Classical Composer Reacts to Romantic Warrior by Return to Forever | The Daily Doug (Episode 501)
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- Опубликовано: 22 янв 2025
- #romanticwarrior #returntoforever
In this edition of #thedailydoug, I'm listening to Romantic Warrior by Return to Forever. This is the title track from their 6th album, released in 1976. I loved the vibe of this instrumental, especially how they're shredding on all acoustic instruments! I hope you enjoy!
Thanks to Guest DJ David B for this recommendation and for being today's Guest DJ.
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This album is one of mankind's greatest achievements.
that is well phrased !! Halleluja!
Every song on that album is a masterpiece.
I agree. Awesome.
A staple of my high school years
As were the tour concerts!
maon7565 : 6 of the finest pieces of music ever etched into a vinyl disc.
Columbia, to my ears, ALWAYS had the best recording engineers, and the clarity of each instrument on this record was only magnified by the CD version, you know, the version WITHOUT all the pops & clicks.
A great job by the engineer on this song in particular, because the double bass isn't easily recorded.
This guy did an amazing job of getting those low notes without distorting the sound.
Absolutely right.
Alone how the drums come in at 5:23..
OH....MY...GOD !!!
That is the definition of 'clean'
How rediculous the ongoing competition is, "who is the best drummer in the world?..." Lenny White would almost certainly not be mentioned. But what does he do here? You can't be any better than that.
How they work in conjunction...incredible.
Best recording by any jazz fusion band ever
I remember getting this album when it first came out, I was in college with one of those 400 watt stereo set ups with huge speakers that would loosen teeth at high levels. Fantastic music, just completely over the top. All Hail Jazz Fusion and Prog Rock.
Same Kevin, college and high end audio! Good times
@@jaquestraw1 Both of U are lucky for the equipment/We're all lucky: there's no law preventing so much talent in a studio(ha-ha).
I also purchased the album in 1976. And, two years later, I played it on a 2 x 400 watt (per channel) system. In 2008, I saw Return to Forever live at the O2 London, featuring Stanley, Lenny, Chic and Al ...
@@hellofromdavid Wow, never saw them, must have been awesome. Saw Al DiMeola once and Jean Luc Ponty both concerts were excellent. Hail Prog and Fusion.
@@kevinkliegl9315 ----- it was like listening to them, on a a big hi-fi system, but 100 times more powerful! Awesome :)
This is the SUPER GROUP of the era.
This album is humanity's peak. One of our best contributions to this world. It shouldve been sent to space. This group of guys I truly believe was the tightest, most capable overall band there was and will ever be. Music we will return to forever.
If the end of the world is near and I could only bring one album.... it would be this one, no doubt.
The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return To Forever and Weather Report...those three were the standard of Fusion...then and now! There were other great Fusion bands, but those 3 set the Bar REALLY HIGH!
Doug, you're awesome! You make listening to music fun and I learn a lot from your reactions.
Tony Williams Lifetime and Larry Coryell Eleventh House and Pat Metheny Group too
Totally agree!!
this lineup, there isn't a band with more talent packed in to just 4 guys. these are the masters.
Totally agree. Unbelievably brilliant and talanted.
This is such a magnificent album.
Thanks Doug one of my favorite bands, used to listen to this nonstop in college.
My favorite album of all time. In my opinion it was when recording production and musical brilliance came together in a wonderful way. It still had the feeling of musicians playing off each other, which some of the following "fusion" albums lacked. And to think this was completely analog with no digital editing is mind blowing. Absolutely brilliant album. Thanks for reacting.
Awesome album... Still have the original 1976 vinyl 😊👌
"Duel Of The Jester And The Tyrant" 👍
The best doutjatt !
The best doutjatt !
Me too
I bought this album when it came out.
This composition stood out on this album. And it was only after numerous playbacks that it finally dawned on me: This is a completely acoustic performance. (Took awhile.) Old school. And it rocks! This could have been played in 1920 - if only someone had thought of it. Think about that!
Amazing.
Only amplifies what an accomplishment this composition is.
