Apocalypse (Mahavishnu Orchestra album)

Apocalypse
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 1974
RecordedMarch 1974
StudioAIR Studios (London)
GenreJazz fusion
Length52:23
LabelColumbia
ProducerGeorge Martin
Mahavishnu Orchestra chronology
Between Nothingness and Eternity
(1973)
Apocalypse
(1974)
Visions of the Emerald Beyond
(1975)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideC[2]
Sputnikmusic3.5/5[3]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide[4]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings[5]

Apocalypse is the third studio album by the jazz fusion band Mahavishnu Orchestra. Released in 1974 by Columbia Records, it is the first album of the second lineup of the Mahavishnu Orchestra and features the London Symphony Orchestra. It was produced by George Martin, who regarded it as "one of the best records [he had] ever made".[6] It is the fourth album in its chronology after Between Nothingness and Eternity.

The back cover features a poem by Sri Chinmoy as well as a group photo of those who created the album.

Track listing

All music composed by John McLaughlin; lyrics to "Smile of the Beyond" composed by "Mahalakshmi" Eve McLaughlin.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Power of Love"4:36
2."Vision Is a Naked Sword"14:16
3."Smile of the Beyond"7:56
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Wings of Karma"6:12
2."Hymn to Him"19:23

Personnel

with

Charts

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

  1. ^ Apocalypse at AllMusic
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Campbell, Hernan M. (August 4, 2012). "Review: Mahavishnu Orchestra - Apocalypse | Sputnikmusic". sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  4. ^ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 135. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
  5. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 922. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
  6. ^ Martin 1979, p. 109.
  7. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  8. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Image 5087a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October June 15, 2024.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "Mahavishnu Orchestra John McLaughlin Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October June 15, 2024.
  11. ^ "Mahavishnu Orchestra John McLaughlin Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October June 15, 2024.

Bibliography