Land of the Midnight Sun

Al Di Meola | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000256F
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #217,795 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Splendido! Guitarissimo!, April 26, 2001

By 

Gavin Wilson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Land of the Midnight Sun (Audio CD)

Born in July '54, DiMeola was little more than 21 when he recorded this, his debut. There are a few rock cliches scattered across this album, but the standard of musicianship is dauntingly high. This is precisely what Carlos Santana ought to have progressed to after 'Caravanserai'. But could he have done it, because DiMeola was unquestionably the most proficient young guitarist ot come out of the States for a long time. He had the lot: sharp staccato passages that crackle like machine-gun fire, high searing solos with notes that twist and turn as he bends them, and a sensitive but all-pervading acoustic guitar style.

This album has a strong latin flavour running through most of it, caused by the presence of Al's chum Mingo Lewis on congas, who makes the album flow almost as much as Al does. And there's almost an embarrassment of riches among the supporting musicians present -- Pastorius, Clarke, Corea ...

The only negative about this album is the strength of the compositions -- there are just too many standard rock licks here -- but Al would become more consistent with the following year's 'Elegant Gypsy'. But for me, Al had already written his best tune: 'Flight of the Newborn' on Return to Forever's 'No Mystery' is one of those tracks I can never tire of, and I've known it for a quarter of a century. Personally I feel Al is better when he doesn't have the pressure of being forced to lead a band -- that's why his three albums with RtF are so magnificent.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Al's best - he peaked early!, December 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Land of the Midnight Sun (Audio CD)

There's a well-worn cliche about artists who try to match their first effort, but to no avail. That's the case with Al. I have heard most all of his 1970s and 80s work, and frankly it doesn't match this, his first solo effort, recorded when he was his early 20s. As his career wore on, Al got bogged down in a lot of embarrassing bombast and overproduced messes. Not so here. The guitar playing is fierce, funky and tasteful; he makes nice use of his patented "percolater" effect, damping the strings with his wrist and using the guitar almost as a percussion instrument, which goes along well with the latin/rock/funk compositions and the presence of Mingo Lewis, the percussionist. Unlike later work the compositions are tight and show some restraint. There is a nice "macho" air throughout. All in all it is a perfect guitar record, right up there with the best of them.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There are masters..and there are students.., March 29, 2006

By 

Antony "Illidan" (Chicago Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Land of the Midnight Sun (Audio CD)

I remember what happened to me when i first listened to it.I was blown away.Everything changed that day.I thought i knew so much about guitar playing..and then Al came.This album together with the next one 'Elegant Gypsy' reflect alone the glorious and creative time of the 70's.It is so hard to find something similar nowadays,and to be honest we don't want to.Those days were unique,noone can turn back time.Musically this is beyond every imagination.Al was the most charismatic electric-guitar player of the 70's.Not only he played fast but he was a great composer also.That is what seperates true musicians from the fast-fake ones.Along with his marvelous-gifted companions they do whatever they like with their instruments.They give us a hard-electric-latin-tango-blues-classical-fusion spectacle and they welcome us to join their world.A good lesson for youngers..respect for the old ones..