The Mahavishnu Orchestra

Birds of Fire

It's more chaotic and unorganised with some much better solos. It's pretty much what MO are all about really.

Birds of Fire is my choice.I think Cobham stands out a little more, and i do prefer the solos on it better.

I think I prefer Birds of Fire a little more....as state above; it was more chaotic.

MO could be my favorite group after Yes and King Crimson! Both albums are absolutely breath taking, and I can't really say one is better than the other. They have a number of similarities which makes them easy for comparing.

Side A.) the opening tracks on both are fierce musical attacks that still remain highly enjoyable followed by a more laidback track with really great solos. Theses are followed by uptempo jams that show just how tight these five musicians can play together before taking a break of the aggressiveness with soft acoustic numbers.
Side B.) once again it's nice to start off with a big bang... or in these cases, a thundering nuclear holocaust! Both Vital Transformation and especially One Word are Cobhams realm with some of the most unbelievable drumming ever caught on tape! The counterpoints doesn't stop there, as You Know, You Know and Sanctuary are both slower and sweeter than what you'd expect from MO, but just as emotional as always. Closing tracks are like the bands final words before you can start scratching your head and digesting what you've just experienced!
Miles Beyond, one of McLaughlin's many tributes to Miles Davis, is more to my liking than Dawn, but I prefer A Lotus On Irish Streams over Thousand Island Park. One Word for me is clearly better than VT, but Awakening hits harder than Resolution... so it is pretty much a draw.

P.S: if you haven't already checked out Apocalypse and Visions of the Emerald Beyond, be sure to do so. It's a huge mistake to think you've covered MO with just their first two albums. "Hymn to Him" for me could possibly be the greatest piece of music ever created.

Those are the 2 best albums released by MAHAVISHNU. They both are equally total masterpieces IMLHO They had their own style, No prog collection is complete without those 2 albums

Yeah the "avian glow" wins by a slight margin , mainly for sentimental reasons

I prefer both Apocalypse and Visions of Emerald Beyond over these two :)

Originally posted by stewe I prefer both Apocalypse and Visions of Emerald Beyond over these two :)

Dude, I was thinking the same thing.

Put all four together and for me that's the essential MO.  Although I have everything from their '70's era including the recently released DVD with the live at Montreax Apocalypse pieces and the Lost Trident Sessions.  I've seen youtube videos of the original lineup.  Hope a DVD of one or more of those shows gets released in the near future.