-
Brand New - Sealed -
Audience 7.6 - Don't confuse this with anything they committed to vinyl back in the day. Not what I would call restrained Italian progressive music here - more like power prog pre-metal heavy riff bashing Italian flavored rock! Killer killer killer. While it is an aud with limited dynamic range due to tape limitations, certainly the power and glory comes across well enough. What a revelation for me to hear this band live. I certainly have a new appreciation for them! Hells yeah! -
Audience 7.3 - While not quite as good as the Messina show, this still presents a powerful representation of the live Il Rovescio Della Medaglia. A little of the distinction and separation of instruments not coming through as well but I found plenty to appreciate on this one as well as the other -
Audience 8.5 - Good levels, not the best separation of instruments but it is very live and active, really kind of sounds accurate to what you may have heard if you were sitting center about 20 rows back. -
Audience 7.5 -
Soundboard 9.2 and Audience 9.0 -
FM Broadcast 9.6 - This recording is beautiful, but not without a fair share of hiccups, and I don’t mean in the recording itself, but in the happenings on stage. This was a large and complex production (featuring an orchestra) and there were bound to be some technical problems. Now, if you can appreciate that, and you understand shit happens, then I highly encourage you to dive into this one because when it is good, it is extremely powerful and intoxicating. I will say that even though sometimes the equipment fails (bad mic cable, etc.), it just reinforces the appreciation for the efforts that go into a live stage production and broadcast. Renaissance Academy of Music, NYC 1974.05.17 Disc 1 01. -WNEW-FM intro 02. -intro music 03. -Can You Understand 04. -Black Flame 05. -Carpet of the Sun 06. -Cold Is Being 07. -Things I Don't Understand 08. -Intro To Running Hard Disc 2 09. -Running Hard 10. -Ashes Are Burning 11. -Mother Russia 12. -Prologue -
Various sources ranging from 9.0 to 9.7 - High quality live and studio. -
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 -
Soundboard 8.9 -
Soundboard 9.1 - You can hear some bleed through during quiet times and when band is not playing but when they are playing it is loud and punchy, good mix. -
Audience 9.5 - This is what happens when professional equipment is brought in by an audience member who knows what he is doing. Could be released officially, it’s so good. -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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