Visions of the Emerald Beyond
1975 studio album by Mahavishnu Orchestra
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Visions of the Emerald Beyond is the fifth album by the jazz fusion group Mahavishnu Orchestra, and the second released by its second incarnation.
| Visions of The Emerald Beyond | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 1975 | |||
| Recorded | December 1974 | |||
| Studio | Electric Lady Studios, New York City; mixed at Trident Studios, London[1] | |||
| Genre | Jazz fusion | |||
| Length | 40:23 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Ken Scott, Mahavishnu John McLaughlin | |||
| Mahavishnu Orchestra chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | C+[3] |
| The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | [4] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [5] |
According to the liner notes, the album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City from December 4 until December 14, 1974. It was then mixed at Trident Studios in London from December 16 until December 24, 1974.
Poem
This poem by Sri Chinmoy, titled "Visions of the Emerald Beyond", was printed on the album cover.[6]
"No more am I the foolish customer
of a dry, sterile, intellectual breeze.
I shall buy only
the weaving visions of the emerald Beyond.
My heart-tapestry
shall capture the Himalayan Smiles
of my Pilot Supreme.
In the burial of my sunken mind
is the revival of my climbing heart.
In the burial of my deceased mind
is the festival of my all-embracing life."
Track listing
All songs by John McLaughlin except where indicated.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Eternity's Breath - Part 1" | 3:10 |
| 2. | "Eternity's Breath - Part 2" | 4:50 |
| 3. | "Lila's Dance" | 5:37 |
| 4. | "Can't Stand Your Funk" | 2:10 |
| 5. | "Pastoral" | 3:41 |
| 6. | "Faith" | 2:01 |
| No. | Title | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cosmic Strut" | Narada Michael Walden | 3:21 |
| 2. | "If I Could See" | 1:17 | |
| 3. | "Be Happy" | 3:33 | |
| 4. | "Earth Ship" | 3:43 | |
| 5. | "Pegasus" | 1:48 | |
| 6. | "Opus 1" | 0:25 | |
| 7. | "On the Way Home to Earth" | 4:45 |
Personnel
Mahavishnu Orchestra
- John McLaughlin – guitars, vocals
- Jean-Luc Ponty – violin, vocals, electric violin, baritone violin
- Ralphe Armstrong – bass guitar, vocals, contrabass
- Narada Michael Walden – percussion, drums, vocals, clavinet
- Gayle Moran – keyboards, vocals
Others
- Carol Shive – 2nd violin, vocals
- Russell Tubbs – alto and soprano sax
- Philip Hirschi – cello
- Bob Knapp – flute, trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals, wind
- Steve Kindler – 1st violin
Charts
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[7] | 74 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[8] | 32 |
| US Billboard 200[9] | 68 |
| US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard)[10] | 18 |
