Apocalypse (Mahavishnu Orchestra album)
1974 studio album by Mahavishnu Orchestra
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Apocalypse is the third studio album by the jazz fusion band Mahavishnu Orchestra. Released in 1974 by Columbia Records, it is the first album of the second lineup of the Mahavishnu Orchestra and features the London Symphony Orchestra. It was produced by George Martin, who regarded it as "one of the best records [he had] ever made".[6] It is the fourth album in its chronology after Between Nothingness and Eternity.
| Apocalypse | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 1974 | |||
| Recorded | March 1974 | |||
| Studio | AIR Studios (London) | |||
| Genre | Jazz fusion | |||
| Length | 52:23 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | George Martin | |||
| Mahavishnu Orchestra chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | C[2] |
| Sputnikmusic | 3.5/5[3] |
| The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | [4] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [5] |
The back cover features a poem by Sri Chinmoy as well as a group photo of those who created the album.
Track listing
All music composed by John McLaughlin; lyrics to "Smile of the Beyond" composed by "Mahalakshmi" Eve McLaughlin.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Power of Love" | 4:36 |
| 2. | "Vision Is a Naked Sword" | 14:16 |
| 3. | "Smile of the Beyond" | 7:56 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Wings of Karma" | 6:12 |
| 2. | "Hymn to Him" | 19:23 |
Personnel
- John McLaughlin – guitars, vocal composer
- Gayle Moran – keyboards, vocals
- Jean-Luc Ponty – electric violin, electric baritone violin
- Ralphe Armstrong – bass guitar, vocals
- Narada Michael Walden – drums, percussion, vocals
with
- Michael Tilson Thomas – conductor, piano
- Michael Gibbs – orchestration
- Marsha Westbrook – viola
- George Martin – producer
- Carol Shive – violin, vocals
- Philip Hirschi – cello, vocals
- Geoff Emerick – engineer
Charts
| Chart (1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[7] | 82 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[8] | 29 |
| Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)[9] | 30 |
| US Billboard 200[10] | 43 |
| US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard)[11] | 10 |