The solo at the beginning is Jan Hammer on keys. He developed a really crazy technique and synth tone that sounds like the most insane guitar you've ever heard lol.
The secret 🤫 is the modulation wheel programmed with a fast square wave.. I mean Jan Hammer is fast. But not that fast. The way he interplays the wheel with his actual playing (fingers) is the awesome part. "Hot for teacher" 🙄 Give me a break. Alex couldn't play this if his life depended on it.. Remember Buddy Rich's quote about rock drumners? He's bouncing off of a double bass around the snare in triplets (I asked him). Tommy Bolin's guitar is being processed through the minimoog. You can hear it on the fast trills. Bought "Spectrum" in 1973 when I was 13. 😎
That was drums and keys at the beginning. The guitar comes in later. And BTW, Hot For Teacher sounds like Quadrant 4, not the other way around. ;) This was first. Thanks for playing it!
Needed this today,thanks.I'm 14 again and hopping the train in New Haven with my best friend who's 16 to see this band in N.Y.C. And Billy is just that,down to earth!!! Took the time to talk to anyone including 2 starstruck kids from Ct.And it's 2021 and it's still a'jam'!!! Peace to all.
@@rk41gator My Portuguese folk-song singing dad got me into Music & Mets baseball when I was born in 1960! He hated hippies but loved Miles Davis-so. Peace my friend.
When Cobham was with Mahavishnu, he scared the hell out of Zappa's percussionists who were on the same bill. They couldn't believe how loud he was. This is a great album which I have owned in many formats.
I wouldn't say that; I watched the Bozzio's Drummers of Frank Zappa...Chester Thompson was a bit overwhelmed but; Zappa's drummers are no slouches either...Technically, as a drummer myself, and someone that has seen Billy live and in person back in the day, Chad Wackerman, Bozzio, Ralph Humphrey and Vinnie C. are better drummers...
Can't argue with your assessment of Zappa's drummers in that wonderful film but I think they were impressed. I suspect Chester was just being self deprecating, probably all that time playing with Brits! That documentary was a great example of talent in inverse proportion to ego.
@@donaldanderson6604 :)...Oh, they were definitely impressed...How can anyone not be...:)... That's a good point about Chester...No wonder everybody loves him...:)...And you're right about the inverse proportion...Bozzio was very chill...I loved Ruth Underwood's insights and experiences...She tells such awesome stories...I think I've seen it three times now...Chad's part about Meeting Stevie Vai was hilarious... What a time for music that was!
Billy Cobham popularized the double bass shuffle with Quadrant 4. Many drummers were inspired by it and did their own thing afterward. Check out Simon Phillips on "Space Boogie" (Jeff Beck, 1980), Alex Van Halen on "Hot for Teacher" (Van Halen, 1984) and Gregg Bissonnette on "Elephant Gun" (Dave Lee Roth, 1986).
I recently bought this album for the 3rd time, it keeps getting worn out. A few months ago Leland Sklar (on his channel) played along with Stratus, it was really cool to see him and his beard showing their skill. I can't wait until you get to Stratus (also often played live by Jeff Beck). Big thumbs for this!
Everyone but Tommy were reading music for the session. Tommy couldnt read, didnt jam the songs to get a feel, he just winged it. All 4 songs hes featured on were live recordings hardly any overdubs, Tommy is all live , first takes, played right off the top of his head. And 21 years old I believe. Still one of my favorite albums and guitarist.
My friend and guitarist Big David told me to buy this album, took me quite awhile to start understanding some of it. Still am. Spectrum 1973, Blow by Blow 1975, hmm. Jan Hammer of course, a Cobham and Beck alumni. What do I think? It was ground breaking at the time and I’m still analyzing the dig site. It definitely influenced many things to come. Just a crazy jam, glad to rehear it with you all. Jan and Tommy’s playing are just insane. Again, a vote for James Gang “Bang” album, say that 10 times... Makes it 10 votes, right? No, oh ok, whatever. Your Midnight Blue revelation is akin to my Transformation (Speed of Love) revelation, I’d forgotten about it and listened to it the moment next I could and, it probably influenced by Spectrum. Now you know my reasoning seasoning. Peace and Music
I just watched the 1st ann. show from SOAL Night Live and there was part of an interview with David Sancious, the original is here: ua-cam.com/video/2vL5mTowLE4/v-deo.html thought you might like it (if you haven't seen it already).
SO much history! Billy's still going strong at 78! Tour comes to the midwest in October of 22. Jan Hammer, better known for the theme to the TV show "Miami Vice". Tommy Bolin, who would go on to replace Joe Walsh in The James Gang, then replaced Richie Blackmore in Deep Purple, and was dead at 25. And Lee Sklar, who would, years after this, Billy Cobham's debut album, would resurface as the bass player on Bernie Williams' debut album. Bernie Williams, the New York Yankees' centerfielder, who is also a brilliant jazz guitarist, just like his dad, letting that part of him blossom after his baseball days were over.
Stratus is the go to track on the Spectrum album which has become a fusion standard and has been covered many times by others. If you want atmosphere and a musical journey then check out the "Solarization" suite from the Total Eclipse album.
