Ranking the Albums: John McLaughlin (w/Andy Edwards & George Lamie)

John McLaughlin's guitar music and playing style was so influential to me and is the main reason I became a truck driver.

I was blessed to see the Jimmy Herring/John McLaughlin “Meeting of the Spirits” show twice. I saw them in Austin and was so blown away I bought tickets for the final show of the tour and flew to LA to see it again. I was in high school when Mahavishnu came out and I became a huge fan. By the time I was eighteen, the band was no more and John had moved on to Shakti and didn’t play Mahavishnu music anymore. The opportunity to see those songs performed live was incredible! Now, that's not to disparage Shakti. I learned to love that music, as well. My first chance to see McLaughlin live was when Shakti performed at a local jazz club. It was mesmerizing.

Good show. Thanks guys.

Thanks Pete, George, and Andy for another great SOT ranking show! This is a great way to start diving into the McLaughlin catalog, I've only ever skimmed the surface of the catalog.

As someone who knows him mainly through releases that aren't "John McLaughlin" albums- this is all the more so very informative and interesting. Many thanks to you 3!

"Phenomenon: Compulsion" is furious, compelling, powerful-- only John with Billy Cobham could accomplish this, it will always give me chills. VERY educational show-- thanks Pete, Andy and George.

Good show Pete, George and Andy. I have nothing by John McLaughlin. I have heard him on these long concerts that I have. Seeing him live you can tell he really gets into his music.

“Electric Guitarist”, “Industrial Zen”, “My Goals Beyond”, “Love Devotion Surrender”, “The Trío of Doom”, “ A night in San Francisco with Di Meola and Paco de Lucia…tremendous and infliuential guitar player. With Miles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Shakti, and many more

Amazing show..I learned so much about John Mclaughlin..I got a list of at least 10 albums I want to check out..My favorites are Love Devotion, Surrender, My Goals Beyond All 3 Shakti albums, Friday Night In San Francisco..Man what a catalog of material..I've got a lot of listening to do..Thanks Pete, wonderful and informative show..

1. George - Industrial Zen 2006 Andy - Natural Elements 1977 Pete - Electric Guitarist 1978 2. George - Now Hear This 2012 Andy - Electric Dreams 1978 Pete - Love Devotion Surrender 1973 3. George - Live at the Royal Festival Hall 1990 Andy - A Handful of Beauty 1977 Pete - Friday Night in San Francisco 1981 4. George - Live in San Francisco 2018 Andy - Electric Guitarist 1978 Pete - Devotion 1970 5. George - Black Light 2015 Andy - Shakti 1976 Pete - Five Peace Band Live 2009 6. George - Floating Point 2008 Andy - My Goals Beyond 1971 + hon. mentions 'Follow Your Heart', 'Song of the Wind', & 'Motion' from Joe Farrel Quartet 1970 Pete - Live in San Francisco 2018 7. George - Belo Horizonte 1981 Andy - Extrapolation 1969 Pete - Electric Dreams 1979 8. George - The Heart of Things 1997 tied with The Heart of Things: Live in Paris 2000 Andy - Love Devotion Surrender 1973 Pete - Industrial Zen 2006 9. George - Electric Guitarist 1978 Andy - Live at the Royal Festival Hall 1990 Pete - Black Light 2015 10. George - Five Peace Band Live 2009 Andy - Five Peace Band Live 2009 Pete - Exrapolation 1969

Great show.I think that Shakti is the best thing that McLaughlin have done with the Mahavishnu Orchestra, so my ranking is obvious : 1- Natural Elements 2- A Handful of Beauty 3- Shakti Live With John McLaughlin 4- Love Devotion Surrender 5- Electric Guitarist 6- Belo Horizonte 7- Que Alegria 8- Industrial Zen 9- Electric Dreams 10- Extrapolation

Another fantastic discussion and overview. I thought I had quite a few of Mclaughlin’s works, but after this show so much more to explore. His new offering is a worthy addition to the catalogue of a ground breaking guitarist. Oh and you three are definitely not the Trio of Doom!

The One Truth Band record is n°1 for me The Free spirits Tokyo live with Joey de Francesco and Dennis Chambers come close Devotion a dark raw and mean record Music spoken here superb band and an underrated period Any recent record on Abstract logic

@Sea of Tranquility No the divorce was with first wife Eva, so marriage to Katia L could go ahead. Whatever, Carson was offended by JMs remark, banned him from the show - despite the audience & crew reaction to the music performance. I don't recall any music guest hitting harder in the history of late night - maybe James Brown, on Letterman. When Katia & Maria guested on Tonight Show a year later, Carson pretended he didn't know who JM was.

i got mahavishnu orchestra and john Mclaughlin with carlos santana love devotion and surrender album.

For those of us who have the Mahavishnu albums but haven't really explored McLaughlin's other works, this is awesome. These conversations are my favorite from SOT. This may cost me some cash, but it will be well spent.

One that seems to get overlooked is "Time Remembered (plays Bill Evans)". It is all acoustic and unusual in that he's using an ensemble of classical guitarists. The arrangements are spectacular -- the other guitarists are able to get amazing chord voicings that no one guitar could play -- and John's jazz soloing over each tune is just gorgeous. His other tribute album is "After the Rain" and it is an epic organ trio with Joey DeFrancesco on Hammond organ and Elvin Jones on drums.

Can we get more reviews from this specific group? Great shit, Pete Andy & George.

I have to check out his more recent albums, I haven’t heard any of them.

Do wanna give a shout out to McLaughlin on Stanley Clarke's JOURNEY TO LOVE album..."Song For John (Coltrane), Parts 1 & 2". Bought this when electric Jazz Fusion was my thing...this is acoustic piano, bass, & guitar...Corea-Clarke-McLaughlin. Blistering.