05. CC intro 0:50 06. Sometime Ago 31:08 Chick Corea - Fender Rhodes Stanley Clarke - bass Bill Connors - guitar Steve Gadd - drums Mingo Lewis - congas and percussion Disc 2 Carnegie Hall, New York, NY July 3, 1974 1. Applause - Ambiance 1:40 2. Beyond the Seventh Galaxy 3:18 3. Song Intro by Chick Corea 2:08 4. Song to the Pharoah Kings 15:42 5. Song Intro by Chick Corea 0:51 6. The Shadow of Lo 9:48 7. Song Intro by Stanley Cl… 0:52 8. Where Have I Known You B… 6:09 9. Stanley Clarke bass solo 5:12 10. Song Intro 0:43 11. The Vulcan Empire 10:05 12. Closing Announcements 1:47 Chick Corea - keyboards Stanley Clarke - bass Al DiMeola - guitar Lenny White - drums
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Audience 9.0 -A sparkling audience tape that captures a band that is firing on all cylinders in frightening precision and dexterity (all members). Good bass presence here, no rumble just nice and solid which helps give clarity to everything else. Return To Forever Jahrhunderthalle Frankfurt, Germany 1976-03-21 Disc 1 101 Medieval Overture 6:01 102 Band Intros 2:19 103 Sorceress 12:25 104 The Magician 6:41 105 The Duel Of The Jester And The Tyrant 12:59 Disc 2 201 Lenny White Acoustic Set Introduction 1:20 202 The Romantic Warrior 12:20 203 Chick Piano Solo - Trio (Stanley, Lenny) On Green Dolphin Street, La Fiesta 9:22 204 Al Acoustic Guitar improvisation - RTF 11:37 205 Stanley Acoustic Bass improvisation incl. Bass Folk Song - RTF 10:52 206 Lenny White Drum Solo 10:39 207 Space Circus - Lopsy Lu - Coda 15:47
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Pro 9.6 - Sharpness, precision, dynamic, and beautifully clear. A tiny amount of tape noise barely perceptible unless the room is silent and trust me, that is just me looking for something to be critical of…there are no faults with this recording. RETURN TO FOREVER CALDERONE CONCERT HALL, HEMPSTEAD,NY,USA NOVEMBER 22,1975 CD1 1-INTRO 2-VULCAN WORLDS 3-TALK 4-SHADOW OF LO 5-TALK 6-ROMANTIC WARRIOR CD2 1-CHICK'S SOLO > LA FIESTA 2-AL'S SOLO 3-STANLEY'S SOLO 4-LENNY'S SOLO 5-OUTRO Chick Corea Al DiMeola Stanley Clarke Lenny White
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Soundboard 9.7 - Pro recording in a live in-studio setting so it better be as good as it gets, and this is. Aside from minor tape hiss (only noticeable during the lulls), this is near perfection. Return To Forever Electric Lady Studios New York City, NY, USA 1975-06-xx 1. Chick Introduces the Band 1:18 2. Day Ride 3:34 3. Beyond the Seventh Galaxy 3:38 4. The Shadow of Lo 9:22 5. No Mystery 6:28 6. Vulcan Worlds > Stanley Speaks 16:00 7. Celebration Suite 15:35 Lenny White: Drums Stanley Clarke: Bass Al DiMeola: Guitar Chick Corea: Keyboards
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Audience 9.1 - Great sound and atmosphere, just as good as you want it to be. Some tape hiss present during quieter passages, which is being nitpicky though. This recording shines with just the right amount of headroom and the atmosphere is special as the crowd is LISTENING to every note you can clearly tell. Return To Forever Civic Auditorium Santa Monica, CA April 8, 1977 Disc 1 01 The Endless Night 02 The Musician 03 Hello Again 04 So Long Mickey Mouse 05 Musicmagic 06 Do You Ever Disc 2 07 Come Rain Or Shine 08 Serenade 09 The Moorish Warrior and the Spanish Princess 10 Spanish Fantasy 11 On Green Dolphin Street 12 Musicmagic (Reprise)
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Stockholm 1972 SDBRD 9.1 - Some minor tape hiss present but otherwise it’s quite good for its age. It was recorded well, I mean, the sound to me is very organic and that suits this style of music. Princeton 1973 SDBRD 9.3 - First thing you’ll notice is the lively, massive drums, and a good, round, full bass followed by sharp and clear guitar tone. A very very nice board tape! Nottingham 1975 SDBRD 8.7 - A somewhat subdued sound (tape age?) but pretty clear and could maybe just use a little EQ to bring out the frequencies…and also a little volume boost but other than that it’s a good tape that could be great. There’s a lot of communication with the crowd, more so than usual. Return To Forever Dramaten Stockholm Jazzdays Stockholm, Sweden September 17, 1972 FM Disc 1 01 -Band intro by Chick 02 -Spain 03 -Children's Song 04 -500 Miles High 05 -Noon Song 06 -Matrix 07 -Radio Announcer Chick Corea - Fender Rhodes and Acoustic Piano Joe Farrell - Flute and Soprano Saxophone Stanley Clarke - Acoustic Bass Airto Moreira - Drums Disc 2 Princeton University Princeton, NJ 1973-11-30 01 -Theme To The Mothership 02 -Bass Folk Song 03 -Children's Song 1 04 -Space Circus 05 -Captain Senor Mouse 06 -The Game Maker Chick Corea -keys Stanley Clarke -bass Lenny White -drums Bill Connors -guitar Disc 3 University of Nottingham Nottingham, U.K. February 22, 1975 1. -beyond the 7th galaxy 2. -song to the Pharoah kings - Vulcan worlds 3. -the shadow of Lo 4. -talk Disc 4 5. -Vulcan worlds 6. -talk and tuning 7. -no mystery 8. -talk 9. -celebration suite Chick Corea: keyboards Al Di Meola: guitar Stanley Clarke: bass Lenny White: drums
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FM Broadcast 9.3 - Very well recorded, this one can be fully cranked because there’s great instrument separation allowing for a full and wide (as in panned) sound mix. Rick Derringer 'Whisky-A-Go-Go 1977' February 8th, 1977 01. Radio Intro 02. Still Alive and Well 03. Let Me In 04. Teenage Love Affair 05. Sittin' By The Pool 06. One Eyed Jack 07. Sailor 08. Beyond The Universe 09. Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo (inluding You Really Got Me) 10. Roll With Me 11. Rebel Rebel 12. Keep On Makin' Love 13. Let's Make It
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Audience 9.6 - This sound is so real, so present, and SO LOUD but thankfully hangs together without shredding the tape it is stored on…mostly. On occasion there’s some minor breaking up in a certain frequency due to the sheer volume and proximity to the microphone but to be honest that is kind of what makes this recording such a revelation for me. I just never predicted that King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table would be as heavy and manic as it is here in an expertly recorded live setting. Rick Wakeman is a badass! Rick Wakeman Convention Center Anaheim, CA November 11, 1975 Disc 1 01 Intro 02 The Journey 03 Recollection 04 Catherine Howard 05 Lancelot & The Black Knight 06 Down And Out Disc 2 07 Anne Boleyn 08 The Forest 09 Arthur & Guinevere 10 Merlin The Magician 11 Catherine Parr 12 Hungarian Rhapsody 13 The Battle