I just watched this again, and you need to know the first solo is Jan Hammer on mini moog. He is amazing, and his style is like a guitar, but it's keyboards.
Saw Maha in Central Park in 74 & the next incarnation with Ponty in 76. When I saw his Solo show in 75, I was in a mezzanine with a view almost above him and at that point I had never seen/heard a drummer play so precise, fast and melodically using beats & rhythm. It was a revelation. That's Jan Hammer from Maha on keys here on the first solo. Bolin comes in later on guitar and later both together. He created the quintessential Fusion synth solo sound of the 70's!. ATMOSPHERE! then listen to the other songs. I think the song was meant to be what it was (a sophisticated high velocity Fusion Rockout jam) in context of the entire album to compliment the other incredible songs.
Oh happy day! This particular group was on fire and I don't think Tommy Bolin was ever quite this good ever again although he went on to play with The James Gang and Deep Purple. I prefer his playing on the first Zephyr album. By the way, Bolin is doing all those guitar distortion tricks on the fly himself, they are not studio tricks. Thanks for being the first reactor to pick this up Justin.
Ahh yes JP, my other musical passion Classic Jazz Fusion from 1970s -90s !! Billy of of my very Favs from Mahavishnu to Solo career ! One of the very Best Drummers ever !! : D
In 1976 I attended a concert in the CSUN gymnasium called Cobham Meets Bellson. They played back and forth and at the end were joined by other drummers, I guess from the school. One of the coolest, most memorable concerts.
Sooo pleased you're getting to Spectrum, one of my friends had this on cassette player while we ran errands one day during the '70's: Mind blown!! & I also have owned this in many formats since.
This is the equivalent of a good trip in a toboggan in the Winter Olympics. You need to sit down and appreciate Van Halen 1 & 2 Justin. Atmosphere aplenty and you'll soon be dancing with Nat. They and Billy are indeed a necessary breath of fresh air today. Variety is the oxygen of your channel. Sprouts yesterday were far from chart fodder - but unfortunately that's how they can be perceived. Billy today started to Grate , yet when I chilled and actually heard the Freedom of Expression involved here , I caressed my inner Muso and saw the purpose of it all- especially as we were spared preposterous searching pseudo tenor vocals from wanna be philosophers contemplating the spirit of the age. Talking of which, it's election day today and i need to get canvassing. Just Vote HP SOS today folks. My Manifesto? Keep Pluggin away about the things that really matter. Big and small. a message of love & hope in truth and humility some of it encapsulated in this request : Don't just keep Thomas Dolby in mind , JP! Please put "The Flat Earth" on your phone and press play to record. X Diolch!
Oh my god I'm so glad you got around to listening to Cobham. I can't wait to see you react to Red Baron. HOWEVER, I'm pretty sure that, at the beginning, it's drums and keyboard, not guitar.
Jan Hammer is on the synth in the beginning. You can hear the pitch bender which is a big part of Jan's phrasing. Must listen to Magical Dog and Bambu Forest from the Oh Yea! album! Life changing synth playing.
From Wikipedia ”Ken Scott, engineer of Spectrum, recounted: "Bill Cobham's drums were treated in exactly the same way as I recorded every other drummer. I just used more mics...” ...” One other thing: in order to dampen the snare, Bill just laid his wallet on the top head."
Billy Cobham inspiration for Alex Van Halen playing Hot for Teacher ten years later ! Just read Alex Van Halen's modern drummer interview. Billy Cobham on Tour this summer revisiting the Crosswinds album!! By the way, it's " Yahn " Hammer not Jan Brady. He was born in Prague. Cheers
Oh man I almost forgot you mentioned Kenny Burrell my mom and my stepdad when we lived in LA well shoot we lived there most of our lives we went to a club on Olympic Boulevard in Los Angeles and that's where the old Helms Bakery used to be that's where all the vehicles would gather and pick up all the donuts and bread and all sorts of things and they would deliver them all over the LA area and all the suburbs they had these big light brown colored Square vans and they had these big wooden drawers with all the donuts on all the shelves it was a dream and they had this whistle it sound kind of like a train whistle and they would pull that but of course gas prices went up and that was the end of the Helms Bakery trucks but the point is at those old Helms Bakery and Kenny Burrell and his band played there and they were they were all teachers professors of Music they were all music doctors they had their doctorate in music every musician the drummer the bass player the piano player and Kenny himself and they taught jazz at USC yeah man he was a funny thing Kenny was taking a little tiny jeweler's screwdriver and adjusting the magnets on his guitar on his pickups well he was playing yeah so it turns out Jimi Hendrix was influenced by Kenny Burrell oh yeah okay man Ken reaction yeah there's a lot of good songs on there but I have grooves trust me on that one
Thank you so much for doing this! You’ve got to do the whole album! Everybody on it is a list and you won’t be disappointed! The whole album isn’t this intense so there’s a lot to discover, there’s actually a whole second band that plays on some of the songs with Ron carter
What a great track, as they used to say, 'this was jumpin'. BC's one of those guys i've heard on numerous other artists works, first time his own. He's accompanied by a slew of big names, and they were all on fire. Great stuff. My mind kept drifting to Jeff Beck, largely i think cos of Hammer's keys, very distinctive. Really enjoyed this, i deffo want to hear the rest of this album.