Lucky enough to see them at the Beacon Theater in 1981... brings back memories
Stand-up bass, bowed and plucked. He is fabulous to watch in concert.
I found this album in the cutout bin at a record store when I was a teen; I knew nothing about it, but I bought it. Fast forward 40 years - the album stays in my rotation. It was like finding gold amongst the dirt.
Saw them as a young 15yo impressionable drummer at the Philadelphia Academy of Music in 1983. All my favorite rock bands growing up played at the Spectrum (Sixers, Flyers old arena) , but the greatest jazz fusion band ever played where the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra called home. I had already been listening to their music but to see it live changed my life and direction as a musician. Sadly, nothing imho compares today to inspire that level of greatness. RIP Chick and Thanks for it all!
I actually saw them live when this album came out. They played in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam (where all the prestigious classical orchestras play, and which has superb acoustics). I was totaly stunned at the end of the concert with the feeling that I had just witnessed four gods from a different dimension play heavenly music ). My seat was right behind the band (close to Lenny White, the drummer) and the sound quality was great throughout the concert hall. One of my most memorable musical experiences ever. You should now review the rest of this amazing album! Btw, the very last studio track from this version of RTF you will be able to find on Chick's Touchstone album from 1982. It is called 'Compadres.' RTF is never mentioned on the album, with Stanley Clarke, Al DiMeola and Lenny White simply listed as some of the guest musicians. They just happened to play together on this one track. Rumor at the time was that there was interest in a new RTF album, but that there were legal obstacles (with some if not all of the four members under contract with different recording companies). 'Compadres' is a track of almost 10 minutes. Definitely worthy of a review! Here is the link: ruclips.net/video/4v0oyeVpELc/видео.htmlsi=AEAwqAk5KOEYYlba
One of my favorite albums and tracks, EVER!
Thanks for your video. One of my all time fav's. Started listening in 72 and when Al went solo I followed. Probably one of the greatest four person jazz group ever assembled.
This album such an impact on me..4 legends right there!
Yup...
I was them at Beacon Theatre in NYC in '76.. UNBELIEVABLE 🤯
I was a hard rock drummer and I started listening to fusion .. went to see them in Omaha! They played this entire album live and my jaw hit the fkn ground no one reading music and even looking at their hands best thing I've ever seen 5:39
Jazz fusion hype! Love this album, and can't wait to see more fusion on the channel. Thanks for the videos!
RIP Chick Corea. I had the pleasure of seeing them perform this live back in the day. Return To Forever and John McLaughlin! An incredible immersion in jazz rock fusion by the best players of the genre.
Have a listen to Stanley Clarke's album "Journey To Love" You won't be disappointed. He is one of the greats of the bass.
I remember a buddy of mine took (borrowed without asking) and brought it to my house so I could hear it. There was probably 10 people at my house and when he played it all the guys except me were into it. But me and the girls they hated it I just couldn't dig it. But how niave I was after listening to it and not just hearing it I began to grow. Musically. Then that exposed me to the great John McLaughlin and Mahavisnue Orchestra. Then Weather Report. For a die hard Zeppelin, Floyd and Sabbath fan it was a hard sell but I'm so glad I bought it. Kinda like Zappa that is an acquired taste and once isn't enough. Again you need to listen to what's happening not just hear it. This stuff is top 40 for a reason these guys are the crem of the crem and what top 49 musicians go home and put on the stereo. Thanks Doug for bringing something great to the masses so they can hear for themselves.
Each musician is world class the band name says it all 👍
I still have that on vinyl somewhere..... RIP Chick Corea..... a true master.
🎼🎵🥀✨️💖🕊
Hi Doug, i hear this song for the first time. Fantastic . Thank you for present it. Gruss aus Deutschland
Growing up in the 70's with both prog and fusion was the greatest musical background anyone could ask for. It was the basis of my development and has allowed me (and others with a similar experience) to to do things that those who were not exposed to it find perplexing. Tempo changes, odd time signature, fast runs, complex arrangements, technical virtuosity, tight figures, contrapuntal polyrhythms -- no problem. Thanks to the study of this amazing music.
