Billy Cobham: Spectrum (crystal clear vinyl, indie exclusive) [RHINO]

Why you'll love it

Spectrum is a jazz-rock landmark with Tommy Bolin and Jan Hammer, and "Stratus" is the groove Massive Attack built "Safe from Harm" on; here on crystal clear vinyl.

This edition

• Crystal clear vinyl
• Indie exclusive
• Gatefold jacket
• Stereo mix

About the album

Fresh out of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Billy Cobham went into Electric Lady Studios and knocked out his debut in two or three days, nearly every track a first or second take. It sounds like it: urgent, thrilling and ferociously alive.

Jan Hammer's synths squeal, a young Tommy Bolin rips through some of the wildest guitar of the decade, and Cobham's double-kick thunder drives it all. "Quadrant 4" is pure velocity, "Taurian Matador" shows off his drum chops, and "Stratus" rolls out the slinky bassline Massive Attack sampled for "Safe from Harm" (and that turned up on GTA IV's Fusion FM).

Engineer Ken Scott recalled Cobham dampening his snare by laying his wallet on it, which is about as rock and roll as jazz gets.

Also at Kops: more Billy Cobham on vinyl · browse Jazz

Tracklist

Listen

On Rhino (cat# RCV1 7268), a reissue of the 1973 album.