Lost Trident Sessions [Original recording remastered]

John McLaughlin, Mahavishnu Orchestra | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 21, 1999)
• Original Release Date: September 21, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00001R3G0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,083 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Recorded during a brief stopover in London on June 25, 1973, these unprepossessing studio performances, despite (or maybe because of) the heavy compression (particularly on the drums) and a mixed-on-the-fly feel, convey far more of the edgy, go-for-broke energy, ferocious solo intensity, and telepathic interplay of Mahavishnu's peak 1973 live shows than their only live album (the August 12, 1973, Central Park performance caught on Between Nothingness & Eternity). McLaughlin's extended forms, "Dream" and "Trilogy," are made up of hyperkinetic blues vamps, classical elements from both the Western art music and Carnatic traditions, shifting minor modes and complex rhythmic cycles, while keyboardist Jan Hammer's "Sister Andrea" adds a welcome touch of funk to the formula. Unreleased tunes by violinist Jerry Goodman and bassist Rick Laird shed new light on their contributions to the band's overall repertoire, and everyone plays like their life depends on it--no one more so than Billy Cobham, whose ability to swing rock rhythms and depict a wide range of dynamic nuances is simply remarkable. Cobham's ferocious exchanges with the guitarist walk the line between Hendrix-style psychedelia and Coltrane-like dervish dances. A thrilling snapshot of fusion's musical possibilities before it all went sour. --Chip Stern

Product Description

Recorded in '73 at London's Trident studios, this was to have been Mahavishnu's third studio LP-but instead was buried in Columbia's vault and not found until late '98! McLaughlin, Cobham, Hammer and the band are at their creative and virtuosic peak as they play Stepping Tones; Trilogy; Dream , and the rest of the songs on this incredible fusion find, heard now for the first time in 26 years!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent "lost" 3rd Mahavishnu Studio Album, May 26, 2003

By 

Christopher Henrici (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lost Trident Sessions (Audio CD)

Opinions seem to be highly polarised about the perceptions of this TRIDENT disc. As a fan who had their records in 7th grade (1974) - Inner Mounting Flame was the record I pulled out for a friend who thought Ritchie Blackmore was the s**t - he became a quick convert. The record remains a guitar smoker with superb musicianship on every instrument. Now, many years later, comes this Trident disc. After several listens I find it hard to believe any true fan of this band would not be impressed with the TRIDENT disc. It has all the hallmarks of classic Mahavishnu- good compositions featuring astounding instrumental solos and interplay- the only thing better than it IS inner mounting flame. It is great to have studio versions of these live songs (from between nothingness and eternity)...In some respects the live performance is better in an over the top kind of way, but the good recording quality of Trident gives a new perspective on these songs- Goodman's violin in particular sounds superior on these studio renditions. The live album, unfortunately, was given poor recording engineering which for me makes it a little less appreciative. Birds of Fire's title track is probably my favorite song by them, but I like "Dreams" and "Trilogy" from TRIDENT more than the other compositions on Bird's of fire, the three other songs on Trident are good too, so as a whole I prefer this album slightly. While lumped into the "jazz/rock fusion" category, Trident and Inner Mounting Flame fall mainly towards rock- of the progressive variety- actually there are some parallels between Mahavishnu and King Crimson's live recorded work of 1973-1974...both bands had electric violin and virtuoso guitar/drummer line-ups...so adventurous listeners might wish to give Crimson's "USA" and "Nightwatch" discs a try. Given the opportunity to contribute my perceptions of TRIDENT sessions, I am pleased it was released and can recommend it to fans of this band without reservation. Mclaughlin himself is quoted in the retrospective notes... "I am very happy, actually, with the lost (trident) album"... Displeased listener/reviewers can always seek the "grail" elsewhere, TRIDENT is close enough for me... the actual Mahavishnu
grail was believed to be located within the Inner mounting flame.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Studio version of Between Nothingness and Eternity, October 2, 2000

By 

kireviewer (Sunnyvale, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Lost Trident Sessions (Audio CD)

Alot has been written about this CD, but this is what happened:

In June 1973, the members of Mahavishnu Orchestra went into the studio and recorded their third album. They later went out on the road and performed the album. They liked the live material better and released a live album, and shelved the studio material.

This CD (Lost Trident Sessions) is the release of that original studio album. It is 39 minutes long. The first three numbers on this CD are studio verisons of the live tracks that appear on Between Nothingness and Eternity. The studio versions are shorter and tighter. Arguments can be made on which versions are better; the longer, looser, rambling live versions or the more concise studio versions. Most reviewers complain that this new studio release isn't as good as the live version. But it is all relative and a matter of perception. If the studio version came out first, I bet these same reveiwers would be complaining that the live versions meander too much and are boring in spots.

The last three tracks on Trident Sessions have never been released. They total 12 minutes. One tune is a rocking guitar number, similar to some of the tracks on Visions of the Emarald Beyond. The other two tracks feature Laird on bass and Goodman on violin. All three of them are excellent.

Taken on it's own, this is an excellent album, with a sound that is closest to Birds of Fire. If you already own Between Nothingness and Eternity, should you buy this one? That is hard to say. You will get 12 minutes of "new" material. And I think the studio versions of the live material are different enough that they are worth owning.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great, gotta have it, but..., October 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lost Trident Sessions (Audio CD)

I am as die-hard an MO fan as you can imagine, and was thrilled to find out about LTS and could hardly wait to get it. It definitely fills a gap, has some interesting additional material, and is a remarkably good-sounding album...BUT - I personally think that it is being overrated in comparison with BNaE. LTS sounds like what it is, a studio take of early sessions of difficult and involved material. BNaE is a realization of the same pieces after MO had more time to work out the improvisations and structural parts of the pieces. As others have said, compare the improvisations, especially "Sister Andrea" - JMcL was clearly exploring what to do in this solo on LTS, and by the time he did BNaE, he had more fully developed the improvisation.

Don't get me wrong, I like it, I like it a LOT. Get it. But it's not the Grail. Personally, I think the version of "The Noonward Race" on the "Mar Y Sol" concert album is the type of material I would like to hear more of. If you haven't heard it, the playing is ferocious!! According to an interview I read with JMcL, Colombia/Sony has a full concert album from this time period that they're sitting on. Please release it!! MO always....