My Goal's Beyond [Original recording reissued]

John McLaughlin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 11, 2000)
• Original Release Date: 1971
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Knitting Factory
• ASIN: B00004SBXJ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #476,857 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Peace One

2. Peace Two

3. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

4. Something Spiritual

5. Hearts And Flowers

6. Phillip Lane

7. Waltz For Bill Evans

8. Follow Your Heart

9. Song For My Mother

10. Blue In Green

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Musical offspring of East and West, December 21, 2002

By 

mario tennon (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Goal's Beyond (Audio CD)

When I first heard "Peace One" about three years ago on our local Pacifica radio station, I was immediately captivated by the tune's warmth in the midst of its haunting quality, and by its accessibility in the midst of its esotericism. More than anything else, every time I listen to this instrumental, I am astounded by the aspiring quality that comes forth. The instrumental interplay blazes just as brightly as any Mahavishnu Orchestra piece does, yet it also offers a placid, oceanic, and airy serenity. If this does not prove that one does not need amps turned up to the mythical 11, I do not know what will.

This is quite, introspective music that is still willing and eager to engage with all who encounter it. This is a blend of high compositional prowess interspersed with improvisational force and feeling. This is a world music masterpiece, not merely a meeting between East and West but a true organic union of the two that is seamless. Most of all, this is music of warm, sunny, joyous, optimistic Saturday afternoons we have experienced in our pasts as well as music for such moments we have yet to experience.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astounding marriage of East and West, August 2, 2000

By 

Worgelm "The Grumpy" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Goal's Beyond (Audio CD)

Whereas Shakti looked inwards at Western music through Eastern eyes, JM on this album takes it the other way around. "Peace One" and the passionate, articulated chaos of "Peace Two" are simply some of the most astounding world fusion recordings ever made. Dave Liebman's soloing is fiery against the complicated polyrythms of sitar, tabla, and tanpura, with percussion by Airto Moriera and Billy Cobham. Through the entire experience (cheezy liner-note incantations to McLaughlin's mind-control cult guru aside) you get the feeling that you are listening to something sacred and unearthly that just happened to settle down in the studios when these pieces were cut.

These tracks alone would be reason enough to buy 10 copies of this record, but then on the more traditional side you also get the premiere John McLaughlin unplugged show here, and his acoustic playing is very thoughtful, occasionally forceful but mostly just plain mystical and astounding. The solo acoustic pieces are played with reverence, starting with the wonderful interpretation of the Minugus standard "Goodbye, Pork Pie Hat" and demonstrating his note-heavy technique on "Phillip Lane." If you consider yourself any kind of fan of guitar you should feel required to purchase this album. On top of that, its one of the finest jazz recordings ever made (although its more "jazz in spirit" than traditional).

Note: The CD edition starts with the two "Peace" pieces but IMHO works better to listen to the fine solo acoustic work first, with "Peace One" and "Peace Two" being the mind-blowing closers.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, June 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: My Goal's Beyond (Audio CD)

McLaughlin was still emerging from his late-60's acid-jazz phase when he made this acoustic turn toward the East. The result is a forward-looking tour-de-force. And McLaughlin has never been in better form. Side one is a series of fine solo acoustic guitar pieces. Side 2 consists of two related Peaces, a breathtakingly beautiful Indian acoustic tapestry, with a timeless beauty that even Shakti never fully realized. This music is powerful, peaceful, beautiful, and timeless. It's a joy to see it again, reincarnated as a CD.