Total Eclipse

Billy Cobham | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 25, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Wounded Bird Records
• ASIN: B00004SWDL
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,673 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Solarization: Solarization/Second Phase/Crescent Sun/Voyage/Solari ...

2. Lunarputians

3. Total Eclipse

4. Bandits

5. Moon Germs

6. The Moon Ain't Made of Green Cheese

7. Sea of Tranquility

8. Last Frontier

Editorial Reviews

First time on CD for this classic jazz album originally released in 1974 on Atlantic. Musicians include John Abercrombie, the Brecker Brothers & Milcho Leviev. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cobham-Musician And Composer At His Cleverist, September 12, 2005

By 

Andre S. Grindle "Andre' Grindle" (Brewer Maine) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Total Eclipse (Audio CD)

Considering that 1974's 'Total Eclipse' is Mr.Cobham's third studio recording (and was already in pretty heady company in his catalog even when it came out) this is a likely candidate for Cobham's best album and trust me I have heard most of them.Why?Because with the exception of the closing "Last Frontier" (a drum solo) this album is basically devoid of alot of flashy bombastic drumming on Cobham's part.Just great use of sustained intensity on the wonderful "Solarization" suite.
The title concepts for most of these tunes refer to various astronomical phenomenon.And in the case of the ultra funky "Lunarputians" just an excuse to use aliens as an excuse to groove (a concept later used with vocals by a guy named George Clinton).Some elements of this album are very heavily jazzy such as "Sea Of Tranquillity" and the title track emphasizes one of the most important parts of this albums appeal-the tunes here are some of the all time best compositions
Cohbam has created.
It wasn't exactly a bad thing either that Billy had the help of 'The Billy Cohbam Players' as they are credited.These players include John Abercrombie,the Brecker's, and the magnificant Alex Blake on bass.And I say that funnily in tribute to some community radio DJ's in my neck of the woods playing acoustic jazz who love to list EACH band member followed by the instrument they play.They probably would never play an album like this on their shows but if I had a radio show I sure would play this....okay MASTERPIECE and proudly list the musicians and what they play because without Billy AND the mutual collaberation of these great artists this album would'nt be exactly what it was.Integrity at it's finest!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best fusion record of the mid-70's, April 11, 2000

By 

William J. Mack (Denver, Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Total Eclipse (Audio CD)

When I first heard this album, the musicianship of Cobham and Co. blew me away. This is some of the tightest, well-written fusion material ever presented to the jazz-buying public. I have been waiting for them to release this on CD since CDs were invented!

You cannot go wrong with this album if you are a fan of the fusion movement of the 70's. I would rank this and some of the other Cobham albums above even McLaughlin and Mahavishnu orchestra in terms of ground-breaking musicianship and technical perfection!

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST album by Cobham.....ever!, January 16, 2001

By 

Rona (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Total Eclipse (Audio CD)

My father got me listening to Cobham, and I've been hooked ever since. He had it on vinyl, with one side destroyed, so I never heard any tracks beyond the title track. We have been waiting for years for this to come out on cd. We knew that once "Funky Thide of Sings" came out, "Total Eclipse" couldn't be too far behind. If you ever get anything by Cobham, THIS is the one to get. Highly recomended for fans of jazz/funk fusion and syncopation that will make your head spin. Buy it, love it, spread the gospel of Cobham, for he is the god of this genre.