This record has a rawness that is missing from modern recordings. It's a "warts and all" type of "live" in the studio thing. There's a lot of looseness rhythmically and even intonation-wise but you don't care because it's so full of energy!
It's interesting you guys bring up the bass tone, it's not my preference of tone as a bassist in general but it fits the 70s fusion sound in this case.
Great job guys! Such an amazing album with off the charts Rhodes playing! I think Chicks childlike spirit is what sets him apart from other jazz pianists. One of the bests improvisers to walk the Earth! We love you, Chick!
Just some Rhodes info... from what I understand Chick was using some strange combination of makeshift amp/mixer/speaker (seem to remember reading that in a UK magazine interviewing Chick Corea circa 1978)... later he used a Fender Twin with the rockier RTF but that is not the case here AFAIK (even though he sometimes mentioned it was). Also Chick was using a wah-wah pedal and using that to get different tones by just leaving it on but keeping it in one position without touching it.
I saw Chick’s last October run at the Blue Note NYC. He played a Vibe 73 piano that sounded so good. Chick used a chart to play “What Game Shall We Play Today” that night. After the show he told me it was the first time he’d ever played that tune live. Glad I was there! 🎹
I saw that band live at the Jazz Workshop in Boston when that album first came out with all the players from the album. I sat right in front and was so amazed at the sound Chick got from the Rhodes, that I was finally convinced to give up my Wurlitzer and get myself a Rhodes. I couldn't get my Rhodes to sound like his, even though I even bought the same amp he was using. Transcribed 'You're Eventhing', went down that rabbit hole. . .Couple years later I read in Keyboard magazine an interview with Harold Rhodes where he mentioned that he customized the Rhodes Chick was using. Until Adam mentioned today, I had no idea that it was something you could do on your own.
Great! I think this is one the best Fender Rhodes tones ever, indeed. Maybe only rivaled by Alan Tew's Drama Suites / The Hanged Man. Also, that round/bubble tone can be found in the XLN library... as opposed to many VSTs that get that thin, sparkling tone. I menion this because I guess you guys are using a sample-based Rhodes in your setup, right? Now... is it me or Flora sings a bit out of tune in this album? Have you ever listened to Kitty Winter's Gipsy Nova? Now that is amazing.
Snob-O-Meter suggestion! Split the 10 points into two parts. How much would Aunt Linda like it? How much would a jazz snob like it? Rate both parts 0-5. For example, Light As A Feather might score a 2/5 from Aunt Linda, and a 3/5 from a Jazz Snob, combined this gives it a score of 5/10.
General “SOUND” comment - chick corea - return to forever [1st album] recorded for ECM is Impeccably Recorded! Light as a Feather was recorded for Polydor Records.
Thanks so much for covering this. Would your consider taking a deep dive into what the heck was happening at Chicks solo in Spain?? Was he outside almost the whole time? Why does it sound so face melting crunchy??
High on my list of my favorite all time albums! I remember my buddy Wayne, back in the mid '70s, with the cover off his Rhodes, tuning and tweaking stuff. Ah, so THAT'S what he was doing!
Naturally we all luv this album but if u really want to hear a unique customized sounding Rhodes and the playing of some incredible musicians u should consider doing a show critiquing Chick's release "Again and Again". That electric piano had an amazing bell like resonance to it. 👉 🎹 👈
About George Duke, I recall George mentioning that Harold Rhodes was on a session with him once and started adjusting his Rhodes much to George's horror as that loose/close to pickup sound was what he was known for and set him apart from other players on Rhodes.
My impatience has kept me from really studying and enjoying this album. The songs need time to develop that I didn't afford them. Def gonna go back as this is a killer record. My favorite Chick record is Friends. Steve Gadd made them get right to it lol.
What if you guys cut the snob-o-meter in half and you have one score for whether snobs like it, rating 1-5, and then you have another score for whether aunt Linda likes it, rating 1-5 as well? You could call them the snob-o-meter and the aunt Linda score. I know it’s the general idea that snobs and aunt Linda usually have diametrically opposed tastes, but you guys seem to keep running into the issue that both groups would like the same album. So if both snobs and aunt Linda like an album (full 5 points each), then it’s a full 10 points and the two groups don’t have to be opposites.
Yeah I love Chick Corea but to be honest, I dig Chick on electric piano more than acoustic piano. Chick's acoustic piano playing is so percussive that it just gets to me in a way. I just never understood why Chick has to hit the acoustic keys so hard. This has a lot to do obviously with my personality being that I'm more into the impressionistic vibe. But putting all this aside, I love Chick Corea. "Light As A Feather" has always been one of my favs!!
