Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Mahavishnu Orchestra: Inner Worlds
Mahavishnu Orchestra: Inner Worlds
Released in 1976, Inner Worlds features the third and scaled down edition of the Mahavishnu Orchestra. No more strings. No more horns. No more Ponty. Was this album made just to finish the contract out? Who knows? After the exciting Visions Of The Emerald Beyond, this record was a disappointment. So much more had been expected.
Michael Walden on drums, Stu Goldberg on synthesizer and Ralphe Armstrong on bass add their highly capable talents to the mix, and McLaughlin unveiled an early guitar synthesizer on this album to varied results.
The album certainly features some fine music. You just have to search for it. The strong R&B influence present on this record did not go over well with many of McLaughlin’s fans. Perhaps he attempted to make an album he thought would be more accessible. After all, the Mahavishnu Orchestra had often been criticized as being just too serious. Again, who knows?
Without question, the worst tune McLaughlin ever recorded appears on this album. "Miles Out" should be avoided like the plague. We'll just call it an experiment that didn't work. Conversely, check out "Way of the Pilgrim", which is stellar work. Walden penned this piece and much like "Cosmic Strut" which he wrote for Visions - It kicks ass! Inner Worlds also offers some other fine tunes, but extracurricular vocals and a concept looking for an album prove to be its ultimate downfall. Use your CD skip function and enjoy the worthwhile tunes.
An interesting postscript: years later, Ralph Armstrong successfully sued a rap group for sampling his vocals from the Inner Worlds tune "Planetary Citizen".
Related link: John McLaughlin Reviews @ All About Jazz .
Track Listing
All in the Family; Miles Out; In My Life; Gita; Morning Calls; The Way of the Pilgram; River of My Heart; Planetary Citizen; Lotus Feet; Inner Worlds Part 1 and 2
Personnel
Mahavishnu Orchestra
band / ensemble / orchestra
John McLaughlin
guitarJohn McLaughlin- guitar, guitar synthesizer, vocals; Michael Walden- drums, vocals; Stu Goldberg- keyboards, vocals; Ralph Armstrong- bass, vocals
Album information
Title: Inner Worlds | Year Released: 2002 | Record Label: Columbia Records
About Mahavishnu Orchestra
Tags
PREVIOUS / NEXT
Become a Sustaining Member
Since 1995, All About Jazz has championed jazz as an art form and supported the musicians who create it. Over three decades, it has grown into one of the world's leading jazz resources, serving hundreds of thousands of readers, musicians, presenters and industry professionals each month.
Help Build the Future of All About Jazz
Your support helps us continue building All About Jazz for the next generation—expanding our editorial coverage, preserving jazz history, developing new community features and creating better ways to discover the music and the people behind it.
Become a sustaining member for as little as $20 per year and you'll immediately enjoy an ad-free experience along with access to subscriber features and future articles for a full year.
Together, we're not simply sustaining All About Jazz—we're building its future. Thank you for being part of the journey.
