Mahavishnu OrchestraBirds Of Fire

Label:

Columbia – KC 31996

Format:

Vinyl , LP, Album, Stereo , Terre Haute Pressing

Country:

US

Released:

Genre:

Rock

Style:

Jazz-Rock

Tracklist

A1 Birds Of Fire 5:44
A2 Miles Beyond 4:41
A3 Celestial Terrestrial Commuters 2:55
A4 Sapphire Bullets Of Pure Love 0:21
A5 Thousand Island Park 3:21
A6 Hope 1:57
B1 One Word 9:56
B2 Sanctuary 5:06
B3 Open Country Joy 3:54
B4 Resolution 2:09

Companies, etc.

  • Engineered AtTrident Studios
  • Engineered AtCBS Studios, New York
  • Pressed ByColumbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute
  • Published ByChinmoy Music, Inc.
  • Phonographic Copyright ℗CBS Inc.
  • Copyright ©CBS Inc.

Credits

  • BassRick Laird
  • Design [Album]Ashok (Chris Poisson)*
  • DrumsBilly Cobham
  • EngineerKen Scott
  • GuitarJohn McLaughlin
  • Keyboards, Synthesizer [Moog]Jan Hammer
  • ManagementNathan Weiss
  • Photography ByPranavananda
  • ProducerThe Mahavishnu Orchestra*
  • ViolinJerry Goodman
  • Written-ByJohn McLaughlin

Notes

Engineered at Trident Studios, London, and CBS, New York.

Barcode and Other Identifiers

  • Rights Society: BMI
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A Label): AL 31996
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B Label): BL 31996
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, variant 1): P AL 31996-2C 2T
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, variant 1): P BL 31996-2D T
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, variant 3): P AL 31996-2C 1T
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, variant 3): P BL 31996-2C 1T
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, variant 4): o P AL 31996-2C 1 T
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, variant 4): o P BL 31996-2D 1 T
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, variant 5): P AL 31996-2G
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, variant 5): o BL 31996-2B 1 T
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, variant 6): o P AL 31996-2C 1T
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, variant 6): o P BL 31996-2F 1T

Other Versions (5 of 145)

View All
Title (Format) Label Cat# Country Year
Recently Edited
Birds Of Fire (Acetate, LP, 33 ⅓ RPM, Album, Stereo) Columbia 31996 US 1972
Recently Edited
Birds Of Fire (LP, Album, Stereo) CBS CBS S 65321, S 65321 Europe 1973
New Submission
Birds Of Fire (Album, LP) CBS SBP234294 Australia 1973
Recently Edited
Birds Of Fire (LP, Album) CBS 65321, S 65321 UK 1973
New Submission
Birds Of Fire (LP, Album, Quadraphonic, Pitman) Columbia CQ 31996 US 1973

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Reviews

  • recordhead59's avatar
    recordhead59
    Groundbreaking record on so many fronts. The interplay between musicians is nothing short of stunning. This record, almost more than any other, jumpstarted the fusion genre, but it's not mindless and speedfreak drivel. Its songs that are well thought out and played with incredible skill. Too bad this was the last record with this lineup.
    • Somalis's avatar
      Somalis
      One of the best albums sound and music-wise in my collection
      • Sumogirl's avatar
        Sumogirl
        This is a fantastic album. I haven't listened to Mahavishnu Orchestra in years. I still the stoner friend who turned me on to them. Just gave this album a re-listen. It's great. No need to be stoned to appreciate it. And I normally really hate improvisational endless instrumental jazz. This - is good.
        • TimBucknall's avatar
          TimBucknall
          First Impression
          Johnny Mac & Goodman absolutely burn, i've heard a few attempts to integrate violin into hard rock
          there's King Crimson with poor inaudible David Cross being squished by the "flying brick wall" of Bruford & Wetton
          and there's woefully out of tune Simon House with Bowie on his 1978 tour.
          But if you want to hear it done well these guys nail it. Goodman's pitch perfect doubling of lead phrases adding even more brutality to JM's guitar tone
          there's a pleasing amount of "Live Evil" style looseness which was a nice surprise.
          then sadly Jan Hammer squelches out a lead break of utter cheese and you suddenly why Fusion/Prog became such a dirty word for so long

          • lenandedie's avatar
            lenandedie
            The very meaning of the word "fusion", physics aside. I have no idea where to place this album on the shelf. It is certainly jazz but would serve as a fiery flight of fantasy for any of the hardest of rock fans. The interplay between McLaughlin's guitar and Jerry Goodman's fiddle shows a precision only found in the finest of Indian classical music, so is it world music? One thing is for sure: If I ever reserve a section for my favorite albums, it will be in it.
            • RareNRacy's avatar
              RareNRacy
              One of my CBS LP copies has the name of the manufacturer redacted on the back and spine of the album cover. Does anyone know why the name would've been blacked out?
              • RebarKnight's avatar
                RebarKnight
                Have signed copy of this release. In overall Good+ condition. Message me if interested!
                • xtroymcclurex's avatar
                  xtroymcclurex
                  Minor variation, but my copy seems to be the same version, but with these matrix numbers:

                  A Side: P AL 31996-2C 1T
                  B Side: P BL 31996-2D

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                  • Avg Rating:4.2 / 5
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