# Spit Fusion Albums At Me **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 1, 2006, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spit-fusion-albums-at-me/354923 "2006-05-01T06:38:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Exploding\_Oven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@Exploding\_Oven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exploding_Oven)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spit-fusion-albums-at-me/354923/1 "2006-05-01T06:38:49Z")
This may be waaay to me-focused and simplistic to deserve being a thread (I haven’t been here long, please forgive!) but I was wondering if any jazz fusion fans here wouldn’t mind just naming albums that they think are good. Or, perhaps, for the more well-known fellers (Al Di Meola, Miles Davis, etc), what albums show some of their best work? I’m young and I don’t know much about jazz or fusion, I just know that what I’ve heard so far is fantastic, no matter what exactly it “fuses”. Delete this if asking people to recommend jazz isn’t thread-worthy. Joey ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spit-fusion-albums-at-me/354923/2 "2006-05-01T06:59:11Z")
Phil Collins used to be in a band called Brand X (Amazon searches seem to be producing a newer band by the same name) back when Phillip had long hair and a beard. One tune I recall really liking was “Nuclear Burn”. Phil Collins was, and might still be, one bad-ass drummer. I’m a drummer and I don’t give that compliment lightly. I’m not sure if Mahavishnu Orchestra and Zappa qualify as fusion, but they rock. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spit-fusion-albums-at-me/354923/3 "2006-05-01T07:02:13Z")
We’ve had lots of threads like this and there’s nothing wrong with them. **ultrafilter** did a series of threads like this, organized by genre. One of the best project things I’ve seen on this board. [Here’s the jazz thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=339051) _Birds of Fire_ by the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Frank Zappa recorded so much stuff that I don’t know what to recommend. Weather Report was important as well. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spit-fusion-albums-at-me/354923/4 "2006-05-01T12:40:22Z")
One of the earliest jazz/rock fusion bands (and one that predates the term) is Soft Machine. Listen to their album “Third.” ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spit-fusion-albums-at-me/354923/5 "2006-05-01T13:21:38Z")
Weather Report’s _Heavy Weather_ and Jaco Pastorius’s self-titled album are both essential fusion albums. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spit-fusion-albums-at-me/354923/6 "2006-05-01T15:27:01Z")
Pat Metheny _Still Life [Talking]_. Has the incredible “Last Train Home” on it as well as the soaring “Minuano (Six Eight).” The fusion albums are with his band including keyboardist Lyle Mays. He’s also done solo albums and duets in every style, so be careful to check. Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Only jazz fusion band led by a banjo player. The _Bela Fleck & The Flecktones_ album has their signature tune, “The Sinister Minister” on it, but _UFO Tofu_ is also a good place to start. Jean-Luc Ponty. I can never remember which song is on which album, but his heyday was fine. Bob James. A producer/composer who somehow managed to turn out a couple of albums a year. His 70s work was best, with lots of funk/Brazilian/other influences. _One_, _Two_, _Three_, _Four_. That era. Plus _H_, with Grover Washington, Jr. Al Di Meola, Paco de Lucia, and John McLaughlin, _Friday Night in San Francisco_. Technically not fusion, just three of the fastest acoustic guitarists in the west facing each other down live. Try others of Di Meola, like _Elegant Gypsy_ from that period. Herbie Hancock when he went electric did versions of his “Cantaloupe Island” and “Watermelon Man” that are classics. Find them. I think _Head Hunters_ has at least one. Candy Dulfer, _Saxuality_. Weather Report, _Heavy Weather_. Gong, _Gazeuse!_. Bassist Stanley Clarke _Stanley Clarke_. Flautist Tim Weisberg, _Tip of the Weisberg_. Earl Klugh. Saw him live second billed to David Sanborn. Sanborn’s good but Klugh was pissed by the billing and blew him off the stage. ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spit-fusion-albums-at-me/354923/7 "2006-05-01T16:52:33Z")
Some of my personal (probably sentimental) favorites are Return To Forever - **Romantic Warrior** and **Where Have I known You Before** Jean-Luc Ponty - **Upon The Wings Of Music** to **Civilized Evil** (1975-1980) Mahavishnu Orchestra - **Apocalypse** Stanley Clarke - **School Days** and **Journey To Love** Al DiMeola - **Elegant Gypsy** and **Land Of The Midnight Sun** Weather Report - **Heavy Weather** and **Mysterious Traveller** (even if it’s only for the song “Nubian Sundance”) If you can find it, Alphonse Mouzon’s **Mind Transplant** is pretty tasty (Tommy Bolin, what a loss). So is Billy Cobham’s **Spectrum**. Larry Coryell did **Spaces** with John McLaughlin, Chick Corea, Miroslav Vitous and Billy Cobham. From more modern times, you might check out projects by Endangered Species and Project Z. Fans of this genre might also like Jazz Is Dead, a rotating band of first-rate players who do “jazz” covers of Grateful Dead songs. While others may disagree, I’ve always thought of Jeff Beck’s **Blow By Blow** as a fusion album. You might well like some Derek Trucks Band music as well. That should get you started. ---
