Return to Forever - The Magician 1976

[woowoowingwang]

al di meola is chuck norris of the jazz scene.

[twentymoreyears]

It's great this song proceeds Majestic Dance on the album because majestic dance BLOWS

[ccrstucook]

Oh my fyckin GOD

[ccrstucook]

Son of a bitch the bass player

[crisridenour]

no way this makes me wanna learn more . . .

[MorningRise90]

I gave up learning how to play bass once Stanley Clarke played that first note. DAYUMN.

[visog]

They should re-release this. It's got top-10 single written all over it.

[rastaRoss420]

8)

[WeisserAlarm]

That`s great - that`s REAL music!!

Thanks for these "Return to Forever" vids!

[KelsoNfun]

gotta love how the greats like RTF and zappa never get the mainstream recognition they so obviously deserve...wake up people this music shits on lil brain and lady garbage

[URTH1000]

I grew up with this album. Love these guys and their albums,this one was so far ahead.

[FireLineStudios]

Aw... Lenny didn't use the alarm clock... That's the best part.

And yes, I've seen them do the alarm clock live. It's funny as hell.

[EugenCluster]

Chick Coera is a great keyboarder, but i can´t understand that such a great musician and intelligent man is a member of the stupd scientology.

[countdumas]

@EugenCluster MICHAEL TSARION IS THE WORLDS PREMIER CONSPIRACY RESEARCHER/LECTURER/AUTHOR. DR. BILL DEAGLE, LEO ZAGAMI, JORDAN MAXWELL AND ALEXANDRE DUMAS PERE ARE HIGHLY INFORMATIVE AS WELL. P.S. MELTING EUPHORIA IS SIMILAR TO OZRIC TENTACLES AND GONG.

[lickthoseboobs]

@EugenCluster lot of good pussy in those churches that's why, we're not talkin' about some nasty baptist hoes but A grade model and actress pussies.

[ghosted760]

RTF is so good... everyone else just take notes.

[69MC97gc]

I have been lucky to  see and hear this live in stockholm.The Magician too-

[69MC97gc]

I have been lucky to see and hear this live in  stockholm.

[arkady714]

This is serious music, folks.

[demlcommish]

OMG!!!

[52appaZ]

Gotta love the days before presets. Something very interesting about listening to CC get the right tone.

[ExitosGnosis]

@52appaZ

dude and that's not even to speak of how MFin difficult it is to keep those early synths IN TUNE. Corea, ELP, Yes, in live recordings you can always hear the guy trying to get the damn thing back into tune

[nigelgspencer]

This is total magic. The have to be one of the best lineups of al time playing awesome compositions. I just saw this same lineup recently on in Los Angeles their 25th anniversary reunion tour. The night I saw them was Chick Corea's 65th birthday .... they were even better than ever ... they are total magic ... watching and hearing them is the perfect gift.

[countdumas]

@nigelgspencer MICHAEL SCOTT IS THE AUTHOR OF THE NICOLAS FLAMEL SERIES(THE ALCHEMYST, THE MAGICIAN, THE SORCERESS, THE NECROMANCER, THE WARLOCK).

[jamesbannon100]

Chick had a lot of trouble with the minimoog drifting out of tune in that concert. I watched it on the TV :)

[rianthezeghe]

like monsteeerrr....

[seqouiaflame]

Damn! You don't see playing like that anymore....

[STEVE25406]

i have never enjoyed a video that goes slightly off sync more than this one

[yuletide]

Musical Nirvana

[thebakery29]

this will always be my favorite. i was born in 77 and this changed my life.

[secondhandsamson124]

1:24 yellow page fingers :)

[StupidObamaNigger]

I liked the part where the Mexican tuned his piano.

[TheBloodySven]

@StupidObamaNigger  The Mexican? ... retard.

[gbtayc]

Is it me or does Al have that used salesman look

[gbtayc]

@gbtayc used car salesman that is

[madtiger111]

Wow!

