Lenny White-Mating Drive(1975)

[Chapako01]

When some people say 'Fusion' think about the mix Jazz+Rock, that`s what I remember about.

[lorioftheforest]

The word "FUSION" elicits images of guys in a laboratory messing around with radioactive substances. BAD STUFF. But say JAZZ RENAISSANCE and suddenly this whole era becomes a thing of excellence and conjures images of craftsmen dedicated to their art striving for the elusive perfection. If we openly give this the respect it should have the musicians will respond. The more I think about it the more it begins to make sense. Please consider this gentlemen. You have nothing to lose if u do.

[musicminor25]

@lorioftheforest WHY DON'T WE JUST CALL IT "GOOD MUSIC"???

[lorioftheforest]

@musicminor25 Ill tell you why.because there are a lot of people who say that lady gaga is also good music. There are just as many people who will say that Lawrence Welk was good music. And even more who will say that David Hasselhof made good music...And i could name many more. But none of this explains why you call it fusion???

[TheSmalltownclown]

@lorioftheforest I agree totally with musicminor25

[lorioftheforest]

braxtonantoine's asks the burning question. There is a another guy here DoctorEam, who made a great point about this. Its a matter of terminology. People hate the word fusion as a word in context to music. Say it in a crowd and people groan. The good Dr stated that we need to refer to this as a Renaissance. It means a rebirth or a new way of understanding things and that's what this really represents in the one true American art form we call JAZZ.

[dorne]

@randyreal575 that is Ray Gomez on the guitars solo.

[1Eu4ic]

Damn listen to that guitar

[zzzxxyy]

What a solo!!!!

[drumforlife720]

Thumbs up for no thumbs down!!!!

[braxtonantoine]

Thank You! Was waitin' for someone to upload it.

[shiznoes]

I've been trying to get into Jazz. I love classical, blues, rock, and metal but jazz just hasn't kicked in for me yet. I don't know if it's just not for me or if I'm not doing it right but it just doesn't click for me yet. However, fusion is probably my greatest discovery. I fucking love it and in my opinion, stretches the limits of jazz and brings it to a whole new level.

[earthless1990]

kickass jam. jazz funk rules when it's strictly instrumental, otherwise with vocal it sounds like shitty disco :(

[xplanetstudio]

one of the most cosmic track from scratch i have origin vinyl.. i know

[randyreal574]

That's not ray gomez on that fabulous solo, I wish I could remember who it was.It was someone I never heard of

[TTYumYum]

reminds me of Santana, guess that makes sense

[tommasocolia]

Awesome work by Douglas Rouch on bass.

Remembering Baikal.

[0spacegiraff]

Sickist fucking track man

[MrJavinbur]

D0LPHiN FANS U C H0W EXCEPTIONALLY WEAK SPARANO iS-U C HOW NEGOTIATINGLY SOFT STEPHEN ROSS iS-U C HOW iDiOTiC AND DUMB NEANDERTHAL JEFF iRELAND Da SPINELESS DO BOY iS-DO U STiLL BELiEVE WE CAN WiN WiTH NO SKILLS AND BLIND AZZ CHAD HENNE.....LOYAL MiAMi DOLPHiN FANS UNTiL U GET RiD OF DEM SUER DASTARDLY WEAK iDiOTS in DA FRONT OFFiCE U HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CHANCE OF GETn RiD OF DEM BASTIONS OF DASTARDLY WEAK iDiOTS ON DA SiDELiNES-ASPiRiNG TOTAL LOSERS AT BEST....

[braxtonantoine]

Please, how about loading "Prince of the Sea' from this album-my favorite. Where has this music gone to & why haven't musicians taken it forward?

[musicminor25]

@braxtonantoine I uploaded "Prince Of The Sea" a little while ago!!

[GuitarRHCPfan]

@braxtonantoine Haven't you heard of Tool? Lenny White is one of their biggest influences. Danny Carey (the drummer) says Lenny is his BIGGEST influence along with Bonham and a few others. Just listen, and you will find many bands taken influence and propelling White's legacy even today.

[caryzia]

@GuitarRHCPfan Ah Yeah.

Lenny is ze best of rawkin jazz fuzion...Danny is a great one too.

Geez!!!

[acapulcofire]

@braxtonantoine you should check Thundercat's - The Golden Age Of Apocalypse album produced by Flying Lotus released a month ago. Sweet avant funk for real!

