Two of my favorite albums of all time, also two of my Jazz first albums. Right after 'In a Silent Way' and "Bright Size Life". I always found "Extrapolation" fascinating for the very reason you mention- it's a really interesting, modern approach to Jazz guitar that neither he nor anyone else every followed through. I don't know if I'd call it melodic though. The melodies always seemed pretty angular to me.
The best two McLaughlin discs of all time! Extrapolation is great, on My Goal’s Beyond I’ll take just side two consisting of Peace One and Peace Two. The unique instruments really make it go: violin, tablas, soprano , acoustic guitar etc. My only problem with the lp is McLaughlin plays an Ovation guitar and it sounds like absolute shit. On the early discs he’s not so reliant on those runs that sound like someone shooting off a machine gun. There are plenty of guitar players I prefer to JMc but these two early discs are excellent!
A great article about a music legend who is rarely given the recognition he deserves 🔥
Thanks! Personally, I’m most fond of his earliest period, but there’s no denying it’s a very diverse and intriguing career.
Luckily, McLaughlin, Surman, and Holland were able to record Where Fortune Smiles in 1971 for Dawn/Pye... an incredible offering of creative music.
I loved Devotion and it was the first of McLaughlin I’d heard https://joelnewman971826.substack.com/p/high-velocity-devotion?r=cmd69&utm_medium=ios
I respect that. It just didn't "clicked" with me for some reason :)
You and many others, critics panned it when it came out.
Two of my favorite albums of all time, also two of my Jazz first albums. Right after 'In a Silent Way' and "Bright Size Life". I always found "Extrapolation" fascinating for the very reason you mention- it's a really interesting, modern approach to Jazz guitar that neither he nor anyone else every followed through. I don't know if I'd call it melodic though. The melodies always seemed pretty angular to me.
The best two McLaughlin discs of all time! Extrapolation is great, on My Goal’s Beyond I’ll take just side two consisting of Peace One and Peace Two. The unique instruments really make it go: violin, tablas, soprano , acoustic guitar etc. My only problem with the lp is McLaughlin plays an Ovation guitar and it sounds like absolute shit. On the early discs he’s not so reliant on those runs that sound like someone shooting off a machine gun. There are plenty of guitar players I prefer to JMc but these two early discs are excellent!