Anybody else notice the new microphones (or at least the orange filters).. it's causing their voices to be more muddy, around the s, SH sounds.. this recording sounds lispier than other podcasts and content they make! Still loved the show! example: "Children's Song" ua-cam.com/video/4EMpg8BQ6xM/v-deo.htmlsi=_IvcfcQRY1pTAN23&t=1070
Sidenote question: I'm curious what midi controller you guys are using. I know you use keyscape, but I'm curious about the controller. Does anyone else know? I'm in the market. Want something with good feel.
Gotcha. Was thinking how cool that studio would be in the heart of Greenwich village. Maybe with the Village, Vanguard, blue note or smalls in the background 😊
This record has a rawness that is missing from modern recordings. It's a "warts and all" type of "live" in the studio thing. There's a lot of looseness rhythmically and even intonation-wise but you don't care because it's so full of energy!
It's interesting you guys bring up the bass tone, it's not my preference of tone as a bassist in general but it fits the 70s fusion sound in this case.
Thanks for a great show guys! What an album. I'd love to see you do Koln. It's a straight 10 from me. 😀
Yep. Classic album. It has classical pianists trying to turn it into a repertoire thing, which cracks me up: nobody comes close to Keith.
Great job guys! Such an amazing album with off the charts Rhodes playing! I think Chicks childlike spirit is what sets him apart from other jazz pianists. One of the bests improvisers to walk the Earth! We love you, Chick!
Just some Rhodes info... from what I understand Chick was using some strange combination of makeshift amp/mixer/speaker (seem to remember reading that in a UK magazine interviewing Chick Corea circa 1978)... later he used a Fender Twin with the rockier RTF but that is not the case here AFAIK (even though he sometimes mentioned it was). Also Chick was using a wah-wah pedal and using that to get different tones by just leaving it on but keeping it in one position without touching it.
I saw Chick’s last October run at the Blue Note NYC. He played a Vibe 73 piano that sounded so good. Chick used a chart to play “What Game Shall We Play Today” that night. After the show he told me it was the first time he’d ever played that tune live. Glad I was there! 🎹
Snob-o-meter: I would say Out to Lunch is a 10, Time Out is a 5, and any Kenny G is a 1. Great show again guys!
I saw that band live at the Jazz Workshop in Boston when that album first came out with all the players from the album. I sat right in front and was so amazed at the sound Chick got from the Rhodes, that I was finally convinced to give up my Wurlitzer and get myself a Rhodes. I couldn't get my Rhodes to sound like his, even though I even bought the same amp he was using. Transcribed 'You're Eventhing', went down that rabbit hole. . .Couple years later I read in Keyboard magazine an interview with Harold Rhodes where he mentioned that he customized the Rhodes Chick was using. Until Adam mentioned today, I had no idea that it was something you could do on your own.
I absolutely love this record. Chick’s playing is so hypeeee in this. Haven’t watched yet but happy you’re covering it 🤗
I remember buying this on vinyl when it came out. I bought my Fender Rhodes Suitcase Piano 73-Key soon after.
It is a classic recording and timeless.
I would love to hear what Chick records you have over this one. This is an all time favorite of mine
Great! I think this is one the best Fender Rhodes tones ever, indeed. Maybe only rivaled by Alan Tew's Drama Suites / The Hanged Man. Also, that round/bubble tone can be found in the XLN library... as opposed to many VSTs that get that thin, sparkling tone. I menion this because I guess you guys are using a sample-based Rhodes in your setup, right? Now... is it me or Flora sings a bit out of tune in this album? Have you ever listened to Kitty Winter's Gipsy Nova? Now that is amazing.
She's out of tune in the best way, though. Better than any pitch-corrected album today.
In the CD liner notes for this album, Chick said he rented the rhodes and ran it though a Fender Twin guitar amp.
I love the bass tone on this album, Stanley will always be my favorite upright player!
This cd is so great !!!
It was my first contact with the genius Chick Corea 🙏🙏
Along w/ Spain, the other song from this album i listen to all the time is "You're Everything". I just absolutely adore that tune.
Amazing!! Thanks you guys for making me discover such records!
Flora gives me goosebumps. 500 miles high blew my mind in high school
Snob-O-Meter suggestion!
Split the 10 points into two parts. How much would Aunt Linda like it? How much would a jazz snob like it? Rate both parts 0-5.
For example, Light As A Feather might score a 2/5 from Aunt Linda, and a 3/5 from a Jazz Snob, combined this gives it a score of 5/10.
I saw Chick at Johns Hopkins University .Bill Cobham came out first and the sound man spent 20 mins getting the drums right .Beautiful night .
I agree with Adam, the greatest tune in this album is You're Everything...by far
Hello from Montréal!Excellent travail mes amis! Great album!
Guys, this was so interesting, fantastic and all out fun! Thank you!
Adam, I noticed the loafers, especially since they were right at my eye level. They were serving classic, fiery-fierceness!! 😎👍🏽❤️🔥
Love this series, keep it up!
Not mentioning Captain Marvel or the title track is criminal!!!!
