Turn It Over
Turn It Over is the second album by the American jazz fusion group the Tony Williams Lifetime, released in 1970 via Polydor Records.[7][8] It was rereleased by Verve Records in 1997, as part of Spectrum: The Anthology.[9] Williams is again joined by guitarist John McLaughlin and organist Larry Young, along with former Cream frontman Jack Bruce.
| Turn It Over | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | December 1970 | |||
| Recorded | July 1970[1] | |||
| Genre | Jazz fusion, jazz-rock | |||
| Label | Polydor Records | |||
| The Tony Williams Lifetime chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Robert Christgau | B+[3] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD | |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
Production
Jack Bruce joined the group for Turn It Over, providing bass and vocals.[10] Tony Williams was excited by the amplification he could employ during the recording of the album; his liner notes repeatedly instruct the listener to play the album at a high volume.[8] Williams described the album as his version of the MC5's Kick Out the Jams.[11]
The album contains a cover of John Coltrane's "Big Nick".[12]
Critical reception
AllMusic called the album "one of the more intense pieces of early jazz-rock fusion around," writing that "in parts, it's like Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys with much better chops."[2] JazzTimes praised Larry Young's "fearsome long tones and wobbly distortions" and "psychedelic, dissonant harmonies."[13] Vibe deemed Turn It Over "one of the most violent, raucous recordings ever to issue from a noted jazz musician."[10] The Guardian called it "tougher" than the debut, singling out the cover of "Big Nick".[12]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "To Whom It May Concern - Them" | 4:18 |
| 2. | "To Whom It May Concern - Us" | 2:58 |
| 3. | "This Night This Song" | 3:45 |
| 4. | "Big Nick" | 2:43 |
| 5. | "Right On" | 1:52 |
| 6. | "Once I Loved" | 5:05 |
| 7. | "Vuelta Abajo" | 4:57 |
| 8. | "A Famous Blues" | 4:15 |
| 9. | "Allah Be Praised" | 4:39 |
Personnel
- Jack Bruce - bass, vocals
- John McLaughlin - guitar
- Tony Williams - drums, vocals
- Larry Young - organ
References
- Mandel, Howard (2010). Miles, Ornette, Cecil: Jazz Beyond Jazz. Routledge. p. 73.
- "Turn It Over - The Tony Williams Lifetime, Tony Williams | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- "Robert Christgau: CG: The Tony Williams Lifetime". www.robertchristgau.com.
- Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 693.
- Cook, Richard (2000). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD (5th ed.). Penguin Books. p. 912.
- The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 772.
- Meeder, Christopher (August 6, 2012). "Jazz: the Basics". Routledge – via Google Books.
- Fellezs, Kevin (August 8, 2011). "Birds of Fire: Jazz, Rock, Funk, and the Creation of Fusion". Duke University Press – via Google Books.
- "Energy, Sheer Musical Force Drive Williams' 'Spectrum'". Los Angeles Times. February 28, 1997.
- Tate, Greg (Sep 1997). "The Real Music". Vibe. 5 (7): 242.
- Macnie, Jim (Mar 8, 1997). "Renowned jazz drummer Tony Williams, 51, dies". Billboard. 109 (10): 10, 76.
- Fordham, John (28 Nov 1997). "This week's jazz cd releases". The Guardian. Friday. p. 4.
- West, Michael J. "JazzTimes 10: Key Post-Bitches Brew Fusion Albums". JazzTimes.
