Apocalypse is the Mahavishnu Orchestra's fourth album and third studio album, released in 1974.
| Apocalypse | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| 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 | ||||
| ||||
| 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] |
It is performed by the second line-up of the Mahavishnu Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra. It was produced by George Martin, who regarded it as "one of the best records [he had] ever made".[6]
The back cover features a poem by Sri Chinmoy as well as a group photo of those who created the album.
Track listing
editAll 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
edit- 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
edit| 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 |
References
edit- ^ Apocalypse at AllMusic
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: M". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 2, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Campbell, Hernan M. (4 August 2012). "Review: Mahavishnu Orchestra - Apocalypse | Sputnikmusic". sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- ^ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 135. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
- ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 922. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
- ^ Martin 1979, p. 109.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5087a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October June 15, 2024.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
- ^ "Mahavishnu Orchestra John McLaughlin Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October June 15, 2024.
- ^ "Mahavishnu Orchestra John McLaughlin Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October June 15, 2024.
Bibliography
edit- Martin, George (1979). All You Need Is Ears. New York: St. Martin’s Press. ISBN 0-312-02043-0.