Turn It Over
1970 studio album by the Tony Williams Lifetime
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Turn It Over is the second album by the American jazz fusion group the Tony Williams Lifetime, released in 1970 via Polydor Records.[2][3] It was rereleased by Verve Records in 1997, as part of Spectrum: The Anthology.[4] Williams is again joined by guitarist John McLaughlin and organist Larry Young, along with former Cream member Jack Bruce on bass guitar.
| Turn It Over | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | December 1970 | |||
| Recorded | July 1970[1] | |||
| Studio | Olmsteads, New York City | |||
| Genre | Jazz fusion, jazz-rock | |||
| Length | 34:50 38:36 (reissue) | |||
| Label | Polydor | |||
| Producer | Monte Kay, Jack Lewis, Tony Williams | |||
| The Tony Williams Lifetime chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
Jack Bruce joined the group for Turn It Over, providing bass and vocals.[5] Tony Williams was excited by the amplification he could employ during the recording of the album; his liner notes repeatedly instruct the listener to play the album at a high volume.[3] Williams described the album as his version of the MC5's Kick Out the Jams.[6] "Big Nick" is a version of the John Coltrane composition.[7]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| Robert Christgau | B+[9] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [10] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD |  [11] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [12] |
The Omaha World-Herald wrote that the Lifetime "is likely the most forceful group on the pop music scene."[13] AllMusic called the album "one of the more intense pieces of early jazz-rock fusion around," writing that "in parts, it's like Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys with much better chops."[8] JazzTimes praised Larry Young's "fearsome long tones and wobbly distortions" and "psychedelic, dissonant harmonies."[14] Vibe deemed Turn It Over "one of the most violent, raucous recordings ever to issue from a noted jazz musician."[5] The Guardian called it "tougher" than the debut, singling out the performance of "Big Nick".[7]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "To Whom It May Concern – Them" | Chick Corea | 4:18 |
| 2. | "To Whom It May Concern – Us" | Corea | 2:58 |
| 3. | "This Night This Song" | Tony Williams | 3:45 |
| 4. | "Big Nick" | John Coltrane | 2:43 |
| 5. | "Right On" | Williams | 1:52 |
| 6. | ""Once I Loved"" | Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes, Ray Gilbert | 5:05 |
| 7. | "Vuelta Abajo" | Williams | 4:57 |
| 8. | "A Famous Blues" | John McLaughlin | 4:15 |
| 9. | "Allah Be Praised" | Larry Young | 4:39 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | "One Word" (originally released as a UK single, 1970) | McLaughlin | 3:45 |
| Total length: | 38:36 | ||
Personnel
- Tony Williams – drums, vocals on "This Night This Song", "Once I Loved", "A Famous Blues"
- John McLaughlin – guitar, vocals on "A Famous Blues"
- Larry Young – organ
- Jack Bruce – bass, lead vocals on "One Word"