I am a big fan of Billy Cobham's first 6 or 7 studio albums (I'd say at least up to "Magic"). "Crosswinds" will give you a good look into Mr Cobham's musical diversity. Side 1 Titled "Spanish Moss(a Sound Portrait)" is a good place to journey into. For something shorter, I'd recommend the beautiful "Heather" from the same album. A truly lovely 9 min jazz ballad.
Cobham is one of my favorite drummers on account of his presence on the first three Mahavishnu albums. The one time I saw the Grateful Dead, in 1981, I was delighted that he was their guest drummer. The "voodoo set" was particularly amazing that night. I also became acquainted with the gyroscope people, who were so high they had to have a gyroscope in their back pocket to keep them in an upright position. But I love Billy Cobham and I hope you explore some more.
Saw him play at a Jazz/Rock festival, with 10 others on the bill. I was amazed. The only bad thing was the sets were short because of the # of performers.
Good morning Justin and fellow followers! Totally understand forgetting about an album and when reminded say, "I'm definitely listening to that today." That was triggered for me yesterday when Patrick Moraz's The Story of I was mentioned in the comments. Was great to listen to it again.
@@HippoYnYGlaw I think so. There's so much electronic ambient music Justin still needs to check out, though: Vangelis Tangerine Dream Kitaro Tomita Etc., etc., etc...
This album got me through first semester my sophomore year of college. Check out Leland Sklar's channel for more listens and stories about this incredible elpee...and don't forget Billy played this double-kick shuffle 11 years before VH released "Hot for Teacher"...
Justin you did IT!! LOL! Yes yes yes...Billy Cobham!! Keep going on the album...it gets better...trust me. You totally surprised me today...yay! Special mention: Jan Hammer has an album titled...First Seven Days. This album is calmer with wonderful workings on the keys. I listened to this album ALOT. Totally instrumental.
One of the all-time great drummers--his technical virtuosity during this time period (with Mahavishnu Orchestra, etc.) especially was just dazzling. If I recall, the bass line of "Stratus" from this album was sampled by Massive Attack for their tune "Safe from Harm." One song that I think shows he is a capable songwriter as well is "What If" from his solo album "The Traveller" (1994)--very beautiful melodically, and the drums are kept in a strictly supporting role, no pyrotechnics. Two other worthwhile things with Cobham I'd recommend: a) check out the video on UA-cam of Herbie Hancock's "Eye of the Hurricane," Herbie supported by Cobham and Ron Carter, Live in Lugano (1983)--absolutely awesome version of the composition; b) Larry Coryell's album "Live from Bahia"--Cobham (again, mostly in a supportive role, no pyrotechnics) and some great Brazilian jazz musicians, my favorite version of "Vera Cruz"
This is a classic album. I think John McLaughlin was intimidated by Jan Hammer's skill on the minimoog. I also like Cobham's album, "Crosswinds". He and George Duke put together a short-lived band but they put out an interesting live album. An attempt to marry funk, jazz, and humor. Cobham did noteworthy sessions. One of my favorites is Horace Silver, "Serenade to a Soul Sister".
Afternoon, Justin. Dave from London where It's Raining Again! Wow, this is more nuclear fission than fusion. You said intense; maybe a bit too intense for me. I prefer a slow-burn building to a climax. Like you, I love Tommy Bolin's playing here; as you may know he replaced Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple for the album Come Taste The Band, before his sad demise. I remember, back in my student days, so many friends playing Mahavishnu's Birds of Fire. In my digs, I actually had a picture of Billy, dwarfed by his drum kit, on my bedroom door, with a message to my flatmates: 'Give it some Billy on the door at 8 o'clock.' (I had trouble getting up for my lectures!).
Postscript: I've now dipped into some of Kenny Burrell's Midnight Blue album. Sounds like the kind of late night jazz I really like. Will explore further. Is his style similar to Wes Montgomery's?
Jan Hammer is amazing on this album. Listen to Le Lis, Jan Hammer on keyboards. Crazy tasteful solo. Another note, I think Tommy Bolin was only 19 when he played on this album.
I love the fusion brother. Staying in this vein of fusion I'd recommend Tony Williams Lifetime 'Emergency' from 1970 I think. I also hope you hit those Brecker Brothers sometime, starting with the first track on their eponymous debut, 'Some Skunk Funk'.
Cobham's playing is a bit too bombastic and demonstrative for my taste but hey, I admit that it's really well played and it's typical of the Jazz fusion style of the 70s! Listen to the album Mind Transplant by Alphonse Mouzon (also with Tommy Bolin on guitar), it's pretty much the same genre (with an added touch of funk).
Wow! Billy Cobham, great choice. The next song, Stratus will be more sonically pleasing to you after the 1:49 drum interlude. Still waiting for Deodato doing Also Sprach Zarathustra. Great to hear fusion on the channel. 😀
and actually Alex Van Halen names Cobham as someone who inspires him. Hot for Teacher was done in 84. Cobham did this beat in 1973. so yeah and btw it IS very hard to do/play but again make no mistake Alex kind of borrowed the beat from Billy. The whole Spectrum recording is now considered a fusion classic...as it should be.