[topmeat69]

@braxtonantoine Because we ,the musicians of that time did not teach them what WE knew

[TheTimananda]

@braxtonantoine

you might like Vital Information with Steve Smith; that band has done some excellent "fusion" over the past number of years.

[spacitydrummer4JC]

Lenny is a baller AND a shot caller. Whatever that means.

[Scathe8000]

found this LP at half price books for 99 cents!!

[65disc]

You gotta be a spaceman to like this stuff- and I love it! Try "Twelve Bars From Mars"

[SKOTP69]

FANNNNNNTASTIC! I like everything Lenny White has played on, I only read about this album in Mojo recently and I MUST own it!!!!

[ilikeyouallot]

what a bass and more, today....

[dorian411]

What happened to Ray Gomez?

[ronaldmcdonald333]

i remember when i gave birth to lenny white, such a cute little 4 pound baby boy i had to give him up though cause my husband ran away and i was a teenager

[Billrabatin]

Worm tongue ,try Audiophile Imports .com and look under Drums for this cd..They have an extensive inventory of esoteric shit. both old and new Bill

[throwntomato]

wild cover art.

[Wormtongue13]

I was just looking for the CD of this album on amazon. New: $150!! I'll stick with my vinyl. Great to see this on here. Certainly one of the best albums of the era and genre. Thanks for putting it up.

[musicminor25]

@Wormtongue13 You're Welcome!!!

[oliverecords]

@Wormtongue13 This abum is worth a very well filled fistful of dollars, but there they try to steal people. I've found this album at several occasions in second hand shops, where you could have it for two-figure prices.

I mean, the original LP. You own it! :)

[JoeSzilagy]

Used to see Lenny, Nick Moroch, Marcus Miller and the rest of the band play this stuff at The El Mocombo in Toronto several years ago! We were only about ten feet from the stage! Ecstacy! The best thing I've seen since, along with Jeff Beck on occasion, was seeing Stanley Clarke (the "fusion" group) with Hiromi, Ronald Bruner jr., and Ruslan last year.

[samuelgiannini]

questo di disco di Lenny è stato il mio disco preferito per anni... un grandissimo batterista che ha suonato con dei musicisti fenomenali, ho comprato i biglietti per il suo spettacolo alla casa del jazz di roma su listicket, domani è il grande giorno, non vedo l'ora. tra lìaltro ho visto che il 19 suonerà anche il grande Horacio. Uno show dietro l'altro...

[adewolf]

Great music and cover art. Got that Start Trek mojo goin on.

[guitar1977]

great album, a+++++++++++++++

[nicksoan1]

My Friday song this week - One of the most amazing songs ever

[dmichaelby]

This is a great tune but I'd love to hear Prince of the Sea.

[SereneDementiaDan]

does the guitar tone remind anybody else of Jimmy Page? i love the blistering leads at 1:14

[vdopower66]

whoa whoa whoa 3:17 feels like heaven omg.

[stillphil]

Daaamn !

[Shawn200220012000200]

The energetic, heavyhitting, bomb-booming performance by Lenny White.

[Steelyden]

'Mating drive' A.k.a. 'Pon Farr' :D:D one of my favourite musicians, great album and great song.

don't worry musicminor, there are more of us:) Steely Dan, Return To Forever and 10cc are my 3 favourite bands. I play bass because of Stanley Clarke and weather report and drums because of Lenny. I'm 21 and I only listen to jazzrock-fusion of the seventies. What more do you want? Today's music is in no way capable to exceed this, and problably never will

[lonhillyer]

Please put up Astral Pirates!

[lonhillyer]

OLD SKOOL FUZE 4 YA......Flam-triplets and evrythAng and my blue Land Ski fiberglass board.....; couldn't afford the G&S, w/ the Tracker trucks, but I did rock the wide Red Sims Slalom wheel-jointz, though; at least in the back part! ☮

[orlandosjones]

For all interested. Wounded Bird Records has released this record and many other fusion classics on digitally remastered CD's check them out before you spend $200 on a used vinyl record.

[bledsoe50]

Woooow thanks for posting this cut;lenny was at his prime!!!

[Derpaderpamurf]

Amazing, only album I've found that comes close to the fusion masterpiece Elegant Gypsy, been looking awhile for something that can do this. Currently waiting for my vinyl of this to be shipped, cant wait!

[rdartis]

damn bro, this track is SMOKIN!!!

[feilik]

One of the best ever fusion records and what great grooves. Check out the No Treble website where I have written a major retrospective on bassist Doug Rauch's career (he is on this track and album). I have the vinyl of this record and consider it a tragedy that it has never been released on CD.