Yea this entire record, incredible! When this came out, we were…….. MIND BLOWN!!!! Had never heard ANYTHING like that before! I still get chills up and down my spine, entry single time I listen to it! Some of it literary brings me to tears!!
Well done! Each of these performers, and all that followed in this band, were and are the finest musicians in their class. Superstars all, and when combined with such precision...wow, just wow! This thing, jazz fusion, is most definitely a feast for the soul. Thank you sir!
My favorite song of all time. Thanks for reviewing Doug. I am a little surprised you did not mention the use of rubato in the main riff, that is what bonded me to the song. Thanks again!
One of the best albums I've ever heard, and the title track will always be my favorite. Bought this album back in the early 1970's. My musical universe was forever expanding to destinations that only God could have created for my ears and my mind to dissect and absorb. It's a destination I continue to explore, hoping to discover another "Romantic Warrior".
👍👍 More fusion!
Never enough! :)
@@georgelamie7001 Hey good to see you on Doug's site! This tune was a great pick for him to react to 👍👍
Tool and Return To Forever in the same week! Two of my favorites. Lucky to have seen them both live, RTF in the 80’s. RIP Chick, he went to high school here near Boston with my dad.
From rock to prog to jazz fusion then to Miles Davis and Coltrane. That was my early music progression. Another great jazz fusion band was Weather Report - Jaco Pastorius on bass! All the musicians in Return to Forever are outstanding.
Yes I'ld also like to hear Doug react on Weather Report, one of my prefered band....
We share the same road, Jeannette. In my case, and I don’t know about you, is that I didn’t make a final stop on Miles but start it all over and over again like a circular path. I also include drops of the Joy Division - New Order - Depeche Mode in my filters. Cheers.
@@nsgobbi 👍
@@eliahou1958 👍
It was literally a supergroup with amazing musicians. Outstanding performance.
Couldn't click on this reaction quicker!! Absolute classic 💜
Didn't expect this to be featured. I'm impressed
you made note of the acoustic solos, it reminded me of a line Lenny White said on a live recording of this. He said Chick is going to play some acoustic piano, Stanley's gonna play some acoustic bass, Al on acoustic guitar and I am going to play some acoustic drums for ya'!!! You should check that video out this live was amazing. I got to see RTF's final concert tour and when they played this I gave my binoculars to my wife and child to see what these guys were doing
It's just so amazingly sophisticated harmonically, and because Chick and Stanley are so dominant in the band they always make sure the arrangements have great rhythmic ideas.
i agree, corea's harmony is so crazy complex, it's hard to understand how could he come up with those stuff
Does anybody else feel slightly frustrated/irritated by the fact that it's taken between forty to fifty years for the rest of civilisation to catch up with this ?
@@russellmorgan5611 it was ahead of it's time for sure but I instantly got it. Never had to think about prog, fusion, modern jazz I found it easy to listen and understand it. It was pop that I did not understand ...lol
Used to have one of Clark’s album. It got at least some play on one of the local rock stations.
Btw, Dimeola’s work with the Guitar Trio (him, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia) is just stunning.
@@gregraines1599 I have still got most of the solo albums on vinyl .from all members hidden gem is Lenny's astral pirates album
Jazz musicians created a prog rock band! I love it! Steely Dan meets Tangerine Dream! Or something like that. These guys are quite talented! I heard them for the first time just yesterday. They'll have a place in my collection for sure! Try listening to some of the other tracks on this album. Pretty awesome!
Welcome ! Yes these guys are quite talented
Glad you did this one. I think it's amazing
Doug! I'm so glad you are going over RTF. Great work, keep it up!! As soon as you can, you should start doing videos on
Al Di Meola. He's an absolute wizard on the guitar and as a guitar player myself, he is one of my personal favorites to study music from. All his discography is fantastic. Some songs that would be great to check out:
"Casino", "Kiss My Axe", Egyptian Danza, Race with Devil on Spanish Highway", Midnight Tango, and Electric Rendezvous
Great choice! One of my all-time favorites. I got to see RTF live at the 10yr reunion. I still get chills when I think about the acoustic second half. The audience got to jam with the band by clapping rhythms as directed by Chick. Magic.
