Reply to thread

Thanks to everyone who chimed in. Just the mention of Birds of Fire still brings awe to me. I still have the original vinyl record from 72-73, after nearly 40 years this music sounds as much ahead of it's time now as it did back then!

I think McLaughlin started using his Boogies on "Visions of the Emerald Beyond" with the new lineup of Aphonse Johnson, Jon Luc Ponty, Narada Michael Walden, etc. You can clearly hear the signing sustain on the outro to "Lila's Dance" what brilliant playing and tone!

I love Santana's playing and Boogie tones of course but there was something just mind blowing about McLaughlin. I mean the guy is mostly self taught and his writing chops are "miles" beyond what anybody else was doing when Birds came out.

I read that he was inspired a lot by the album "20th Century Guitar"- Julian Bream which Bream commissioned composers to write "modern" style pieces (atonal, 12 tone row, etc) works for classical guitar.

I could go on about McLaughlin, great to hear from folks who appreciate his genius and great Boogie tone!