For me its the first or very early LP's of: Allman Brothers - "Allman Joys" "Idyllwild South" Santana - "Santana" 200 g reissue Emerson Lake and Palmer - "Emerson Lake and Palmer" and, Beethoven - "Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major" Rudolph Serkin/Ozawa/BSO
The story behind Dark Magus is nearly as unbelievable as the spur-of-the-moment compositions that resulted when Davis brought drummer Al Foster, bassist Michael Henderson, percussionist James Mtume, horn virtuoso Dave Liebman, and guitarists Pete Cosey and Reggie Lucas together, and, in a new twist for the concert’s second half, added guitarist Dominique Gaumont and tenor saxophonist Azar Lawrence to mix. That the latter two instrumentalists had never seen each other until that night adds to Davis’ legend — and penchant for bold, unorthodox moves.
Ditto Davis’ own actions that spring evening, which reportedly included showing up to the show an hour late and taking the stage with his back facing the crowd. The strategy worked. Davis inspired the group to play in a bold manner that few, if any, had heard before. Dark Magus is a rhythmic bonanza. Rooted in Afro-centrist techniques, avante-garde sensibilities, and exploratory moods, the songs eschew set arrangements and solos, and, for the most part, melodic devices.
For Davis, Dark Magus represented a personal triumph amid a period marked by health issues, addictions, and critical decline. The latter slight would be corrected, but not until decades later when Dark Magus saw Stateside release in 1997 via a CD reissue. Of course, the free-form patterns, unpredictable passages, dense structures, and distorted blues that course through the songs — titled after Swahili numerals — are not for everyone. And certainly not for the fainthearted. Though Dark Magus contains majestic moments marked by quiet restraint and something on the level of balladry, its rich and radical concoction of tormented thwacks, thumps, cracks, clatters, wails, bleeps, burbles, stomps, and enigmatic beats remains its adventurous heart and soul.
Primal and enigmatic, fierce and jagged, forceful and revolutionary, jolting and terrifying, Dark Magus seemingly attacks from any and all directions. Turn it up loud and let the prophetic brilliance of this inimitable and relentlessly funky album wash over you.
@slaw...I'm a huge MOFI fan and find that almost all of their titles are pretty damn good. I know that a lot of people were put off with "The MOFI Scandal". IMHO, I don't care how it gets on the record, I care what comes off. Most of the releases are close to, if not the best recordings I have in my collection...
I appreciate your honest answer. I bought the last two Simon & Garfunkel releases on vinyl.....thought they were less dynamic and energetic than my best pressings of those lps from the era. Also from my personal experience, the pressing quality on One -Steps have been less than good. ( A very conservative evaluation). Like you, I don't care how we get to a great end result as long as it is consistent quality.
Sorry to hear your One-Step pressings have not been good. I have all of them and again find them for the most part to be excellent. Case in point, the new Joni Mitchell "Court And Spark" is spectacular.
The Dan - Katy Lied - 2025 remaster Geffen garden variety issue
Some miracles worked but not all murk exorcised but for me anyway, greatly exceeds my expectations… pressing quality poor a sleeve scuffs, etc… it will go back…
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