School Days

Stanley Clarke, Stanley Clarke & George Duke | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000025L0
• 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: #142,473 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

School Days will forever be on of this producer's favorite recordings. Every track just resonates with the listener and was truly a groundbreaking crossover release as Blow By Blow was for Jeff Beck. Stanley Clarke is the master musician who delivers the goods with every track on this legendary album. Life Is Just A Game is the standout jam.......unbelievable.....the speakers in the studio just lighted up the room! This is one for the shredders!!!! --Joe Reagoso- Reissue Producer and Mastering Engineer --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Product Description

School Days was a game changer for the legendary Stanley Clarke in many ways. Not only did it forever
etch the title superstar musician to his name all over the world, it also crossed his incredible music over to a
whole new level of listeners, which to this day continue to flock to this album for the solid funk, rock, jazz and
fusion release that only this master jam could achieve.
After a very successful run with Chick Corea s Return To Forever, world class bassist and
multi-instrumentalist Stanley Clarke branched out on his own and made some very credible solo albums.
When School Days hit in late 1976, it was not uncommon to hear tracks like Hot Fun and School Days being
played on all formats of radio. Whether it be urban, rock, or jazz, the School Days album was the go to album
of choice for many radio stations, as its rhythms and cosmic funk / rock / jazz energy would truly enhance the
listening experience to a whole new realm.
Friday Music is so very honored to offer for the first time on 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl the legendary
Stanley Clarke School Days album. Mastered impeccably from the original Epic Records tapes by Joe
Reagoso and Kevin Gray at RTI/AcousTech, this stunning album is a fusion masterpiece just perfect for the
audiophile vinyl domain.
For this star studded affair, Stanley Clarke reached out to some of the greatest musicians of all time like
John McLauglin, George Duke, Billy Cobham, Chick Corea, Steve Gadd, Icarus Johnson, and many others.
Not only do you get the wonderful songs previously mentioned, but there are even more classics like
Quiet Afternoon with some very solid drumming by Steve Gadd, Desert Song featuring a stunning duet with
John McLauglin on guitar, as well as the apocalyptic album closer Life Is Just A Game, which features some
very powerful bass and drum fireworks between Stanley Clarke and Billy Cobham, with George Duke s
amazing keyboard expertise.
To celebrate this special limited edition release, we have also included a very rare gatefold cover, which
features all of the original artwork elements, which haven t been seen in years.
School Days... by Stanley Clarke... on stunning 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl... from your friends at Friday
Music. FUSE ON! --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 1976 saw a fusion bass extravaganza!, April 20, 2001

By 

Gavin Wilson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: School Days (Audio CD)

1976 was an extraordinary year for jazz-rock, and a very fortunate year for the CBS label. Weather Report's Jaco Pastorius released his wonderful debut solo album, Stanley Clarke released 'Schooldays', and his band Return to Forever released their 'Romantic Warrior' masterpiece.

It's useful to compare the two bassists' approaches to solo albums. Pastorius assumed a solo album meant just that: although there would be some numbers in a group setting, there should also be at least a couple of tracks where bass was the only instrument. Clarke didn't quite see things that way: his solo albums were more of an opportunity to front numerous different assemblies of highly accomplished musicians. The only rule, as he saw it, was not to use Lenny White or Al di Meola, or you might as well call the result another Return to Forever album.

Here he employs a fantastic roll-call of the leading drummers of the time: Bill Cobham, Eleventh House's Gerry Brown, and ace session musician Steve Gadd. Corea isn't featured at all, so Clarke himself provides some piano, and Dave Sancious and George Duke provides most of the keyboard fest elsewhere.

The album was Clarke's zenith, and his biggest seller. Sadly there's only one acoustic track here, but the electric tracks, to my ear, haven't dated as badly as those on 'Journey to Love'. Over the course of 25 years I have played it to death, and feel I know every note! But this means I cannot forecast how it will sound to new ears. To me it's still hugely enjoyable.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Apotheosis of Fusion, September 17, 2002

By 

Mark D Burgh "Music, Writing, Art, Film, Hist... (Fort Smith, AR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: School Days (Audio CD)

This art form of jazz fusion was never better than this amazing album. At the height of the movement, Stanley Clarke created a collection of pieces that brought together not only great players, but excellent melodies, muscular arrangements, and a profoundly funky edge that leaves most jazz-rock/fusion eating dust.

Into these six tracks, Clarke packs energy, daring and taste. Supplemented by what can only be called the best players in fusion and rock (Jeff Beck, David Sancious, Billy Cobham and, oh yes, John McLaughlin) Clarke removes the bass from the hands of limited slappers and extends playing technique that despite what some may think, is still the gold standard.

Some may compare Stanley Clarke to his putative rival Jaco Pastorius, but while Jaco was a great player, no mistake, Clarke is a great musical mind. The sweep of this music, the careful, but not constricted orchestration, the attention to detail all propel Stanley Clarke to the head of the class.

This album captures what was great about the best Jazz fusion, and indeed of the best of rock music of this time: the sense of limitless ecstatic exploration. In this dogmatic, cramped and idea-free era, listening to Stanley Clarke feels akin to Crimethink. Bring on the thought police, I'll confess.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great fusion and rock aesthetci energy, March 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: School Days (Audio CD)

this is one of my all time favorite fusion cds. Stanley clarke leads an outstanding emsemble of musiicans with his tremendous ability as a bass player. Stanley clarke displays his talent on all the tracks creating an unforgettable amalgam of jazz rock, r&b and some symphonic music. There are few who can take the lead on bass as does clarke. He is backed by such excellent players as david sancious, ray gomez, billy cobham icarus johnson, john macloughlin and more. Listen to the great guitar solo on life is just a game. Feel the energy as well as the outstanding playing on the title track school days. this recording was a tremendous uplift to my spriits when i first purchased it in 1976. It is still great and is a timeless example of what good music is and should be. this is a must have for any rock fan, fusion fan or anyone who appreciates good music.