Original Album Classics The Inn Er Mounting Flame/Birds Of Fire/Betw Een Nothingness And Eternity/Apocaly Pse/Visions Of Emerald

The original Mahavishnu Orchestra brought together a disparate group of musicians from different backgrounds and different parts of the world, yet with a common thread joining them: classical training and experience with the greats of the 1960's jazz scene. Hammer was a pianist who had been to conservatory in Europe; Goodman, a violinist whose parents both played strings in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Laird and Cobham had experience with the likes of Miles and others. And McLaughlin himself, the leader of Mahavishnu, had both a classical and jazz background and a talent for the guitar rarely matched then or since.They made 3 memorable albums before they broke apart: Inner Mounting Flame, Birds of Fire, and the live concert from Central Park NYC, Between Nothingness and Eternity. These 3 records will hold pride of place among the great recordings of 20th c. music.Their connection in the thread of everything that was happening in contemporary music at the time is remarkable: at a time when Philip Glass was rising into prominence with his minimalist works, Mahavishnu brought us a memorable work of jazz fusion minimalism ("You Know You Know"). At a time when rock fusion and jazz fusion bands were creating long, almost symphonic works (Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here); Mahavishnu had uniquely detailed, long tone poems such as the Trilogy segment from Between Nothingness and Eternity. That this music still lives and is still so deeply and widely loved, a half century after the formation of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, speaks to its enduring beauty and reach. So Mahavishnu represents more than the pinnacle of the fusion era of the 1970's; it is one of the brightest lights of late 20th c. music, period.

Perfect

5 discs for less than $20 is hard to complain about. I've been curious about Mahavishnu Orchestra since discover John Mclaughlin's influence on Miles Davis. I had heard the Inner Mounting Flame before and liked it enough that I had wanted to get it and Birds of Fire due to the reviews and recommendations on allmusic.com.Well, I discovered this package which included those two discs and more, and couldn't pass it up. Mostly, there is nothing to really be disappointed about given the cost. I was able to get the two albums I wanted and love them both. The remaining albums, I find are quite lacking, but this isn't really an album review as much as a package review. I can't say I particularly enjoy any of the last three discs, but I also know that if I had only purchased the first two albums separately, I'd probably have purchased one of the other discs anyway, thus spending more money...And, while I can't say I like the other discs much, they do have their bright spots.So, this is a worthwhile set if you know what you are getting. If you are new to Mahavishnu Orchestra and know you like what they've done, you are essentially getting 5 discs for the price of 2. It is a great way to introduce yourself to the band. Just realize this is a no-frills package.

This set, along with its companion John McLaughlin volume, is a fantastic deal for anyone who doesn't have all of the material represented already -- the late 1990s/early 2000 remasterings of the classic albums INNER MOUNTING FLAME and BIRDS OF FIRE, upon which this group's reputation rests, plus the live BETWEEN NOTHINGNESS AND ETERNITY featuring that band, and the Mahavishnu Mk 2 efforts APOCALYPSE and VISONS OF THE EMERALD BEYOND, all at a bargain price. To be sure, most of the excitement in the group exited with Billy Cobham (and can be heard manifesting itself on his solo album SPECTRUM); and one wishes that the latter three titles could have been remastered as well, but that's another question for another venue. And they do sound good enough to these ears, if not as vibrant and close as the two classic albums -- and BETWEEN NOTHINGNESS AND ETERNITY has aged very well, indeed, even as a lesser effort by the original band. The CDs come without inner sleeves in mini-LP jackets which, in turn, are housed in a loose slipcase (so put a rubber band around the latter . . . .). The price is right for those who need the albums, and the music speaks for itself. Only the lost third studio album of the original band, from the Trident Sessions, is not featured here, which would have made this absolutely perfect (although, in a truly complete Mahavishnu box, someone would have retrieved the group's early 1970s appearance on ABC's In Concert as well, but that's another issue for another time and place).

Why would anyone complain about the chance to purchase such innovative music at such a ridiculous price. As I remember it - my old vinyl version of Between Nothingness and Eternity had very little in the way of liner notes etc - I bought it for the music - and that is what I have done in purchasing this 5 CD set. It might be no frills but to be honest, the frill and the thrill is in the amazing guitar work of Mahavishnu John McLaughlin and some stellar sidemen like Cobham and Hammer, Walden and Armstrong and of course the exceptional playing of first Jerry Goodman and later Jean-Luc Ponty. For me the energy of BN&E is unsurpassed but the beauty and power of APOCALYPSE is hard to beat. The group sets such a high standard for themselves that it is hard to find fault with any single CD. The level of musical excellence is maintained throughout. That being said I managed to purchase this box set for a few pennies over $2 per CD and that is a bargain in anybody's book. Check out the Weather Report collection and John McLaughin's solo stuff with Shakti etc for more aural excellence.

Five of the most dynamic albums of the 70's. Re-discovering them was a true joy! Music of a bygone era that is truly timeless. Can't beat the price and the recording quality is excellent!

Gran box set con 5 álbumes de esta banda que con los años, se ha convertido de culto. Si te gusta el jazz y rock progresivo no dudes en comprarlo. Llegó sin daño alguno. Gracias Amazon.

Obviously not much use if you don't love jazz rock, but if TMO float your boat this is a must have set...

Aunque la presentación de la caja sea bastante sencilla, por este precio merece la pena asomarse a los primeros trabajos de esta gran banda de jazz rock psicodelico ya que este box contiene sin duda sus mejores trabajos. Un auténtico regalazo para los amantes de la psicodelia.

Kam schnell und in guter Qualität. Zufrieden.