[STEVE25406]

wanshei,thanx 4 the commentand iagree.This track has a trippy structure to say the least it is quirkily genius.wanshei, it kind of sux that you think music should b progressing and all it does is RE-FUCKINGRESS.It is got 2 b just ignorance

[lklkhjhjdfs]

it's not my favorit song of Stanley Clarke , but this song has strange atmosphere .

[STEVE25406]

i have aband and in my music room a computer.they r not as familiar with these guys as me but when they r bringing in and settin up gear i always play this stuff.it freaks em out ,as it should

[wanshei]

@STEVE25406 Thats because this is when musicians HAD to have synchronicity, there had to be a mental and spiritual link to do this. Now its replaced with computers, electronics etc.

But this is great stuff, i lived this music. Started playing the drums to the old 2/4 beat then graduated to Chicago, then Rock then Fusion Jazz.

[johnwashere22]

Al= most amount of shred in a human body

[deltadrummer11]

Does anyone know which kind of guitar that Al is using?

[paulanah]

@deltadrummer11

should be a '57-'58 gibson les paul gold top with replaced pick-ups, probably dimarzio paf white

[deltadrummer11]

Does anyone know which kind of guitar that Al is using?

[secondhandsamson124]

1:19 breakin his chops! his fingers remind me of the yellow pages add :)

[Progrose]

Just discovered these guys...AMAZING!!! Even though I ws aware of all the individual musicians. Each is a master of his instrument. Clarke is insane. Correa and Di Meola are pure musicians capable of anything, Why isn't Lenny White appreciated, what a drummer. Perfect Jazz fusion group!

[iv3shf]

Just how good amazing and skillfull these giants were/are, think at RTF's drummers.... first Airto Moreira....... then Steve Gadd......... Then Lenny White!!!!!! No further comments.. hats off to these gentlemen!!

At around 2:20 is that the base for Clarke's School days??? :-)

[ataconazi]

lol check the moog go out of tune at 4:06

[cyagnusxi]

The album version was better, but this still rocks like no ones business. I could tell the complexity of this just by watching them play it live! They played music ahead of their time!

[ghosted760]

Just slaying it.

[mistarax]

is it just my PC, or does the video and sound go out of sync around 4:00?

[mrprogjazzgto]

Holy Space Funk Fusion.!!

4 Masters showing us how its done....

[jazzfunk1992]

5:07 = WIN

[SRCervecero58]

35 years later and I'm still amazing and fascinated by this group

[ferchoar]

Tóquense algo muchachos

[amsedelm]

Fucking genius. Saw them at The Beacon Theater during the Romantic Warrior tour in '76 or '77. I'll never forget that night.

[JonP1961]

@amsedelm

Lucky you! I was 15 when this album came out. When I heard it, I simply had to run out and get my paws on whatever RTF I could find.

[svenghoulieil]

chick shoulda had a preview monitor so he could tune the synths without the audience hearing -

I love this tune!!!

[aionbass]

It was the 70's man those were the sounds.

[Logansan60]

The new Victor Wooten? Victor was 12 years old when this concert aired. Pete Wentz should not even be mentioned in the same conversation as Stanley or Victor for that matter. Pete Wentz does his rock/pop thing and that is good for FOB. I would hardly place him in the same company as the aforementioned musicians. As far as "Fusion" bassist. Well, Stanley is so much mor as I'm sure you are aware of - but I get your meaning BassistWithAnEgo. I feel the same about "Jazz" drummers ;->

[growupbiku]

woahhh!

[kaliklav]

Fantastic! I wrote it down for 3 synths... almost did it OK on one concert with 2 friends of mine. If anyone wants the sheets, you may contact me!

[DZibman]

Holy crap!! They can do this song live!

[lagatuda]

Fantastic! Nothing on the order of these guys around today! Very unfortunate...

[slashNpage77]

guess who just became my new favorite bassist? Stanley Clark just did!

[ledhead7489]

Hell yes!

[BassistWithAnEgo]

Fusion bassists....gah they make me want to cry with envy......

[peanutbuddha]

Great vid but damn Clarke's tone is whack,.