Wow did you bring back memories there. I remember seeing these guys on a couple of occasions in Detroit in the early 70s just incredible musicianship! And that indeed is a bow you are hearing on a bass played by Stanley. I saw them at the blind pig and was just blown away. I was a drummer predominantly at that time just learning guitar and after listening to Al, yeah I kind of want to throw it away but I didn’t. Thank you so much for that now I’ve got to dig out that album!
one of my all-time favs!
Yes, Stanley is playing a double bass with a bow on the intro to his solo. Then he plays the bass solo without the bow. The song Romantic Warrior is an acoustic piece. Return To Forever would perform acoustic pieces such as the song "No Mystery."
One of my favourite tracks of all time. Each solo has it's own voicing, style and charachter. They all play with incredible chops but never with arrogrance, flashyness or anything that would communicate ego; just four brilliant musicians each giving each other space to play. The unison runs are amazing. Al Di Meola's solo is absolutely incredible.
Yes, those runs!💘
What I love about your reactions is that you hardly, if ever, pause while the song is playing. That's just breaking the flow of the music.
Like at 7:25 you had the exact reaction probably many people had to that fill, and there's no need to pause it
So great to see you experience one of the greats or actually a group of greats.
Such a classic. What a gathering of master musicians. Love this album.
Thanks Doug! The record that got me into fusion. High hopes of this making the EP Lounge someday in it's entirety!
University of Kansas...nice! Saw these guys in KC about 15 years ago, they were awesome!
Great videos. You need to do some on Al Dimeola's first 3 albums, Land Of The Midnight Sun, Elegant Gyspy and Casino. Unbelievable playing and song writing.
Land of th midnight sun is top album
Pure joy! Can' stop smiling every time I hear it, especially Chick's piano solo. What a blessing.
There was a FM channel in Cincinnati, the very first AOR station in the nation.
That reserved Sunday nights for Progressive and Fusion albums. And thats where i first heard of all these groups.
I saw them several times...and also saw members as solo acts a few times, as well.
Fantastic choice! One of the best albums all categories 😁
Thought you and listeners would like that! I copped it anew, and it has never veered from my top shelf. The whole album is a masterclass in kicking ass. "Duel of the Tyrant and Jester" as the name implies, is another tour de force. One crisp autumn day, I was sauntering over the lovely grounds and sculpture garden of the DeCordova Museum, in that castle in the leafy suburb of Lincoln, Massachusetts. Suddenly I heard music coming from the wood, and followed the sound to a small stage in that wood, with a few benches, and Chick Corea and Gary Burton playing away, for maybe 25 people, mostly stoned, if gauging by the high quality of air in the vicinity. It was magical. It was Chick. Tres Chick. ~db
I don't remember how I acquired that album, but I'm SO glad that I did. It was my first dive into jazz fusion. Thanks to David for his recommendation and you for acting on his recommendation. 👍🏻
You can hear the recording quality, resonant and crisp at the same time, even on a phone. Corey’s piano, especially, is just gorgeous. An aural feast !
Hi Doug, and thanks for featuring this brilliant offering from RTF! You mentioned a desire to listen to more jazz fusion, and in that vein, I have been listening to Bill Bruford's 'Back to the Beginning' for decades, and would love to hear your take on it! Please consider this my official request for this cut off his 'Feels Good to Me' album. Features Allan Holdsworth -g, Jeff Berlin-b, Dave Stewart-k, and sweet offbeat vocals from Annette Peacock. Happy Holidays and be well!
Saw DIMeola with Stanley Clark and John Luc Ponty - Rite Of Strings. Absolutely amazing
What a great album! This is one of the 2 seminal jazz fusion albums along with Myles Davis' "Bitches Brew." I love this album and am glad you're introducing it to people who've probably never heard it. With 4 of the best jazz musicians this is truly a supergroup.
Bitches Brew was earlier and I believe started this movement away from more traditional jazz. I was more into Big Band jazz until then but branched out in my listening. Mahavishu's Inner Mounting Flame was an album that broke new ground. Music was so exciting back then.
