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Return to Forever: Romantic Warrior

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Columbia Records
Released: 1976
Time:
 45:28
Category: Jazz Fusion
Producer(s): Chick Corea
Rating:
Media type: CD
Web address: www.return2forever.com
Appears with: Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola, Jean-Luc Ponty
Purchase date: 2012
Price in €: 1,00





 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Medieval Overture (Ch.Corea) – 5:14
[2] Sorceress (L.White) – 7:34
[3] The Romantic Warrior (Ch.Corea) – 10:52
[4] Majestic Dance (A.Di Meola) – 5:01
[5] The Magician (S.Clarke) – 5:29
[6] Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant [Part I & Part II] (Ch.Corea) – 11:26

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


Al Di Meola – Electric Guitars, Acoustic Guitar, Soprano Guitar, Hand Bells, Slide Whistle, Assistant Producer
Chick Corea – Acoustic Piano, Fender Rhodes, Hohner Clavinet, Mini Moog, Moog 15, Micromoog, Arp Odyssey, Yamaha Organ, Polymoog, Marimba, Percussion, Producer
Stanley Clarke – Alembic Bass With Instant Flanger, Piccolo Bass, Acoustic Bass, Bell Tree, Hand Bells, Assistant Producer
Lenny White – Drums, Timpani, Congas, Timbales, Hand Bells, Snare Drum, Suspended Cymbals, Alarm Clock, Assistant Producer

Bob Belden - Reissue Producer
Dennis Mackay – Engineer & Remixing
Tom Likes    Assistant Engineer
Mark Wilder - Digital Remastering, Remastering
Amy Herto - Digital Producer
Wilson Mclean – Artwork, Cover Art, Illustrations
Steven Berkowitz - A&R
Howard Fritzson - Reissue Art Director
Gerard Huerta - Artwork
John Jackson - Production Assistant
Randall Martin - Reissue Design
Patti Matheny - A&R
Seth Rothstein - Project Director
John Swenson - Liner Notes
Tony Tiller - Package Coordinator

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


Recorded in February 1976 at Caribou Ranch, Colorado.



The most popular and successful lineup of Return to Forever - Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, and Al Di Meola - was coming off the Grammy-winning No Mystery when it recorded its third and final album, Romantic Warrior. It has been suggested that in employing a medieval album cover (drawn by Wilson McLean), using titles like "Medieval Overture" and "Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant," and occasionally playing in a baroque style, particularly in Clarke's "The Magician," Corea was responding to Rick Wakeman's successful string of albums on similar themes. Certainly, the music suggests that the musicians have been listening to Wakeman's band, Yes, among other progressive rock groups. But they bring more of a traditional jazz approach to their sound, particularly in the opening statement of intent "Medieval Overture" and the original side one closer, "The Romantic Warrior," both of which feature extensive acoustic piano soloing by Corea. The original side two - Di Meola's "Majestic Dance," "The Magician," and "Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant" - is much more in a jazz-rock style, with Di Meola particularly rocking out on extensive, fast-paced electric guitar solos. Meanwhile, the rhythm section of Clarke and White is always extremely busy, maintaining a funky, driving pulse and several cross rhythms no matter what's going on above it. This is particularly noticeable, naturally, on White's sole composition, "Sorceress," but it continues to keep the music in the fusion camp even when Corea is sounding like a more traditional jazz pianist. Romantic Warrior is the sound of a mature band at the top of its game, which may help explain why it was Return to Forever's most popular album, eventually certified as a gold record, and the last by this assemblage. Having expressed themselves this well, they decided it was time for them to move on.

William Ruhlmann - All Music Guide



Romantic Warrior (1976) is the sixth studio album of fusion band Return to Forever. Romantic Warrior is the band's best selling record reaching eventual sales of 500,000 copies. It was the group's first album made for Columbia Records, which may have had a positive effect on sales. This is also the first jazz-rock album by Return to Forever that was not recorded at New York's Record Plant Studios (instead it was recorded entirely at Caribou Ranch), as well as the first to be credited solely to Return to Forever, removing the "featuring Chick Corea" moniker. The album is more avant-garde and less funky than the band's previous album, No Mystery (1975).

The medieval theme of the album was perhaps inspired by similar themes being used by some leading progressive rock bands of the time. The album is famous for its technically demanding playing. Fast, unison lines can be heard on many tracks.

Chick Corea contributed the longest compositions and the other members each composed one piece. The first track, Corea's "Medieval Overture", with its distinctive melodic motifs, sets the mood for the rest of the album. Lenny White's "Sorceress" starts with a funky riff and is distinguished by Corea's synthesizers. The title track is fully acoustic. It has a long intro, which is followed by a short theme consisting of one riff. Each group member (excluding White) plays a long solo. In the end, an extended outro follows, during which fast unison patterns are heard. Al Di Meola's and Stanley Clarke's songs on side two are notable for their humorous qualities. Al Di Meola's song, "Majestic Dance", relies on rock riffs and distorted lead guitar sound, but features also fast harpsichord-like synth figures. Clarke's "The Magician" is a very complex composition, featuring playful melodies, and again, rapid unison lines. The last track of the album is Corea's "Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant", which is the longest song of the album. It has a more conventional melody as a main theme, but otherwise it follows the style of previous tracks. Notable is the intense keyboard solo showcasing Corea.

After this album Corea decided that the group's time had come to an end and he continued with another wholly new Return to Forever line-up with Clarke. Corea dedicated the album to the founder of the Church of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard.

Wikipedia.org
 

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