[oldwarcraftgamer]

when did stan begin to play the electronical bass? he used to play only the accoustic one before the jazzrock/ funk era had begun

[holygroove2]

Funny you say that, I know him only for his electric playing b/c of the slap technique. He didn't invent slap, but he was one dude who made it popular. I guess that's what happens with dudes when they're really good - you don't always remember what they play.

[highintel]

written by the bass player....lol...you don't get that anymore...be lucky if they know a 1-4-5

[ThePrinnyGod]

unless it's pete wentz....who sucks at bass....

[agentsteell]

why do u say that? i think he 's the new victor wooten :P

[staticviewer]

OMG old school gold

[mrprogjazzgto]

Awesome video..!!

thanks Mahavishnu.!

Stanley roasts that Alembic bass...what a fabulous jam..!! They all SMOKE..!!

LOL @ lennys tuxedo shirt..

[deapwavelio]

Thanks Mahavishnu?

[dreamsinthree]

Is that Jimmy Fallon?

[leosgf]

Lol! If anyone ever portray Al di Meola on the movies, this guy has to be jimmy fallon

[globalistbrat]

Clark is incredible!

[ignamax08]

1:11 lolololol incredible

[laradiomelodicetodo]

It's awesome how chick can play at any band, the bass and the main guitar are perfect, the drums.... great.

[NeatSquash]

5:06 is where it's at, the perfect place to put that riff and a mad tune.

[Antalarion]

Great song

[venisfurs]

now thats some bass playing!

[checkthisjunkout]

Just legendary.

[dreadtodred]

clark is monster

[cjk9013]

Thanks for posting this. This is as fresh and powerful as it was then. Just awesome.

[TubeAmpMan]

These guys changed my life and music appreciation. Love & Peace to RTF Chick, Lenny, Stanley and Al you are the greatest! I feel blessed to live in a day and age to see this level of musicianship!

Great to be a fan for +30 Years, GREAT MUSIC LASTS FOREVER! it endures, it sounds fresh in any age, and still stirs the soul over and over.

Thank for posting Video.

[TubeAmpMan]

Amazing! I never though I would get to see this with my own eyes! I got this album around 1978 after hearing Al Di Meola in the studio CBS Manhattan. I had a friend who worked for CBS and let me sit in the lobby of the studio, when Al was recording, I belive he was recording Splendido Hotel at that time. Al's tone was and still is Amazing! I was hooked man! I tried to get every album I could get my hands on by these guys.

[AndyMan64s]

Can't believe how well they can back it up live! Has there ever been 4 better musicians in the same group together?..Don't think so.

[rush2death]

Fuck WOW!

[dreadtodred]

clark is one bad mother

[shadowboxer2024]

If anybody knows other awesome Jazz like this message me.

Very Talented musicians here.

[Wolverine51324]

I totally dig this

[quade64]

yay no pants!

[Vincenzo916]

Didn't Al have anything better to wear than his undershirt?

[69MC97gc]

You just have to hear this Masterpiece Live...I have heard this back in 1976...Try and catch some of Stanley´s Live concerts this year...

[sa234to]

malisimooooo !!!!!

" cuando no sepas que tocar no toques nada"

miles davis

[thevangris]

Lo primero es en serio? Es que no estoy de acuerdo

[deapwavelio]

Dices que esto es malo? Esto es excelente...

[HammondB200]

2:29 very much like "schooldays". Am i the only one who thinks that?

[doc2earth]

stanley deff has continuity in his writing....yes i heard it too!!

[ozzymandi]

Hi, dhampex.

I agree , I love his playing ,piano or synth

[craigdamage]

Four beyond stellar musicians trying too hard to out show-off each other. I find this messy and too indulgent.

I much prefer Herbie Hancock "Headhunters"

with its effortless and smooth grooving over this spastic decadence.

....I sure wish I was as good as these guys.

[t3hgir]

They arent trying to show off, thats what you think in your opinion, this is how they play their instruments, they arent trying to impress you.