Justin, you’ll recognise Stratus when you listen to that track. There’s an excellent version by Jeff Beck, playing at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London, it’s easily found on You Tube.
Absolutely Alex Van Halen got his inspiration on Hot For Teacher intro from this. But nobody else got a close to Tommy's guitar work on this track. What a loss to music. He was such a great talent on so many levels.The vamp on the bridge is pretty much a jump blues motif.
This sounds like boogie to me. Different key (I think) and instrumentation but it is boogie (at least big parts of it). Cool. It is like they were listening to King Biscuit Boy With Crowbar or the Downchild Blues Band (and maybe Steely Dan) and said to themselves, we can do that and better. A fun listen. The drumming seems appropriate to the genre in my mind.
That whole intro isn't guitar - it's Jan Hammer on synth. He developed a technique of phrasing and bending notes like a guitar when he was trading licks with John McLaughlin and Jerry Goodman in the Mahavishnu Orchestra. He got better at it later on solo albums, and albums by Jeff Beck, Al DiMeola, Elvin Jones, and his music for the original Miami Vice TV show. Cobham met McLaughlin when they were both playing on those Miles Davis electric albums.That ray gun type effect that Tommy Bolin uses on his guitar at the end of solos was something he got from Steve Stevens (guitarist for Billy Idol), using an old Lexicon PCM 41 Delay unit. Bolin's playing on this album paved the way for his later involvement with The James Gang and Deep Purple. Check out Jan Hammer's first solo album The First Seven Days, which led to his collaborations with Jeff Beck. The very short song titles on this album are just drum interludes.
I really don't see the connection with Steve Stevens (who was 8 years younger than Tommy Bolin and not yet active in 1973. he will start his career in 1979). As for the Lexicon PCM 41 Delay unit, it dates from the early 1980s so Tommy could not used it in 1973. The effect Tommy Bolin used was the Echoplex (a tape delay effect also used by Carlos Santana at this time).
Tommy Bolin is setting his guitar on fire!
The solo at the beginning is Jan Hammer on keys. He developed a really crazy technique and synth tone that sounds like the most insane guitar you've ever heard lol.
Oh cool I picked him out by ear. I s'pose he was on all the good shit around then.
A buddy of mine played one of those Hammer tracks back around '80, could have fooled me!
Ohhh lol, ty ty
The secret 🤫 is the modulation wheel programmed with a fast square wave..
I mean Jan Hammer is fast. But not that fast. The way he interplays the wheel with his actual playing (fingers) is the awesome part. "Hot for teacher" 🙄 Give me a break. Alex couldn't play this if his life depended on it.. Remember Buddy Rich's quote about rock drumners?
He's bouncing off of a double bass around the snare in triplets (I asked him). Tommy Bolin's guitar is being processed through the minimoog. You can hear it on the fast trills. Bought "Spectrum" in 1973 when I was 13. 😎
Tommy's guitar is not processed by the moog, it is his echoplex 😉
That was drums and keys at the beginning. The guitar comes in later. And BTW, Hot For Teacher sounds like Quadrant 4, not the other way around. ;) This was first. Thanks for playing it!
Billy Cobham is a beast on the drums. There are some yt videos of him with Mahavishnu Orchestra that are just amazing to watch.
Needed this today,thanks.I'm 14 again and hopping the train in New Haven with my best friend who's 16 to see this band in N.Y.C. And Billy is just that,down to earth!!! Took the time to talk to anyone including 2 starstruck kids from Ct.And it's 2021 and it's still a'jam'!!! Peace to all.
Yikes. 14 and into Billy Cobham is pretty impressive. And a great friend to have.
@@rk41gator My Portuguese folk-song singing dad got me into Music & Mets baseball when I was born in 1960! He hated hippies but loved Miles Davis-so. Peace my friend.
@@jamespaivapaiva4460 Parents can be a source of inspiration and pain. But you do get to pick your friends. Sounds like you found a gem.
@@rkress9349 For 52 years he's been my brother from another mother!
Tommy Bolin is playing lead guitar on this particular song and I think he was about 20 or 21 years old at the time. Amazing stuff.
When Cobham was with Mahavishnu, he scared the hell out of Zappa's percussionists who were on the same bill. They couldn't believe how loud he was. This is a great album which I have owned in many formats.
I wouldn't say that; I watched the Bozzio's Drummers of Frank Zappa...Chester Thompson was a bit overwhelmed but; Zappa's drummers are no slouches either...Technically, as a drummer myself, and someone that has seen Billy live and in person back in the day, Chad Wackerman, Bozzio, Ralph Humphrey and Vinnie C. are better drummers...
Can't argue with your assessment of Zappa's drummers in that wonderful film but I think they were impressed. I suspect Chester was just being self deprecating, probably all that time playing with Brits!
That documentary was a great example of talent in inverse proportion to ego.
@@donaldanderson6604 :)...Oh, they were definitely impressed...How can anyone not be...:)... That's a good point about Chester...No wonder everybody loves him...:)...And you're right about the inverse proportion...Bozzio was very chill...I loved Ruth Underwood's insights and experiences...She tells such awesome stories...I think I've seen it three times now...Chad's part about Meeting Stevie Vai was hilarious...