[awbolden]

@feilik I saw Lenny White live 3 times in Chicago in the '70's. He played this selection in two of the concerts with the little known Ray Gomez (at that time) on guitar and Alex Blake on bass (Big City Tour) The third concert was the Astral Pirates tour with the little known Marcus Miller on bass. Unfortunately, Doug Rauch didn't come to Chicago with Lenny on tour.

[feilik]

@awbolden Those must have been some great concerts!

[ESP500]

This is amazing.

[TyroneLamoureux]

I saw the vinyl of this album selling for over 100$ on google checkout... intense price. Would be a sick album to have though.

[vveq]

Attention kids: this song defines the musical term "cookin' with fire". I'd say about 2500 degrees Fahrenheit.  Dang, my computer is melting.

[associate434]

man this tune was ridiculous!!!!! i love this song so much.  i'm a drummer and i love to play along with this song. its burnin. ray burns the solo on this song.. everyone does... i love this song more than any of return to forever's stuff. the ending is crucial too!!!!

[pbanders]

Only a very select few have the ability and the guts to play a solo like Ray does here. This is a soul laid bare, and you can feel how it just pulled everyone else on the track along. Thank god I was a kid when this stuff was fresh and new, gotta wonder what the kids today have that can electrify them like this did for me.

[murdstyx]

I myself was a teen when this came out and everyone at school thought I was a head case! To them it sounded like a bunch of out of control noise. This kind of playing is almost nonexistant today. Ray gomez is one of the most underrated players ever. He is absolutely brilliant! One of a kind.

[pbanders]

Same for me. Everyone thought the stuff I listened to in high school was "noise". I always took that to mean they didn't like having to actually listen to music.

[freein2339]

Real music ...none of that sampling nonsense...

[hiphopisknowledge]

@freein2339 - nuthing wrong with sampling !!!

[freein2339]

Sampling is not real music..It's like eating leftovers everyday and the only people that sample are the ones that can't write their own music...

[hiphopisknowledge]

sampling is rearranging music and no its not as easy as you think obviously you have never done it - to just say ppl that sample music cant write music is also a fallacy - I listen to jazz ( 40s-70s)- to rock to hiphop ( not that bullish on the radio) I sample and write music - play bass as well - not gonna argue just differnt opinion

[freein2339]

Sampling is not rearranging music..."Arranging requires an array of knowledge and skills that you don't need if you're sampling..Any idiot can sample , that's why all the rap and hiphop sounds the same..No dynamics, no change in meter , no change in keys , no solos...NO MUSICIANS....therefore you really can't call it real music...It's like eating leftovers everyday..Tell you what ....pick your instrument...learn how to play it and create YOUR OWN SOUND... That's where music comes from...

[arobdrummer]

So if it isn't music, how come people listen to it. that enough makes it music. Hey if you think your music is so superior then tell me what any aesop rock song means. rap is poetry, saying it isn't music is like saying it isn't poetry, would you agree?

[freein2339]

Some people listen to whatever is put in front of them so if they listen to nonsense then that's their problem..And yes "rap" is not music...it does not have enough musical qualities in it to be classified as music...What can a aspiring musician learn from it...?? How to sample..?? How to scream into a mic while talking bullshyt...??? To be fair , some raps are a work of art...They are expressions via the written word , but the so-called music behind it is laughable at best....

[arobdrummer]

you have little dick syndrome, belittling people won't prove shit.

[arobdrummer]

if music has qualities or rules then people have been playing the same shit forever.

[hiphopisknowledge]

yeah ok - again you dont know what ur talking about -you just think all its about is looping a sample -far from it..sorry what u hear on the radio /mtv doesnt encompass all that is hiphop just like kenny g doesnt encompass jazz- screaming into the mic -who you been listening to ???? like you know what hiphop is -PLZ -LOL RAP IS NOT MUSIC ..YEAH O.K. -if thats ur opinion -i anit here trying to change it / I just disagree and keep it moving

[freein2339]

I thought you where going to keep moving a long time ago...you repeat the same nonsense over and over again...just like sampling...and that proves that you, like sampling , offer no new ideas...just leftovers...Happy Thanksgiving...just don't do the cooking...people like "fresh" food at least on a holiday.....

[arobdrummer]

go listen to flying lotus and tell me how he did it.

[freein2339]

What's flying lotus...??? a sampled piece of leftovers or a piece of creativity..

