record collection revisited: Mahavishnu Orchestra, "Birds of Fire"

This is an incredibly virtuosic record.  "Birds of Fire" by Mahavishnu Orchestra, released in 1973, and featuring John McLaughlin on guitar, Jan Hammer on keyboards, Rick Laird on bass, Billy Cobham on drums, and Jerry Goodman on violin.  It was the last album recorded by the original Mahavishnu Orchestra quintet lineup.  It's very adventurous to listen to, especially with McLaughlin's guitar and Jerry Goodman's violin showering sparks on their twinned solos while the rest of the band is equally as frenetic.  Some of the songs have some real sonic adventures going on in all aspects, both electronically and acoustically.  

This is fusion virtuosity at it's best, and Mahavishnu (like all the other bands of that era), has it's own, undeniable, and singular sound.  Definitely check it out if you are a fan of Mahavishnu Orchestra specifically, or, of fusion jazz as a genre.  Here's the track listing.

1. Birds of Fire
2. Miles Beyond (Miles Davis)
3. Celestial Terrestrial Commuters
4. Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love
5. Thousand Island Park
6. Hope
7. One Word
8. Sanctuary
9. Open Country Joy
10. Resolution