What a time for music that was!
You're right. Just about all drummers were intimidated by Billy in the 70s. He is a freakish force of nature. Drumming would never be the same.
Very curious what documentary you mean... would like to see it myself.
Billy Cobham popularized the double bass shuffle with Quadrant 4. Many drummers were inspired by it and did their own thing afterward. Check out Simon Phillips on "Space Boogie" (Jeff Beck, 1980), Alex Van Halen on "Hot for Teacher" (Van Halen, 1984) and Gregg Bissonnette on "Elephant Gun" (Dave Lee Roth, 1986).
......Ian Paice on "Fireball"!
One of the best albums all-time, original, explosive and intense.
Yes, Alex Van Halen said in an interview that he got the idea for the drum opening in Hot For Teacher from Billy Cobham’s Quadrant 4
Ahh, Jan Hammer, the man who plays better guitar on keyboards than most people do on guitar. Wonderful stuff.
One of Tommy Bolins' finest moments.
As an offical studio recording there is no finer Tommy Bolin moment.
Had he lived this recording would still ave been hard to top.
Incredible Album from start to finish.
I recently bought this album for the 3rd time, it keeps getting worn out. A few months ago Leland Sklar (on his channel) played along with Stratus, it was really cool to see him and his beard showing their skill. I can't wait until you get to Stratus (also often played live by Jeff Beck). Big thumbs for this!
Forgot he was on this album. Leland is cool and played with EVERYBODY.....including my fav, Phil.
"Stratus" from that album is a great tune to dance to.
I used this tune in a Mountain Bike Video... This guy was born with sticks in his hands...!
This whole album is a stalwart in jazz fusion circles. Truly great T Bolin on this.☺
Cobham is one of the greats. Beautiful player. And this album is on fire.
Everyone but Tommy were reading music for the session. Tommy couldnt read, didnt jam the songs to get a feel, he just winged it. All 4 songs hes featured on were live recordings hardly any overdubs, Tommy is all live , first takes, played right off the top of his head. And 21 years old I believe. Still one of my favorite albums and guitarist.
.............Happy Birthday, Billy🎵🎶🎶🎶🎶🎵🎵
My friend and guitarist Big David told me to buy this album, took me quite awhile to start understanding some of it. Still am.
Spectrum 1973, Blow by Blow 1975, hmm. Jan Hammer of course, a Cobham and Beck alumni.
What do I think? It was ground breaking at the time and I’m still analyzing the dig site. It definitely influenced many things to come.
Just a crazy jam, glad to rehear it with you all. Jan and Tommy’s playing are just insane.
Again, a vote for James Gang “Bang” album, say that 10 times...
Makes it 10 votes, right? No, oh ok, whatever.
Your Midnight Blue revelation is akin to my Transformation (Speed of Love) revelation, I’d forgotten about it and listened to it the moment next I could and, it probably influenced by Spectrum. Now you know my reasoning seasoning.
Peace and Music
I just watched the 1st ann. show from SOAL Night Live and there was part of an interview with David Sancious, the original is here: ua-cam.com/video/2vL5mTowLE4/v-deo.html thought you might like it (if you haven't seen it already).
I have often found the best music and books in my life required me to grow enough to appreciate them so I can understand what you are saying here.
@@markspooner1224
Thx Mark!
SO much history! Billy's still going strong at 78! Tour comes to the midwest in October of 22. Jan Hammer, better known for the theme to the TV show "Miami Vice". Tommy Bolin, who would go on to replace Joe Walsh in The James Gang, then replaced Richie Blackmore in Deep Purple, and was dead at 25. And Lee Sklar, who would, years after this, Billy Cobham's debut album, would resurface as the bass player on Bernie Williams' debut album. Bernie Williams, the New York Yankees' centerfielder, who is also a brilliant jazz guitarist, just like his dad, letting that part of him blossom after his baseball days were over.
Experienced a road trip from Vancouver, BC that reached Laguna Beach, CA... '89? '90?
This tune was a high point. Wish I still had that video!
I've got this one, was turned on to it in the early 70s.
One of the best drummers in music jazz to rock music
Stratus is the go to track on the Spectrum album which has become a fusion standard and has been covered many times by others.
If you want atmosphere and a musical journey then check out the "Solarization" suite from the Total Eclipse album.
My first listen, it kicked ass. High speed boogie.
I wish I could hear this for the first time...again. What a mindblower.
I just watched this again, and you need to know the first solo is Jan Hammer on mini moog. He is amazing, and his style is like a guitar, but it's keyboards.
Saw Maha in Central Park in 74 & the next incarnation with Ponty in 76. When I saw his Solo show in 75, I was in a mezzanine with a view almost above him and at that point I had never seen/heard a drummer play so precise, fast and melodically using beats & rhythm. It was a revelation. That's Jan Hammer from Maha on keys here on the first solo. Bolin comes in later on guitar and later both together. He created the quintessential Fusion synth solo sound of the 70's!. ATMOSPHERE! then listen to the other songs. I think the song was meant to be what it was (a sophisticated high velocity Fusion Rockout jam) in context of the entire album to compliment the other incredible songs.