[arobdrummer]

how about stop being ignorant and give it a chance. if it's SOOO easy you'll know exactly what he's sampling you musical genius you.

[freein2339]

Give it a chance...I can't stand but to give it a chance..I hear it everyday and it does nothing for me..nothing...did you read what I posted...??? Get your lazy azz on stage with some good musicians and learn something about creating music...Pushing buttons does not get it...remember there is more music inside you then anything you can sample...why are you afraid to take the musical journey..?? Too much work for you....or are you really just living in a fantasy...???

[hiphopisknowledge]

no its not what is flying lotus but who. alot of his music isnt sampled by the way . obviously your take on music is closed minded -

[hiphopisknowledge]

he wouldnt have a clue ...

[hiphopisknowledge]

sorry my friend but sampling is RE ARRANGING MUSIC !!!!- MEANING ALREADY EXISTING PERIOD NO- AND NO ALL RAP DOESNT SOUND THE SAME JUST THE BS ON RADIO .. AND YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN SOUND FROM AN EXISTING SOURCE ... I ALREADY TOLD YOU I PLAY BASS --- SINCE 1983 - HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAY - PLZ DONT REPLY NOT NECESSARY

[hiphopisknowledge]

and furthermore no change in meter or cord ?? you dont know what ur talking about at all -samplers and sequencers do all of that - and yes it does require skill - done w/ ya have a good holiday man -

[freein2339]

Do you know what meter is in musical terms...??? And it's spelled "chord"...and do you have any idea what that means...?? This is what I'm talking about...you don't have a clue when it comes to music and sampling does not make you any smarter...Try to really study music and then we can have a discussion....

[arobdrummer]

It's an original composition of noise put together digitally or mechanically, plus it takes some sort of talent and there is no rule of what is music and what isn't. It's not like you invented music so how can you know the "rules" of it.

[freein2339]

I said it's not music ...that's my opinion and you little weak points are going to change the fact that sampling is not music...Tell you what...LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT MUSIC AND GET BACK TO ME...

[arobdrummer]

I'm not the one being ignorant to musical genres. The important part about music isn't necessarily about how you make it, just to listen and enjoy. Not trying to say what is and isn't music, I'm not here to tell what is not music. STOP BEING IGNORANT. plus I've been playing drums 7 years and guitar for 5, I'm not saying I that I am the authority on music, you are.

[freein2339]

The last idiot that didn't know shit about music said the bullshyt...Being playing since 7, plays all these instruments but can't write music..That's sounds so stupid that it's funny..And if you don't like my opinion then don't comment on it...I will continue to say that sampling is not music,,Now learn how to play your "array" of instruments...Get a gig with some good musicians ..and understand this...there is more music inside of you than anything you can sample....anything....

[arobdrummer]

hey guess what I've recorded over three albums with two bands, and just saying how shitty I am without offering your experience just make you look like a retard. I'm not saying I am anything special and I never said I sampled I'm just trying to be OPEN MINDED to MUSIC.

[freein2339]

Your whole conversation makes you look like a retard...Did you record three albums or four albums.???..It's not a big number to remember but somehow you forgot...Try that nonsense with somebody else I ain't buying it...I don't respect sampling...that's my opinion so grow up and get over it...

[arobdrummer]

Im sorry if I made you really angry. Tell all the people who sample that they suck at music and they'll definitely want to listen to your music for being so open minded.

[freein2339]

You have your opinion and I have mine..If you do actually play an instrument then great...Keep playing because playing an instrument is becoming a lost art...why is that..??? Does sampling have something to do with that..??? just my opinion..

[arobdrummer]

oh and music is perspective of emotion and if something you used as a sample explains that feeling its right.

[VanityTattoo]

It's still not original if you have to use someones music to get your point across or express your feelings then its not your feelings its that of the artist that wrote it And it doesn't matter how much you do to it it's still going to be a rip off of the original song The concept of rap Rhythm and Poetry was spouse to be a form of music and originally was tasteful and original Now it's a bunch of people reusing the same song but just tweaking it a little

[arobdrummer]

Green day uses the same chord progression as canon doesn't that make them not original.

[arobdrummer]

plus the original argument we were having was whether it is music or not. Not if it is original. Elvis stole a lot of his music, so it wasn't music.

[megacocks]

One of my favourite songs.

[garyn1953]

David Sancious, Lenny, Doug Rauch, Jan Hammer, Ray Gomez... I could go on. These guyz did the do ... over and over again !!! Thanx be to them and all the others who promoted this wonderful music !!!