Chick was my influence when I was 8 years old taking classical piano
General “SOUND” comment - chick corea - return to forever [1st album] recorded for ECM is Impeccably Recorded! Light as a Feather was recorded for Polydor Records.
Great stuff as always
Thanks so much for covering this. Would your consider taking a deep dive into what the heck was happening at Chicks solo in Spain?? Was he outside almost the whole time? Why does it sound so face melting crunchy??
High on my list of my favorite all time albums!
I remember my buddy Wayne, back in the mid '70s, with the cover off his Rhodes, tuning and tweaking stuff. Ah, so THAT'S what he was doing!
Naturally we all luv this album but if u really want to hear a unique customized sounding Rhodes and the playing of some incredible musicians u should consider doing a show critiquing Chick's release "Again and Again". That electric piano had an amazing bell like resonance to it. 👉 🎹 👈
Chick's solo rendition of "Brazil" really does it for me. But Spain is such a genius composition. Wow.
Starting with Spain is so obvious
Come to Seattle! Love the podcast
You're everything is an amazing composition
About George Duke, I recall George mentioning that Harold Rhodes was on a session with him once and started adjusting his Rhodes much to George's horror as that loose/close to pickup sound was what he was known for and set him apart from other players on Rhodes.
❤thank you guys
Come to the Chi, only four hours away.
My impatience has kept me from really studying and enjoying this album. The songs need time to develop that I didn't afford them. Def gonna go back as this is a killer record. My favorite Chick record is Friends. Steve Gadd made them get right to it lol.
Light as a feather is about Stanley's unreal touch (obnoxious bassist again
weighing in)
Love you Chick
My favorite part of this record is chick’s comping on the sax solo of 500 miles high
So amazing right!
What if you guys cut the snob-o-meter in half and you have one score for whether snobs like it, rating 1-5, and then you have another score for whether aunt Linda likes it, rating 1-5 as well?
You could call them the snob-o-meter and the aunt Linda score. I know it’s the general idea that snobs and aunt Linda usually have diametrically opposed tastes, but you guys seem to keep running into the issue that both groups would like the same album. So if both snobs and aunt Linda like an album (full 5 points each), then it’s a full 10 points and the two groups don’t have to be opposites.
This makes a lot of sense. Hope Adam or Peter are reading this.
Return to forever also first album is MIRACLE ❤
Can y'all do Transition by Coltrane next? That's a personal favorite of mine and would love to hear what you guys think! God Bless!
Desert island disc, for sure. No mention of Stanley's playing on Spain? Please edit this video.
Come to Portland, Oregon!
Yeah I love Chick Corea but to be honest, I dig Chick on electric piano more than acoustic piano. Chick's acoustic piano playing is so percussive that it just gets to me in a way. I just never understood why Chick has to hit the acoustic keys so hard. This has a lot to do obviously with my personality being that I'm more into the impressionistic vibe. But putting all this aside, I love Chick Corea. "Light As A Feather" has always been one of my favs!!
bespoke.
Anybody else notice the new microphones (or at least the orange filters).. it's causing their voices to be more muddy, around the s, SH sounds.. this recording sounds lispier than other podcasts and content they make! Still loved the show! example: "Children's Song" ua-cam.com/video/4EMpg8BQ6xM/v-deo.htmlsi=_IvcfcQRY1pTAN23&t=1070
The return of the de-esser?!?
The cover looks like a picture from an image bank for a 'compilation" CD.
Sidenote question: I'm curious what midi controller you guys are using. I know you use keyscape, but I'm curious about the controller. Does anyone else know? I'm in the market. Want something with good feel.
I am right here in NJ but I could not commit to the NY session. So sorry. 😞
Please do an episode on any album from the Elektric Band
holler at Stanley, y'all, DANG
I believe Chick had 25 or 26 grammies.....that's the most of any Jazz greats....he collected them...😊...RIP
LONDON
The remixed 2CD release was not necessarly better, the original mix was already perfect.
GALA
10 better albums - that's tough, here's 5 I love: Three Quartets, Now He Sings Now He Sobs, Expressions, The Leprechaun, Trilogy.
Is Open Studio based in New York?
St. Louis.
Gotcha. Was thinking how cool that studio would be in the heart of Greenwich village. Maybe with the Village, Vanguard, blue note or smalls in the background 😊
Chick was a different Brain
los angeles
You make cry guys
Why do jazz snobs hate time out? Too tuney?
If a jazz album achieves too much acclaim and popularity outside the world of jazz, "jazz snobs" want nothing to do with it.
We definitely don't need more jazz snobs like that.
They always claim these songs.
This is a good configuration of return to forever but not their best album ... And flora's voice isn't great on this either ...
She sings a bit out of tune, doesn't she?
It's artfully out of tune. Her pronunciation is so unique: you know it's her.
Desafinado is better than desafinauto-tune
what's your favorite?