The first iteration of Return to Forever convened in 1972 with Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Joe Farrell, Airto Moreira, and Flora Purim. The group mixed samba, jazz, and fusion into a highly progressive and influential sound.
Chick Corea: piano and keyboards Stanley Clarke: bass Joe Farrell: flute, soprano & tenor saxophone Airto Moreira: drums and percussion Flora Purim: vocals
Chick Corea: piano and keyboards Stanley Clarke: acoustic and electric bass Joe Farrell: flute, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone Airto Moreira: drums and percussion Flora Purim: vocals
Tracklist:
Return to Forever (12:06) Crystal Silence (6:59) What Game Shall We Play Today (4:30) Sometime Ago / La Fiesta (23:14)
Light as a Feather
Lineup:
Chick Corea: piano and keyboards Stanley Clarke: acoustic and electric bass Joe Farrell: flute, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone Airto Moreira: drums and percussion Flora Purim: vocals
Tracklist:
You’re Everything (5:15) Light as a Feather (11:01) Captain Marvel (4:58) 500 Miles High (9:11) Children’s Song (2:51) Spain (9:51)
1974 – 1977: The Electric Quartet
The electric quartet lineup was a result of Chick, Stanley, Bill Connors and Lenny White finding the right texture for the time and then perfecting the concept. With Connors replaced by Al Di Meola, the band was now centered and became one of the most popular and successful electric groups by early 1974. They embarked on a recording and touring schedule that would frighten musicians today.
The band, being constantly on the road or in the studio (either making RTF albums or individual projects), was so tight that when Romantic Warrior was recorded and released in 1976, it reached Gold Record status (500,000 sold).
Chick Corea: piano and keyboards Stanley Clarke: bass Lenny White: drums Bill Connors: guitar (on Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy) Al Di Meola: guitar (all other albums)
Return to Forever 1974: Chick Corea / Stanley Clarke / Lenny White / Bill Connors
Return to Forever 2008: Chick Corea / Stanley Clarke / Lenny White / Al Di Meola
Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy
Lineup:
Chick Corea: piano and keyboards Stanley Clarke: acoustic and electric bass Lenny White: drums Bill Connors: guitar
Tracklist:
Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy (3:32) After the Cosmic Rain (8:30) Captain Senor Mouse (9:04) Theme to the Mothership (8:50) Space Circus Part I & II (5:44) The Game Maker (6:50)
Where Have I Known You Before
Lineup:
Chick Corea: piano and keyboards Stanley Clarke: acoustic and electric bass Lenny White: drums Al Di Meola: guitar
Tracklist:
Vulcan Worlds (7:54) Where Have I Loved You Before? (1:01) Shadow of Lo (7:34) Where Have I Danced With You Before? (3:11) Beyond the Seventh Galaxy (3:14) Earth Juice (3:45) Where Have I Known You Before? (2:09) Song to the Pharoah Kings (14:21)
No Mystery
Lineup:
Chick Corea: piano and keyboards Stanley Clarke: acoustic and electric bass Lenny White: drums Al Di Meola: guitar
Tracklist:
Dayride (3:25) Jungle Waterfall (3:03) Flight of the Newborn (7:23) Sofistifunk (3:51) Excerpt From the First Movement of Heavy Metal (2:45) No Mystery (6:10) Interplay (2:15) Celebration Suite, Part 1 (8:27) Celebration Suite, Part 2 (5:32)
Romantic Warrior
Lineup:
Chick Corea: piano and keyboards Stanley Clarke: acoustic and electric bass Lenny White: drums Al Di Meola: guitar
Tracklist:
Medieval Overture (5:18) Sorceress (7:38) Romantic Warrior (10:53) Majestic Dance (5:05) The Magician (5:32) The Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant Part I & II (11:29)
Return to Forever – Returns
Lineup:
Chick Corea: piano and keyboards Stanley Clarke: acoustic and electric bass Lenny White: drums Al Di Meola: guitar
Tracklist:
Disc 1
Opening Prayer (2:04) Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy (3:44) Vulcan Worlds (13:45) Sorceress (11:22) Song to the Pharoah Kings (27:14) Al Di Meola Solo (8:54) No Mystery (8:53)
Disc 2
Friendship (Chick Corea Solo) (8:53) Romantic Warrior (7:20) El Bayo de Negro (Stanley Clarke Solo) (11:26) Lineage (Lenny White Solo) (7:39) Romantic Warrior (Continued) (3:03) Duel of the Jester and the Tyrant (14:04) 500 Miles High (12:48) Romantic Warrior (Live at BBC) (8:20)
1977 – 1978: The Big Band
“The last big band version of RTF provided wonderful resources for the composer talents within the band and, to this day, it seems to me that the compositions that were created became one of the strongest elements that made up the bands’ musical effects.” — Chick
Chick Corea: piano and keyboards Stanley Clarke: bass Joe Farrell: flute, soprano & tenor saxophone Gayle Moran: vocals and organ Gerry Brown: drums John Thomas: trumpet and flugelhorn James Tinsley: trumpet James Pugh: tenor trombone Harold Garrett: trombone and baritone horn
Chick Corea: piano and keyboards Stanley Clarke: bass Joe Farrell: flute, soprano & tenor saxophone Gayle Moran: vocals and organ Gerry Brown: drums John Thomas: trumpet and flugelhorn James Tinsley: trumpet James Pugh: tenor trombone Harold Garrett: trombone and baritone horn
Tracklist:
The Musician (7:12) Hello Again (3:49) Music Magic (11:00) So Long Mickey Mouse (6:09) Do You Ever (3:59) The Endless Night (9:41)
RTF Live
Lineup:
Chick Corea: piano and keyboards Stanley Clarke: bass Joe Farrell: flute, soprano & tenor saxophone Gayle Moran: vocals and organ Gerry Brown: drums John Thomas: trumpet and flugelhorn James Tinsley: trumpet James Pugh: tenor trombone Harold Garrett: trombone and baritone horn
Tracklist:
Disc 1
Opening ’77 (7:10) The Endless Night (20:30) The Musician (17:48)
Disc 2
Hello Again (7:41) So Long Mickey Mouse (10:52) Musicmagic (27:26)
Disc 3
Come Rain or Come Shine (3:56) Serenade (13:57) The Moorish Warrior and the Spanish Princess (19:23)
Disc 4
Chick’s Piano Solo (16:41) Spanish Fantasy (11:22) On Green Dolphin Street (9:30)
2011: The Electric Quintet
They’re back. Almost forty years after Return to Forever—the definitive jazz/rock fusion ensemble—first appeared on the scene, the much-honored ensemble is making one of their storied returns to action.
And, in the bold tradition of renewal that the band has established as an essential RTF quality, this latest installment combines elements from the group’s rich history with an exciting vision of the jazz future, to create what may be the most exciting version of one of the most influential bands of all time.