[docholiday747]

Lenny White... The Man! I play guitar and this tune just Kicks Ass!!! I'm going to work this one up. I've played with drummers who can play like this, what a rush.

[butterygrape]

you definitely dont have to be old to enjoy this!

[Lachlanau]

this is really tight, loving that wah wah guitar

[jaco0639]

Thanks for sharing. This is top quality!!!!

[jay55also]

I used to live and breath in this stuff back in the day. Al Dimeola,Lenny White,Stanley Clarke,Brand X,Jeff Beck,Jan Hammer,Weather Report,John Mcglauchlin,Allen Holdsworth,Lenny Williams,Miles Davis,John Scoffield,Larry Coryell,Johnny Conners,Wayne Shorter,Jaco Pastorious,I'm serious,I really missed this stuff.

[76alembic]

Break out your vinyl buddy, this motivates me to do so. Great stuff ,such passion and musicianship,great.

[caribe4045]

Hey man. Did we grow up together?

[gregw1160]

i lost my entire collection of 70,s jazz fusion lps to a drunk nite with my g/f...this was one of the alblums she destroyed...sooo nice to hear it again...

[4FIVETheCollector]

sounds crazy. sorry :(

[garyn1953]

Takes me there...

I was a young man then

lenny ... UDAMAN

ray ... UDAMAN

doug ... see you in da next world

so many great musicians on dis !!!

[VintageGuy1]

..Yep!!!, this was a outstanding album of the finest fusion grade ...and one I want to be buried alongside when it's my time to go. This piece (as well as the musician line-up & technical crew he assembled) were light-years ahead of their time.

[jcyn21]

would putting it on HQ enhance the sound as well?

[SeijuurouNico]

O_O

Such a head-blowing...

* * * * *

[poea1019]

One of the sickest jams i have ever heard..Thank you for posting this..

[pbanders]

That first lick in Ray's solo (2:04 to 2:06) is just simply awesome, and so characteristic of Ray Gomez. And while Lenny burns on this song, Doug Rauch is relentless on the bass here, I can't figure out how he could have sustained this kind of effort. Great, great song.

[Vegeholmspelle]

Thanks! This album founds its way to me (then about 18 years old...) because of the cover, I must admit , but soon the music (and what music!) on it was my main concern. Must go and search for it on the attic!

[binnyman]

Man, you did it again !!!!!!! It was so cool to walk into Peaches and pick this up....and RTF....and Jan.....and PFM.....and Happy the Man........awesome album, awesome time, me droogs !!!! Thanks for the post---I'm going to pull out this vinyl right now and give it a spin ! Peace:-)

[musicminor25]

You're Welcome!! I'm so glad there are others that appreciate this type of music!!

[twtomwood123]

I'm 18, and I'm a big Tool fan. I was looking at an interview with Danny Carey, and he cited this guy as one of his influences. I checked this song out at about 2 o'clock this morning and I've not stopped listening too it. I also listened too the whole of The Adventures of Astral Pirates and I think it is awesome!! =D

[josefomx]

@musicminor25

Thanks for posting this incredible music, I certainly agree with you a that time we were populated with great groups making incredible music in all genres. From jazz rock fusion to progressive, alternative, blues and other kinds. I thank you so much for this song.

[berco74]

Du grand Jazz Rock!!!

Thanks.

[BlueRoseRocketBand2]

ray gomez can cook. I 've been turning my son on to this era but lost all these albums in a move years ago. Tried to match the name of song to the one bouncing around in my head. Thanks for helping me find it. you are posting alot of great but sadly forgotten music. thanks!

[Bix12]

You bet he does! Ray was/is woefully overlooked on all the Guitarist's Guitarist Lists...but way back in late 60's/early 70's he already had all that new (then) angular fusion phrasing nailed! Great guitarist!

[awbolden]

Ray Gomez is a good guitarist. I saw him perform with Stanley Clarke and Lenny White's bands live back in the '70's

[musicminor25]

You're Welcome!! There was so much great music at that time of all genres!!

[yourtvshowsonline]

I Know what you mean about lost albums moving, not only did I lose this lenny album! I lost my whole rock and Jazz Fusion collection moving from cincy to Arizona! man do I hate that! I will never be able to get my old memory albums and relive that era again but thanks to the internet and musicminor25 and all others from that era I can! THANKS!

[jimdep1]

No mistaking Doug Rauch on bass!

[freein2339]

Nice album cover...

[zenguin13]

Nice!!!