Oh happy day! This particular group was on fire and I don't think Tommy Bolin was ever quite this good ever again although he went on to play with The James Gang and Deep Purple. I prefer his playing on the first Zephyr album. By the way, Bolin is doing all those guitar distortion tricks on the fly himself, they are not studio tricks. Thanks for being the first reactor to pick this up Justin.
Glad you enjoyed it Rob+!
Ahh yes JP, my other musical passion Classic Jazz Fusion from 1970s -90s !!
Billy of of my very Favs from Mahavishnu to Solo career !
One of the very Best Drummers ever !! : D
Just an amazing album! Mind blowing on headphones.
There are some heavy heavy hitter playing on this tune and the entire Spectrum album but the standout here is Tommy Bolin!
In 1976 I attended a concert in the CSUN gymnasium called Cobham Meets Bellson.
They played back and forth and at the end were joined by other drummers, I guess from the school.
One of the coolest, most memorable concerts.
YAY! FUSION Lives! This is a hell of an album, and one of the best surround albums I've ever heard (the quad SACD).
Oh man. Billy is so inspiring. I love his tune Al Mustafa. So deep
Sooo pleased you're getting to Spectrum, one of my friends had this on cassette player while we ran errands one day during the '70's: Mind blown!! & I also have owned this in many formats since.
This is the equivalent of a good trip in a toboggan in the Winter Olympics. You need to sit down and appreciate Van Halen 1 & 2 Justin. Atmosphere aplenty and you'll soon be dancing with Nat. They and Billy are indeed a necessary breath of fresh air today. Variety is the oxygen of your channel. Sprouts yesterday were far from chart fodder - but unfortunately that's how they can be perceived. Billy today started to Grate , yet when I chilled and actually heard the
Freedom of Expression
involved here , I caressed my inner Muso and saw the purpose of it all- especially as we were spared preposterous searching pseudo tenor vocals from wanna be philosophers contemplating the spirit of the age.
Talking of which, it's election day today and i need to get canvassing. Just Vote HP SOS today folks. My Manifesto?
Keep Pluggin away about the things that really matter.
Big and small.
a message of love & hope in truth and humility
some of it encapsulated in this request :
Don't just keep Thomas Dolby in mind , JP!
Please put "The Flat Earth" on your phone and press play to record.
X
Diolch!
Oh my god I'm so glad you got around to listening to Cobham. I can't wait to see you react to Red Baron. HOWEVER, I'm pretty sure that, at the beginning, it's drums and keyboard, not guitar.
Good choice! How about some Tommy Bolin's "Teaser" first solo album, you will like it.
Jan Hammer is on the synth in the beginning. You can hear the pitch bender which is a big part of Jan's phrasing. Must listen to Magical Dog and Bambu Forest from the Oh Yea! album! Life changing synth playing.
Oh Yeah? is among the greatest jazz-fusion albums!
From Wikipedia
”Ken Scott, engineer of Spectrum, recounted: "Bill Cobham's drums were treated in exactly the same way as I recorded every other drummer. I just used more mics...” ...” One other thing: in order to dampen the snare, Bill just laid his wallet on the top head."
I'm surprised the wallet didn't fly off while Billy was murdering that snare.
Billy Cobham inspiration for Alex Van Halen playing Hot for Teacher ten years later !
Just read Alex Van Halen's modern drummer interview.
Billy Cobham on Tour this summer revisiting the Crosswinds album!!
By the way, it's " Yahn " Hammer not Jan Brady. He was born in Prague.
Cheers
Really liked this one Justin,if I may make a suggestion maybe some Stanley Clark next,probably the best bass player I've ever heard
Oh man I almost forgot you mentioned Kenny Burrell my mom and my stepdad when we lived in LA well shoot we lived there most of our lives we went to a club on Olympic Boulevard in Los Angeles and that's where the old Helms Bakery used to be that's where all the vehicles would gather and pick up all the donuts and bread and all sorts of things and they would deliver them all over the LA area and all the suburbs they had these big light brown colored Square vans and they had these big wooden drawers with all the donuts on all the shelves it was a dream and they had this whistle it sound kind of like a train whistle and they would pull that but of course gas prices went up and that was the end of the Helms Bakery trucks but the point is at those old Helms Bakery and Kenny Burrell and his band played there and they were they were all teachers professors of Music they were all music doctors they had their doctorate in music every musician the drummer the bass player the piano player and Kenny himself and they taught jazz at USC yeah man he was a funny thing Kenny was taking a little tiny jeweler's screwdriver and adjusting the magnets on his guitar on his pickups well he was playing yeah so it turns out Jimi Hendrix was influenced by Kenny Burrell oh yeah okay man Ken reaction yeah there's a lot of good songs on there but I have grooves trust me on that one
Thank you so much for doing this! You’ve got to do the whole album! Everybody on it is a list and you won’t be disappointed! The whole album isn’t this intense so there’s a lot to discover, there’s actually a whole second band that plays on some of the songs with Ron carter
What a great track, as they used to say, 'this was jumpin'. BC's one of those guys i've heard on numerous other artists works, first time his own. He's accompanied by a slew of big names, and they were all on fire. Great stuff. My mind kept drifting to Jeff Beck, largely i think cos of Hammer's keys, very distinctive. Really enjoyed this, i deffo want to hear the rest of this album.