[craigdamage]

...but didn't my opinion include "beyond stellar" and my admission that I wish I was as "good as these guys" ???

Anything else you missed?

[martinfilas]

grandioso !!!!!!!!!

[spikerooney011]

not bad, keep practicing :)

[tevevid]

This is the most extreme piece of art originally from the Romantic Warrior album from 1976, but nevertheless I like it very much as all the others on that superb album, one of the best ever in my view.

[Interests2009]

I agree. It's a great album. It's from the year I was born and we've had that album since. The music is so good words can't express. I thank one of my folks for playing this when I was little.

[johnwashere22]

5:00

[dhampex]

Ahhh the good old days of non saving patches on the minimoog. Thank god and bob moog for the new ones that can save the sound without everyone waiting on you and your the only one getting the sound ( I'v been there). Chick is another master on the minimoog without a doubt.

[spectre1324]

i wish the audio/visual was synced right

[almostfamous000]

But of course this is in my favorites!

[itsmcgee555]

whoa if you were to say clarke, white, and de meola are GODS and COREA is not, THAT WOULD BE A LIE, corea is like a fucking saint!!!!

[kukenimunnen]

Epic!

[hanshotfirst1138]

If I wasn't hearing it and looking at it, I might not believe it. WOW.

[pineappaloupue]

al look like jimmy fallon! hahahaha

[hanshotfirst1138]

Is this something taped off of T.V.? It looks like it came from a VHS copy of something.

[mstern18]

Old Grey Whistle Test was a music show put out by the BBC

[selimsucram]

Stanley is The bess Bass player of all times. Who else would write the sickest hardest opening 8 measures like that. The Boy is Bad.

[sampips]

stanley on bass,al on guitar,chick on keys,i think lenny white s on drums.

[sharoonatic]

Al Di Meola knows how to melt a face or two. Joy!

[mstern18]

my neighbor who i once had a conversation with about fusion, and then subsequently dropped off his vinyl collection at my house, since he doesnt own a record player anymore...anyway...he said hes referred to al di meola as "al scream-e-ola"

[avs002]

Nice quality... check my fusion and other vids too.

[RPGoof]

5:05 heavy as balls

[HerrVogels]

Absolutely amazing... Best fusion of the 70's. Love that happy little Moog melody in the middle, great great stuff..

[van1976]

One of my favorites. Saw them last night (Boston) and the "Older" Return to Forever was just like the "Old" Return to Forever--they didn't miss a beat!

--Van

[perromanchado]

Al di Meola was probably only 21 years old at the time. Wow!!!

[psychospeakempire]

Al was in my band in 1970. He was something like 16 or 17. His first ever appearance on record is on a song I wrote. I never released it because we are both a bit embarrassed by it. However, no Al DiMeola anthology is complete without it. Maybe someday I'll release it, who knows? Any record companies out there interested?

Paul

[perromanchado]

Wow! Cool!

What´s the song called?

[psychospeakempire]

"Black Knight"

[MSDTS]

The Fantastic Four.

[darkhurd]

I was blessed to see them in Cincinnati Ohio in a very small club.:) Every musician there felt like they never even played before..it was so amazing! We al were so speechless for months...lol! i think the place could hold 400 max..The best band ever..I saw them for $7.00.

[perlow]

wow this sounds is amazing

[witchman1]

4 of the best musicians of thier time, hands down, even today they kick ass.

[bdknocks]

3 of the best...YES! Clarke, White and Al DiMeola are GODS!

[t3hgir]

You cant forget Corea!!

[mahavishnu018]

Too bad this song isn't on the setlist :(

[j4sc3]

Holy SHIT! I just have such a hard time comprehending that they are so fucking REAL live. It is just incredible. Are you ready, Johnny?!?!

[69MC97gc]

"The Magician" was one of the highlights when RTF played in Stockholm back in 1976.

And about sound :we are watching old clips,and

Believe me, LIVE the Bass was as deep as Grand Canyon and fast,,,the guitar both shining melodically, and brilliantly shooting as a machinegun,the drums fast,steady as a rock and yet Belling softly.Keeping time.

