Master of the Stratosphere

Maynard Ferguson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 1, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony Special Product
• ASIN: B00003OOZI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #180,989 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Primal Scream

2. Spinning Wheel

3. Chameleon

4. Gospel John

5. La Fiesta

6. Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky)

7. MacArthur Park

8. Pagliacci

9. Superbone Meets the Bad Man

10. Theme from "Shaft"

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic Maynard at his Best, July 21, 2001

By 

Archie Mercer "Archie" (Yorba Linda, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Master of the Stratosphere (Audio CD)

After listening to a different "Greatest Hits" package of MF (The Essence of Maynard) I was cautious of this set. This set is a big step in the right direction. Taken from Maynards most commercially successful period (1972-1976) these songs are Maynard at his screaming best. Songs like La Fiesta and Gospell John demonstrate not only Maynards ability but also the strength of the musicians behind him. Other great songs are, of course, Rocky and my personal favorite Superbone meets the Badman.

So with all this great music here, why did I rate it as a 4 and not a 5? These songs came from 5 album only: MF Horn 2 & 3, Chameleon, Primal Scream, and Conquistador. And although this music was probably his most popular it doesn't include some of the best off those albums. Notable songs missing: Nice and Juicy off MF Horn 3, Left Bank Express off 3 (although the live version off Live at Jimmy's is better) and Can't Get Started off Chameleon. Still this is a great, great Greatest Hits Collection from his most popular period. Now all we need to see is a box set covering all of his career and I'll be one happy camper.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is my favorite Maynard collection...and I have many, July 8, 2001

By 

Jeremy Klemm (Brooklyn, CT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Master of the Stratosphere (Audio CD)

If you like the style of jazz that I like, you like hard swingin', foot tappin', jazz/rock fusion. And if you like that type of jazz, you'll LOVE Maynard Ferguson. "Master of the Stratosphere" is the king of high chops' greatest collection of tunes by far. You'll be singing the songs over and over in your head forever! It features great bass lines (Spinning Wheel), jazz standards (Chameleon), and an INCREDIBLE trumpet trio (La Fiesta). This album is a collection of 10 great Maynard charts, including his Billboard Chart-topping version of Gonna Fly Now (Theme from "Rocky"). There is not one bad part to this album, and no reason not to purchase this right away! My favorite jazz album is sure to become one of your favorites as well!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth it....For now., October 27, 2003

By 

JetTone12 (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Master of the Stratosphere (Audio CD)

This is a nice collection of some of Maynard's great 1970's work, but if you're a big Maynard fan like me, you might already own a lot of these songs on their original releases, or on other albums/compilations. This album is great simply for the fact that it contains great MF work like "Spinning Wheel", "Pagliacci", "Primal Scream" and "Theme From Shaft", which are not available on any other Maynard Compact Disc. MF reaches screech range on "Pagliacci", one of his craziest performances ever! I really wish Primal Scream would come out on CD, I've wanted the album for quite a while. This album also includes classic MF performances like "La Fiesta", "MacArthur Park" and "Gospel John", and has his biggest hit "Rocky Theme (Gonna Fly Now)". This album is nice to be able to have but it will become obselete if the MF Horn albums 1-4 and Primal Scream are ever reissued on CD by Columbia.