Inner Worlds is an album by the Mahavishnu Orchestra. It was the group's sixth album release, as well as their last for nearly ten years.

Inner Worlds
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 1976 (1976-01)[1]
RecordedJuly–August 1975
StudioChâteau d'Hérouville, France
GenreJazz fusion
Length44:07
LabelSony
ProducerJohn McLaughlin with Dennis MacKay
Mahavishnu Orchestra chronology
Visions of the Emerald Beyond
(1975)
Inner Worlds
(1976)
Mahavishnu
(1984)
John McLaughlin chronology
Visions of the Emerald Beyond
(1975)
Inner Worlds
(1976)
Shakti with John McLaughlin
(1976)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
Christgau's Record GuideB−[3]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide[4]

In 1975, violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and keyboardist Gayle Moran left the band. Stu Goldberg was brought in as a replacement for Moran. Although they were not officially recorded, initially this version of the group still retained Norma Jean Bell, Carol Shive, Phillip Hirschi, Russell Tubbs and Steve Kindler. After some hasty rehearsals, this line-up toured with Jeff Beck. After the tour, McLaughlin pared the band down to a quartet of himself, Goldberg, Walden and Armstrong, and then the album was recorded.[5]

This would be the last album by the Mahavishnu Orchestra for nearly ten years, when leader and guitarist John McLaughlin formed an entirely different version of the group in 1984.

Track listing and personnel

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Side One
  1. "All in the Family" - (John McLaughlin) - 6:02
  2. "Miles Out" - (John McLaughlin) - 6:44
  3. "In My Life" - (Narada Michael Walden, John McLaughlin) - 3:22
  4. "Gita" - (John McLaughlin) -4:29
  5. "Morning Calls" - (John McLaughlin, Narada Michael Walden) - 1:23
Side Two
  1. "The Way of the Pilgrim" - (Narada Michael Walden) - 5:15
  2. "River of My Heart" - (Narada Michael Walden, Kanchan Cynthia Anderson) - 3:41
  3. "Planetary Citizen" - (Ralphe Armstrong) - 2:14
  4. "Lotus Feet" - (John McLaughlin) - 4:24
  5. "Inner Worlds" - 6:37

Charts

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Chart (1976) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[6] 118
US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard)[7] 24

References

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  1. ^ Walter Kalosky. "Mahavishnu Orchestra: The Way of the Pilgrim". jazz.com. Archived from the original on December 14, 2009. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  2. ^ Inner Worlds at AllMusic
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 135. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
  5. ^ "Goldberg interview". Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
  6. ^ "Mahavishnu Orchestra John McLaughlin Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October June 15, 2024.
  7. ^ "Mahavishnu Orchestra John McLaughlin Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October June 15, 2024.