And the keyboards...From a Church to a Tivoli...from one joy to another,from serious to play...

[taste46]

Thank you for these videos, I'm a huge fan of these guys. Played bass because of stanley.

[wonkavella]

i can't wait to hear them again.

[ricrica2010]

remember they all said how much FUN they had during this time. Ins't that what is should be about?

[BbFbA]

Talk is Cheap

[grisznik]

for those criticizing Stanley Clarke's tone - have you noticed the vid is from 1976?

all the instruments sound like shit..

be glad you're living in the digital sound era...

[mahavishnu018]

True. Yesterday's shit is today's vintage. Young musicians today have no idea how good they have it with digital modeling and improved analog circuitry.

[HammondB200]

digital modeling hahahaha.

[YragQuillo]

actually the cd still sounds wonderful

al sounds is not so bad neither are the syths

it was huge improvement over the prior RTF lp

it really is timeless CD in the fussion world

yeah the bass sounds bad here

[dsmusicuk]

Stanley....terrible tone!!! man!!! It is such a shame that when the brilliant Jaco arrived on the scene a lot of great influencial bass players got overlooked...such as Stanley and Alphonso Johnson! Stan is a truly awesome player either on electric or stand-up!!! just look who he has played with!!

[Sandemose]

Its really weird that Ive played with Alphonso Johnson on a workshop that he held in Stockholm while I was studying at a conservatory there(Ralp Humphry was there as well). Such a cool person! Our basist droped out the same night we were supposed to get on stage (nerves I guess) so we asked Alphonso if he could fill in for him same moment we got on stage; his answer was: GREAT! What tune are we playing? (Mr Clean) Ill never forget it. Best, Sandemose

[mahavishnu018]

Realize that in 1976 all you had as far as purpose built tube bass amps were somewhat available were the Ampeg SVT and (arguably) the Fender Bassman. Oh, and on international gigs like this, jazz musicians usually only take their instrument and hire a backline rental for amps, keyboards, drums, etc. So the choice was very limited. It looks like here stanley is using a Fender Deluxe combo on top an SVT cab.

[gianca60]

Stanley Clarke he's a master ahead of his time.

[philfast314]

Apparently Craigios is totally ignorant of the capabilities of Stanley Clark!! And how in the Fu$# can anybody tell ones "tone" from a You tube presentation? I suggest that Craigios attempts to play a bass(either electric or acoustic) for about ten years then realize his comments were at best misguided and at worst totally fucking stupid!!! what has Cragios written lately(or ever). Perhaps he will grow a brain soon! I need only post this once.

[Nicar526]

But that's the good thing about America is we have the right to disagree and he has the right to be wrong.I think if he is hearing overwhelming simularities between School Days and this composition he should seriously reconsider his daily shroom intake..

[Craigios]

Yeah it does sound like School Days. I think that's all Stanley is capable of. I think he has a terrible tone.

[dhip3]

No, it's your terrible ear.

[Craigios]

Yeah it does sound like School Days. I think that's all Stanley is capable of. I think he has a terrible tone.

[Craigios]

Yeah it does sound like School Days. I think that's all Stanley is capable of. I think he has a terrible tone.

[dhip3]

Perhaps a hearing test would help.

[iwantagoodnameplease]

I've never heard RTF before: The keys for the first two minute sound like the ones on School days... coincidence? :S

[Nicar526]

Well seeing as the same composer wrote both peices...

[talkingwall]

sigh. Back to the arpeggios for me.

[guitargod323]

the musicianship is insane!

[tommyplaysbass]

great stuff

[mmeyer1]

man that minimoog is solid as a rock lol...

[kewl2006]

thanks for sharing this wonderful concert... i truly hope that i get a chance to see them this year!

[thecool9]

awesome...

thank you very much!

[mahavishnu018]

Does the video get out of sync around 3:17 for everone else?

[acousticore]

it seems as though the frame rate changes at 3:10