RETURN TO THE 7TH GALAXY: THE ANTHOLOGY

Despite being a fan of this band, Corea and DiMeola in particular, this is the only Return To Forever CD in my collection to date. Part of it has to do with this being one of the first releases of their music on CD if I'm not mistaken and it is an excellent collection of their music. Plus it isn't titled a "best of". There are also four previously unreleased live tracks.

Just three years of the band and yet four different lineups. Clarke and Corea being the consistent core of the band. The final grouping with Al DiMeola and Lenny White are probably the definitive version of Return. As they transformed from a five piece band to the final four, the music tightened up and became more energetic. Not to say anything bad about the earlier incarnations, but when you think Return To Forever, you think Clarke, Corea, DiMeola, and White first and foremost.

As I always advocate getting whole albums rather than compilations, I regard this as non-essential. Of course die hard fans will want it for the bonus material. And it comes with a nice plastic slipcover.