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Spectrum

 
Album Review: Spectrum
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Spectrum

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  • Artist: Billy Cobham
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: 1973
  • Total Time: 37:17
  • Type: Instrumental
  • Genre: Jazz

Review

Drummer Billy Cobham was fresh from his success with the Mahavishnu Orchestra when he recorded his debut album, which is still his best. Most of the selections showcase Cobham in a quartet with keyboardist Jan Hammer, guitarist Tommy Bolin, and electric bassist Lee Sklar. Two other numbers include Joe Farrell on flute and soprano and trumpeter Jimmy Owens with guitarist John Tropea, Hammer, bassist Ron Carter, and Ray Barretto on congas. The generally high-quality compositions (which include "Red Baron") make this fusion set a standout, a strong mixture of rock-ish rhythms and jazz improvising. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Quadrant 4 Billy Cobham Billy Cobham (4:20)
Searching for the Right Door/Spectrum Billy Cobham Billy Cobham (6:33)
Anxiety/Taurian Matador Billy Cobham Billy Cobham (4:44)
Stratus Billy Cobham Billy Cobham (9:50)
To the Women in My Life/Le Lis Billy Cobham Billy Cobham (4:11)
Snoopy's Search/Red Baron Billy Cobham Billy Cobham (7:39)

Credits

William E. Cobham, Jr. (Producer), Joe Farrell (Sax (Soprano)), Jan Hammer (Moog Synthesizer), Ron Carter (Bass), Billy Cobham (Percussion), Billy Cobham (Drums), Jimmy Owens (Flugelhorn), John Tropea (Guitar), Jan Hammer (Piano (Electric)), Billy Cobham (Producer), Jan Hammer (Synthesizer), Ray Barretto (Conga), Joe Farrell (Flute), Joe Farrell (Sax (Alto)), Ken Scott (Remixing), Tommy Bolin (Guitar), Jimmy Owens (Horn), Jan Hammer (Keyboards), Leland Sklar (Bass), Jimmy Owens (Trumpet), Joe Farrell (?), Ray Barretto (Percussion), Ken Scott (Engineer), A. Scott Galloway (Reissue Liner Notes), Jan Hammer (Piano)
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Wikipedia: Spectrum (Billy Cobham album)
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Spectrum
Studio album by Billy Cobham
Released October 1, 1973
Recorded May 14–May 16, 1973 at Electric Lady Studios, New York City
Genre Jazz fusion
Length 37:17
Label Atlantic Records
Producer William E. Cobham, Jr.
Professional reviews
Billy Cobham chronology
Spectrum
(1973)		 Total Eclipse
(1974)

Spectrum is the debut album of fusion drummer, Billy Cobham. Released in 1973, Spectrum is regarded as one of the most important and essential albums within the fields of drummers and the jazz fusion genre. The album contains much influence of the music of Miles Davis and Mahavishnu Orchestra, with whom Cobham had previously collaborated extensively. Generally, Spectrum is considered to be Cobham's best album up to this day, and does embody a role as important as the work by Miles Davis, Weather Report, or Mahavishnu Orchestra among the development of the jazz fusion genre.

Allegedly, Billy Cobham recorded this album with his infamous acrylic Fibes-drumkit, which he also used during his work with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Guitarist Tommy Bolin plays the lead guitar.

The song "Stratus" appears in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV of the radio station "Fusion FM", as well as being the main sample in the Massive Attack hit "Safe from Harm". Also, bassline from "Stratus" has been sampled (more likely to be covered) by psybient project Shpongle on their track "Circuits Of Imagination".

Personnel

Track listing

(all tracks credited to William E. Cobham, Jr., but parts of the music was cowritten with the other musicians and came out of jamming in the studio)

  1. "Quadrant 4" – 4:20
  2. "Searching For the Right Door" – 1:24
  3. "Spectrum" – 5:09
  4. "Anxiety" – 1:41
  5. "Taurian Matador" – 3:03
  6. "Stratus" – 9:50
  7. "To the Women of My Life" – 0:51
  8. "Le Lis" – 3:20
  9. "Snoopy's Search" – 1:02
  10. "Red Baron" – 6:37

+ "All 4 One" (Outtake) – 4:15

recorded : tracks 1,2,4,5,6,7,9 and 10 = May 14 and 15, 1973.
tracks 3 and 8 = May 16, 1973.
Recording and re-mix engineer : Ken Scott


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

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