This was my first Cobham LP...love it. Lot of real strong jazz fusion here. If you want a more melodic song, ”To the woman in my life/Le Lis”
Classic fusion.
What a song!! You'll find Billy Cobham is an awsome drummer and this is an awsome album
I am a big fan of Billy Cobham's first 6 or 7 studio albums (I'd say at least up to "Magic"). "Crosswinds" will give you a good look into Mr Cobham's musical diversity. Side 1 Titled "Spanish Moss(a Sound Portrait)" is a good place to journey into. For something shorter, I'd recommend the beautiful "Heather" from the same album. A truly lovely 9 min jazz ballad.
Cobham is one of my favorite drummers on account of his presence on the first three Mahavishnu albums. The one time I saw the Grateful Dead, in 1981, I was delighted that he was their guest drummer. The "voodoo set" was particularly amazing that night. I also became acquainted with the gyroscope people, who were so high they had to have a gyroscope in their back pocket to keep them in an upright position. But I love Billy Cobham and I hope you explore some more.
Saw him play at a Jazz/Rock festival, with 10 others on the bill. I was amazed. The only bad thing was the sets were short because of the # of performers.
Good morning Justin and fellow followers!
Totally understand forgetting about an album and when reminded say, "I'm definitely listening to that today." That was triggered for me yesterday when Patrick Moraz's The Story of I was mentioned in the comments. Was great to listen to it again.
After all these years, I have yet to hear it. A trip for JP do you think?
@@HippoYnYGlaw
I think so. There's so much electronic ambient music Justin still needs to check out, though:
Vangelis
Tangerine Dream
Kitaro
Tomita
Etc., etc., etc...
Oh, not to mention more Jean-Michel Jarre.
This album got me through first semester my sophomore year of college. Check out Leland Sklar's channel for more listens and stories about this incredible elpee...and don't forget Billy played this double-kick shuffle 11 years before VH released "Hot for Teacher"...
Justin you did IT!! LOL! Yes yes yes...Billy Cobham!! Keep going on the album...it gets better...trust me. You totally surprised me today...yay!
Special mention: Jan Hammer has an album titled...First Seven Days. This album is calmer with wonderful workings on the keys. I listened to this album ALOT. Totally instrumental.
One of the all-time great drummers--his technical virtuosity during this time period (with Mahavishnu Orchestra, etc.) especially was just dazzling. If I recall, the bass line of "Stratus" from this album was sampled by Massive Attack for their tune "Safe from Harm." One song that I think shows he is a capable songwriter as well is "What If" from his solo album "The Traveller" (1994)--very beautiful melodically, and the drums are kept in a strictly supporting role, no pyrotechnics.
Two other worthwhile things with Cobham I'd recommend: a) check out the video on UA-cam of Herbie Hancock's "Eye of the Hurricane," Herbie supported by Cobham and Ron Carter, Live in Lugano (1983)--absolutely awesome version of the composition; b) Larry Coryell's album "Live from Bahia"--Cobham (again, mostly in a supportive role, no pyrotechnics) and some great Brazilian jazz musicians, my favorite version of "Vera Cruz"
This is a classic album. I think John McLaughlin was intimidated by Jan Hammer's skill on the minimoog.
I also like Cobham's album, "Crosswinds".
He and George Duke put together a short-lived band but they put out an interesting live album. An attempt to marry funk, jazz, and humor.
Cobham did noteworthy sessions. One of my favorites is Horace Silver, "Serenade to a Soul Sister".
The opening jam is the great Jan Hammer on Synthesizer. Bolin is the second solo after a short duel between the two
Tommy Bolin on guitar here. Might be his best moment ever.
This is a fantastic album!!! This one is a great tune, but my favorite is of course Stratus 🙂
Afternoon, Justin. Dave from London where It's Raining Again! Wow, this is more nuclear fission than fusion. You said intense; maybe a bit too intense for me. I prefer a slow-burn building to a climax. Like you, I love Tommy Bolin's playing here; as you may know he replaced Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple for the album Come Taste The Band, before his sad demise.
I remember, back in my student days, so many friends playing Mahavishnu's Birds of Fire. In my digs, I actually had a picture of Billy, dwarfed by his drum kit, on my bedroom door, with a message to my flatmates: 'Give it some Billy on the door at 8 o'clock.' (I had trouble getting up for my lectures!).
Postscript: I've now dipped into some of Kenny Burrell's Midnight Blue album. Sounds like the kind of late night jazz I really like. Will explore further. Is his style similar to Wes Montgomery's?
Great review. Completely agree with you on this cut (actually, I usually agree with you).
If I am not mistaken, that's Tommy Bolin on guitar?
Cheers and thanx!
Jan Hammer is amazing on this album. Listen to Le Lis, Jan Hammer on keyboards. Crazy tasteful solo. Another note, I think Tommy Bolin was only 19 when he played on this album.