Great video.. Nice to get your insights while listening to this iconic Romantic Warrior. Such a benchmark performance..
One of the greatest jazz lineups of all time! A Tour de Force!
As I recall from reading reviews when this came out, this particular song was a response to those jazz purists attacking the band for playing electric jazz fusion. They did this piece with all acoustic instruments as you noted. Was indeed Stanley using the bow on the bass off and on, Al showed off his Spanish guitar chops, and miracle of miracles they got Lenny White to play with a high degree of subtlety and touch, compared to a lot his other work with the band where he just cuts loose. Chick's solo is just sublime. There is an incredible live version from 1976 of this song out there on RUclips that is almost shocking to watch. These guys were true masters and Al is only 22 at this point.
Miracle? Whatever you say genius.
This track is one of my favourites when it comes to drumming and by far my favourite track that Lenny White plays on. The fantastic solos by Stanley, Al and Chick don't impress me as much as Lenny's playing here.
New subscriber. Love the channel. This is a long time fave track. So glad to hear your insight, which I felt myself yelling at the TV enthusiastically right with you, Doug. Anyway, this era of RTF had more in common with ELP than Miles Davis. Keep up the great work. Cheers, from Chicago! 🎶
This record changed everything for me.
It is probably the finest recording of music ever.
Thank You gentlemen.
I heard this cut for the first time in 1980 and i was 8 years old. I was just in a trance in front of my dad's 3 way JBL speakers. 🥁🥁🥁
I almost bought this on vinyl 3 months ago in Prague, and I regreat it deeply and the same time I don´t.
Was lucky enough to see this line-up (and believe it was the Romantic Warrior tour) in DC back in the day. Amazing musicians! Of course every ensemble Chick put together was nothing short of world class!
I am older. Bought this when it was first released. Still sounds fresh.
Just one of those songs you gotta listen to 100 times just to begin to touch the remnants of ancestoral memory that had to accumulate to bring this absolute gem of musical composition that these geniuses created. Truly one of the greatest musical gifts man was given.
In May 1975 (my senior year) RTF came to Union College in Schenectady, NY. The Memorial Chapel is small eonugh that half of the PA speakers were left out in the truck. Nominally seating 939, we had people sitting on the window sills and on the lawn outside. Romantic Warrior was new enough that they were still reading the charts for some of it. I helped them set up (fixed Al D's Fender Twin amplifier and a cable for Stanley) and sat front row center. The mood was so up that the warm-up band got called back for three encores, and when RTF came on it was stunning - the most amazing concert I've ever been to.
And when I started grad school in Ann Arbor that September, I saw them again in Hill Auditorium - but that time I could ony afford tickets in the balcony...
You should do Chick's Spanish Heart and/or Mad Hatter. Both are more like soundtracks but an amazing mix of acoustic jazz, fusion and even string quartets.
👍 agree have both for many years on LP
Absolutely! Progressive rock in a jazz sauce!
When punk came along in 76 stamping on the by now slightly off-smelling corpse of prog, this album was one of the great consolations I had. Fusion got me through the next few years of what I felt was otherwise mostly a one-dimensional fashion-driven musical desert. RIP the incredible Chick Corea.
Punk stamped on nothing but its own pathetic toes. Any notion that it did anything to Prog is a ridiculous myth not based in reality. It's time to put this lie to rest.
Now in 2022 you are a witness that prog is not dead, as well as fusion isn’t and all great music is atemporal and all genres and subdivisions can live in peace together.
PS. there is more prog being made today than punk.
@@nsgobbi Well said
Game changer
This music is incredible. It's 'almost' as good as Prog 😎🙂
I love this track and that album all together. Glad you did this one.
More jazz fusion would be welcome on the DD. So much goodness to explore. Each of these players has an extensive solo career, plus tons of other collaborations with other musicians. You could easily do a full year of DD episodes just exploring what these guys have been up to, and there are tons of other great fusion groups to familiarize yourself with. Happy exploring!