**Author:** ![Fast\_n\_Bulbous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ab992/32.png) [@Fast\_n\_Bulbous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fast_n_Bulbous)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spit-fusion-albums-at-me/354923/8 "2006-05-01T17:19:34Z")
On the funkier side of fusion is John Scofield. Try the album _Time on my Hands_. Various other fusion guitarists include Mike Stern, John Abercrombie (the album _Gateway_ with Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette is a classic of the genre), and Nguyen Le, a seriously underrated Vietnamese guitarist who has a very unusual style that is well worth checking out. His album _ELB_ with Peter Erskine on drums and Michel Benita is excellent. Also try Blood, Sweat and Tears, a band who had loads of the best fusionists in its ranks at various times and were heavily influential. As for Zappa, _Hot Rats_ is the best starting place and then anything from the early seventies (eg _Chunga’s Revenge_, _Waka/Jawaka_, _One Size Fits All_). Zappas influence on fusion cannot be overstressed. Hot Rats is often considered as important as, if not more than, Bitches Brew. ---
**Author:** ![eric\_lawstore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@eric\_lawstore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eric_lawstore)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spit-fusion-albums-at-me/354923/9 "2006-05-01T18:25:13Z")
Joe Farrell, “Moon Germs” Weather Report, “Sweetnighter” (my personal favorite – Zawinul’s Rhodes is outstanding on the title track) Jeff Beck, “Blow by Blow” (I agree it is a fusion album) Herbie Hancock, “Thrust” (quintessential funk fusion) Jaco Pastorius, “Jaco Pastorious” (agreed – a classic) ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spit-fusion-albums-at-me/354923/10 "2006-05-01T19:02:15Z")
[QUOTE=Fast ‘n’ Bulbous] On the funkier side of fusion… [/QUOTE] Speaking of ‘The Funkier Side’: **Mocean Worker** ’s “_Enter the Mowo_” from 2004. **Soulive** also released a combo compilation album in 2005 entitled “_Steady Groovin_” How about Classical Fugue / Jazz Fusion? France’s **Ward Swingle Singers** - Accapella jazz with a little bass and drum rhythm section …Or Blues / Jazz Fusion? **John Lee Hooker** ’s album entitled “_Heaven_” from the early mid 1970’s. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spit-fusion-albums-at-me/354923/11 "2006-05-01T19:03:33Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] Frank Zappa recorded so much stuff that I don’t know what to recommend. [/quote] What the hell am I saying? **Fast ‘n’ Bulbous** is right: go with _Hot Rats_. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spit-fusion-albums-at-me/354923/12 "2006-05-01T19:06:37Z")
[QUOTE=Fast ‘n’ Bulbous] _Hot Rats_ is the best starting place and then anything from the early seventies (eg _Chunga’s Revenge_, _Waka/Jawaka_, _One Size Fits All_). Zappas influence on fusion cannot be overstressed. Hot Rats is often considered as important as, if not more than, Bitches Brew. [/QUOTE] I’m not surprised by those recommendations, but have 2 questions: 1. Bulbous also tapered? That’s right! 2. Any truth to the rumor you’re a shrimp who eats dough in a polyethelene bag? ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spit-fusion-albums-at-me/354923/13 "2006-05-01T19:40:33Z")
[QUOTE=Fast ‘n’ Bulbous] As for Zappa, _Hot Rats_ is the best starting place and then anything from the early seventies. [/QUOTE] You don’t want to say that! The early seventies is also when Zappa had the “comedy music” edition of the Mothers with Flo & Eddie. So avoid _Fillmore East, June 1971; Just Another Band from L.A._; and _200 Motels_; and be warned that _Chunga’s Revenge_ is a transitional album that is half a more stripped-down follow-up to the masterful _Hot Rats_, and half goofy vocal material with Flo & Eddie. A lot of great stuff on this thread, but also a lot of stuff I might be inclined to “un-recommend” if that weren’t so rude. I haven’t seen a mention of **Terje Rypdal** yet–I’d highly recemmend _Odyssey_. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spit-fusion-albums-at-me/354923/14 "2006-05-01T19:42:58Z")
D’oh! With regard to early-'70s Zappa, I forgot to add “…and _do_ get the sublime _Grand Wazoo_!” ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2006, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spit-fusion-albums-at-me/354923/15 "2006-05-01T19:49:39Z")
“Don’t get no jizz up on the sofa.”