I love the fusion brother. Staying in this vein of fusion I'd recommend Tony Williams Lifetime 'Emergency' from 1970 I think. I also hope you hit those Brecker Brothers sometime, starting with the first track on their eponymous debut, 'Some Skunk Funk'.
You could be on a roll with the fusion JP. Dare I suggest Brand X 'Deadly Nightshade'
Mitico! I have had the LP.
More Billy!
Cobham's playing is a bit too bombastic and demonstrative for my taste but hey, I admit that it's really well played and it's typical of the Jazz fusion style of the 70s!
Listen to the album Mind Transplant by Alphonse Mouzon (also with Tommy Bolin on guitar), it's pretty much the same genre (with an added touch of funk).
Hot for teacher came out something like 12-15 years later. So its correct to say it sounds like Quadrant4.😁
God that drums!
Wow! Billy Cobham, great choice. The next song, Stratus will be more sonically pleasing to you after the 1:49 drum interlude. Still waiting for Deodato doing Also Sprach Zarathustra. Great to hear fusion on the channel. 😀
Man that was pretty dense. I liked it though. I used to listen to a lot of speed fusion when I was a younger man. Harder to keep up now.
Saw Billy with this band at a bar in Toronto
Not wishing to appear stupid, but I assume the Massive Attack T-shirt is not a coincidence.
Because of your comment, I googled "Cobham massive attack"
Sometimes the most perfect of coincidences occur.😅
@@JustJP Tremendous! I wonder what track you'll listen to next? 😂
Oh man!! I was wondering when you'd get into this album. Stratus is my favorite song
It should be no surprise that this recording inspired Alex Van Halen when he was coming up with the drum part for "Hot for Teacher"
and actually Alex Van Halen names Cobham as someone who inspires him. Hot for Teacher was done in 84. Cobham did this beat in 1973. so yeah and btw it IS very hard to do/play but again make no mistake Alex kind of borrowed the beat from Billy. The whole Spectrum recording is now considered a fusion classic...as it should be.
Alex Van Halen was indeed paying homage to this song in Hot For Teacher
Heart-attack fusion. That was cool.
The original Hot For Teacher groove
Listen to 'One Word' by The Mahavishnu Orchestra featuring Billy Cobham on drums.
Go for the title track next. It's the standout on this great album, and has a very funky groove.
Justin, you’ll recognise Stratus when you listen to that track. There’s an excellent version by Jeff Beck, playing at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London, it’s easily found on You Tube.
Sorry JP but the guitar solo at the beginning is Jan Hammer on moog.
And now you know where "Hot for Teacher" came from.
Absolutely Alex Van Halen got his inspiration on Hot For Teacher intro from this. But nobody else got a close to Tommy's guitar work on this track. What a loss to music. He was such a great talent on so many levels.The vamp on the bridge is pretty much a jump blues motif.
Try Stratus and Red Baron from this album
This sounds like boogie to me. Different key (I think) and instrumentation but it is boogie (at least big parts of it). Cool. It is like they were listening to King Biscuit Boy With Crowbar or the Downchild Blues Band (and maybe Steely Dan) and said to themselves, we can do that and better.
A fun listen. The drumming seems appropriate to the genre in my mind.
If you like this style check out Jeff Beck-Space Boogie from There and Back(1980)
Mahavishnu O. You know, you know. Great song. And BTW, it's pronounced yan, aka Jan
With the amazing ,,, Tommy Bolin ,, on guitar.... If you haven't already,,,, you need to check out Tommy Bolin!!!!!!!!!
If you like this, listen to Oh Yeah? by Jan Hammer. Some fantastic tunes on that album by one of the greats on keys.
That whole intro isn't guitar - it's Jan Hammer on synth. He developed a technique of phrasing and bending notes like a guitar when he was trading licks with John McLaughlin and Jerry Goodman in the Mahavishnu Orchestra. He got better at it later on solo albums, and albums by Jeff Beck, Al DiMeola, Elvin Jones, and his music for the original Miami Vice TV show. Cobham met McLaughlin when they were both playing on those Miles Davis electric albums.That ray gun type effect that Tommy Bolin uses on his guitar at the end of solos was something he got from Steve Stevens (guitarist for Billy Idol), using an old Lexicon PCM 41 Delay unit. Bolin's playing on this album paved the way for his later involvement with The James Gang and Deep Purple. Check out Jan Hammer's first solo album The First Seven Days, which led to his collaborations with Jeff Beck. The very short song titles on this album are just drum interludes.
I really don't see the connection with Steve Stevens (who was 8 years younger than Tommy Bolin and not yet active in 1973. he will start his career in 1979).
As for the Lexicon PCM 41 Delay unit, it dates from the early 1980s so Tommy could not used it in 1973.
The effect Tommy Bolin used was the Echoplex (a tape delay effect also used by Carlos Santana at this time).
@@a.k.1740 This was something I was sure I read in an old guitar magazine, but as you say, the dates don't line up at all.
" Deadly Nightshade" by Brand X!!!!
Just a Jazz Fusion classic nothing more to say really ✌️😎p.s...try Red Baron or Stratus
Jan Hammer did the keyboard solo at the beginning of the song.
more Wheather Report ? ? ? ?