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Return to Forever (Chick Corea album)

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Return to Forever
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 1972 (Germany, Japan)
1975 (US)
RecordedFebruary 2–3, 1972
StudioA & R Studios
New York City
GenreJazz fusion
Length46:48
LabelECM
ECM 1022 ST
ProducerManfred Eicher
Chick Corea chronology
Piano Improvisations Vol. 2
(1972)
Return to Forever
(1972)
Light as a Feather
(1973)
Return to Forever chronology
Return to Forever
(1972)
Light as a Feather
(1973)

Return to Forever is a jazz fusion album by Chick Corea recorded over two days in February 1972 and released on ECM September that same year—Corea's fourth release for the label. It is the debut of a quintet featuring singer Flora Purim, flautist/saxophonist Joe Farrell, bassist Stanley Clarke and percussionist Airto Moreira, who would go on to record under the name Return to Forever.

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings [3]

Background

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On March 3, 1972, saxophonist Stan Getz recorded an early version of "La Fiesta" for Captain Marvel (1974), backed by Corea, Clarke and Moreira along with drummer Tony Williams. The composition would become the middle section of the album's B-side, "Sometime Ago – La Fiesta" a full version of which can be found on the compilation Chick Corea – Selected Recordings (2002).

Purim would go on to sing her part of the medley, "Sometime Ago", on her fifth solo album, Open Your Eyes You Can Fly (1976).

Reception

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The record is often considered one of the classic albums in electric jazz.[1]

Track listing

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All music is composed by Chick Corea

Side I
No.TitleLyricsLength
1."Return to Forever" 12:06
2."Crystal Silence" 6:59
3."What Game Shall We Play Today"Neville Potter4:30
Total length:23:35
Side II
No.TitleLyricsLength
1."Sometime Ago – La Fiesta"Potter23:13
Total length:23:13 46:48

Personnel

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Return to Forever

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Technical personnel

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  • Manfred Eicher – producer
  • Tony May – engineer
  • Michael Manoogian – cover photography

Chart performance

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Year Chart Position
1975 Billboard Jazz Albums 8 [4]

References

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  1. ^ a b Huey, Steve (2011). "Chick Corea - Return to Forever (1972) album review | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  2. ^ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. pp. 50. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
  3. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 304. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
  4. ^ "Chick Corea - Return to Forever (1972) | Awards | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
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