You could do a whole series on the band and its variations, then all the individuals that went solo. In the early days of progressive FM radio, you might hear this, then Black Sabbath, Cream, Yes and Gentle Giant, Joni Mitchell then Laura Nyro, along with Broadway, Bruce and Billy, Tim Buckley and Dylan...and on and on. and on.....
Thank you so much for posting a jazz fusion piece from Return to Forever. I love Chick Corea's playing the piano. All musicians on this record are one of the best in the world on their instruments. Waiting for more from this musical genre from Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report, .......🥰
Had the pleasure of seeing them do Romantic Warrior live (mostly acoustic set - though memory is less now! Much beer has lowed under the bridge!) at Manchester Place Theatre around 1976. Phenomenal, still up there with my best musical experiences ever. Way up there with Yes live!
All maestros on their instruments the whole album is a masterpiece.
Yeaahhh!.Return to Forever!!!!! The composition Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy (from 0:57 to 1:57) has some similitudes with the Genesis progressive rock composition Dancing With The Moonlit Knight (4:40 to 5:43). Both albums are from 1973 😃🎶
Thanksgiving week 1973 I saw Genesis the first weekend and RTF opening for Mahavishnu Orchestra the next weekend. Quite a week!
@@MeYou-nm5bd 😲🎶 That must have been an out of this world week!!!!!
Thank you, Doug, for your reaction to this gemstone. I wore out my vinyl copy of Romantic Warrior within a year of purchase. Not the sort of music you expected an organ major to get into while an undergrad.
When I hear this song it relieves my back pain.
Truly an all-star line-up, Stanley's a monster and Al went on to be awarded album of the year for Elegant Gypsy by Guitar Player Magazine in 77. Stanley Al and John Luc Ponty made a great album together called The Right Of Strings.
one of my first fussion LP's
still sounds great today
Awesome band and a great piece. I have that Album. Very gifted mucisians in that band.
Now you are talking Doug. One of my all time favorites. This is as close to perfiect an album you can get. This sounds sooo good on my Sansui 8080db. Just started listening and suggest you do the entire album. It is a concept album.
Chick Correa was the real thing- an artistic genius of the highest order! What a band and a singularly brilliant recording. I’m knew you’d dig it!
If you’re digging into great fusion, check out Circle with Correa/Braxton/Holland/Altschul and the Mahavishnu Orchestra circa “Visions of the Emerald Beyond” with Jean-Luc Ponty and Narada Michael Walden on drums. 😊
Yes!!! Jazz Fusion!!! My all time favorite Genre! Go Doug!!!
Extraordinaire work of the stellar line-up lead by Armando Anthony Corea. Thank y’all for making & sharing this.
In my youth, I listened to Yes - Close to the Edge, tons of Mahavishnu, Return to Forever - Romantic Warrior, Donald Fagin - Night Fly and many more. My oh my that was a very special time. I thought things would just carry on getting better and better but in reality, this was the peak and it kind of went down hill from here. The space race was in full flight and I expected us all to be listening to this and better while rotating space stations whirled in space high above us but everything turned sour somehow. I miss those days, we all had such positive ideas and thought the world was going someplace good - it wasn't 😞
You wasn't alone.......
I first heard this in the late seventies while driving late at night. Sounded so amazing on my Alpine car stereo that I went out and found the LP. I still listen to it, occasionally.
I saw Return to Forever do this in '76 at the Spectrum in Philly. I have had the Romantic Warrior album in LP, cassette, CD, and MP3 since I was 19. I'm no master musician but to me, this is as close to perfection as I have heard from then until now, Al was only 22 on this album.
Wow! Some jazz! What a group. Everyone of these guys could lead their own group. And I love their work solo. I know jazz is not that popular but I'm very happy to see you feature this band. What this reminds me of in the rock world is Zappa.
IMHO this is Al’s best acoustic solo ever!
.....he's tearing it up on a steel-string acoustic!!!
While others were listening to/learning 'Eruption', I was listening to/learning this.
(No disrespect to Eddie.....but I have zero regrets.)
Thanks for your reactions
My prefered one on this Album is the 2nd Track : Sorceress. You should try it, this one is very electric.