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Spectrum, Billy Cobham's debut album, released in 1973, is a seminal, essential album, rightly considered one of the most important albums of the jazz fusion genre. It combines jazz virtuosity and rock power, with a prominent role for the drums, which defined the genre and Cobham's career. It astonishes with its energy combined with the simplicity and linearity of its themes.
The influences of the works of Miles Davis and the Mahavishnu Orchestra with whom Cobham collaborated, are inevitable.
The lineup also includes Tommy Bolin, who played in Deep Purple replacing Ritchie Blackmore; Jan Hammer, who played in the Mahavishnu Orchestra; Lee Sklar, who played in Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; Toto; and The Phil Collins Big Band; Ron Carter, who played with a host of top jazz musicians; and Ray Barretto, a great percussionist known as "the king of heavy hands," with a vast discography of Latin jazz.
Billy Cobham's best album, an album that will have no equal in his future discography and in the genre. Among the many great songs, the timeless "Stratus" is immense.
Little else to say, this is a masterpiece, a must-have for any collection.
Tracklist
1. Quadrant 4 (4:20)
2. Searching For The Right Door / Spectrum (6:33)
- a. Searching For The Right Door (1:24)
- b. Spectrum (5:09)
3. Anxiety / Taurian Matador (4:44)
- a. Anxiety (1:41)
- b. Taurian Matador (3:03)
4. Stratus (9:50)
5. To The Women In My Life / Le Lis (4:11)
- a. To The Women In My Life (0:51)
- b. Le Lis (3:20)
6. Snoopy's Search / Red Baron (7:39)
- a. Snoopy's Search (1:02)
- b. Red Baron (6:37)
Running Time 37:17
Lineup
- Billy Cobham / percussion, Moog synthesizer drums (4, 6b), producer
Featuring
- Tommy Bolin - guitar
- John Tropea - guitar (5b)
- Jan Hammer - electric and acoustic piano, Moog synthesizer
- Joe Farrell - flute (2b), soprano (2b) and alto (5b) saxophones
- Jimmy Owens - flugelhorn (2b, 5b), trumpet (5b)
- Lee Sklar - Fender bass
- Ron Carter - acoustic bass (2b, 5b)
- Ray Barretto - congas (2b, 5b)
