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John McLaughlin: Where Fortune Smiles

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Dawn Records
Released: 1971
Time:
 34:53
Category: Jazz Rock
Producer(s): McLaughlin, Surman, Berger, Martin & Holland
Rating:
Media type: CD
Web address: www.johnmclaughlin.com
Appears with: Mahavishnu Orchestra, Al Di Meola, Paco de Lucia, Jan Garbarek
Purchase date: 2012
Price in €: 1,00





 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Glancing Backwards [for Junior] (Surman) - 8:54
[2] Earth Bound Hearts (McLaughlin) - 4:15
[3] Where Fortune Smiles (Surman) - 4:01
[4] New Place, Old Place (McLaughlin) - 10:24
[5] Hope (McLaughlin)  - 7:19

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


John Mclaughlin - Guitars, Producer
John Surman - Soprano Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Producer
Dave Holland - Upright Bass, Producer
Karl Berger - Vibraphone, Producer
Stu Martin - Drums, Producer

Dave Baker - Engineer
David Krieger - Art Direction
Don Brautigam - Artwork
Brian Belvins - Liner Notes

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


Recorded at the Apostolic Studios, New York City, late May 1970.



Where Fortune Smiles is really a John Surman recording, but subsequent re-releases have passed the credit on to John McLaughlin (for obvious reasons). The music is similar to but more dense than Extrapolation. McLaughlin's raw sound was starting to take shape by this time and his impeccable chops are on full display. So too are those of the underrated vibraphonist Karl Berger and, of course, soprano saxophonist Surman. The foundation is held loosely in place by bassist Dave Holland and drummer Stu Martin. It's a challenging but interesting listen, especially given McLaughlin's later success and popularity. Although his creativity would peak with the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Shakti, he never sounded more free and exploratory than he does here. Highly recommended for its historical significance as well as some excellent playing.

Robert Taylor - All Music Guide



The truth be told, Where Fortune Smiles was not originally released under the leadership of John McLaughlin. Its reissue on CD with McLaughlin as leader seems to exist for marketing purposes only. The reissue notes indicate a 1971 recording date, but my memories of its original release on PYE Records suggest that it was recorded a year earlier. (However, memories can fade.) The other members of the quintet—bassist Dave Holland, saxophonist John Surman (also on Extrapolation ), vibraphonist Karl Berger, and drummer Stu Martin—each contribute equally to this outing.

The compositions, all by McLaughlin and Surman, have strong head arrangements that are not directly quoted in the free improvisations that follow. Fortune does not even hint at rock or fusion. Do not expect any of the usual clear themes, call and response playing, or unison lines. These differences, which may confound many McLaughlin fans, are also its greatest strengths.

Free jazz is what this release is all about. For listeners who don't normally immerse themselves in this sort of thing, it's a record that can be enjoyed only about once a year. But it remains a must-listen. Whoa! Listen...is that a quote which will later turn into "One Word" from Birds Of Fire ? Listen to McLaughlin's far-out guitar. Listen to Holland's resonating bass. Listen to Surman as he reveals things to come. Listen for a historical perspective on music which McLaughlin would later deliver.

Walter Kolosky - November 20, 2002
© 2014 All About Jazz



Where Fortune Smiles is a jazz fusion LP credited to John McLaughlin, John Surman, Dave Holland, Karl Berger, and Stu Martin on Dawn Records DNLS ASD 3018, which was recorded in 1970 and released in 1971 in a stereo format.

Jazz critic Scott Yanow wrote: “McLaughlin's raw sound was starting to take shape by this time and his impeccable chops are on full display. So too are those of the underrated vibraphonist Karl Berger and, of course, soprano saxophonist Surman. The foundation is held loosely in place by bassist Dave Holland and drummer Stu Martin. It's a challenging but interesting listen, especially given McLaughlin's later success and popularity.”

As released in 1971 on Dawn records, and a subsequent 1975 release on Pye, the album was credited to all participating musicians, with no one receiving top billing. With the reissue on CD in 1993, the album was retroactively credited to McLaughlin alone, a move suggested to have been for "marketing purposes only". Composition credits and solo times are shared more or less equally between McLaughlin and Surman, and McLaughlin is not understood to have acted in a leadership capacity for the sessions.

A one-off studio record between 5 accomplished musicians who never recorded as a group subsequently, the two studio efforts necessary to complete the album were fit in between and/or after: John Surman working with Barre Phillips and Stu Martin in “The Trio” (Dawn LP – DNLS 3006), John McLaughlin working with Miles Davis, Karl touring with Don Cherry in Europe, and Dave also working with Miles.

Where Fortune Smiles was reissued on vinyl in 1975 by Pye Records (Pye 12103) with an alternative cover. It was first reissued on CD in 1993 on One Way Records (OW 29312), then on a re-mastered promo on BGO Records in 1993 – and officially in 1996 (BGO 191). It was last released in Japan in a CD mini–LP format in 2006 on One Way Records (ARC-7129) with no additional bonus tracks. The average cost of the CD ranges from $25 – $200. The entire album is included on the 3-CD set John Surman: Glancing Backwards, the Dawn anthology.

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