Tony Williams Lifetime

Emergency! - 1969

As the first great fusion power trio, Tony Williams (drums), John McLaughlin (guitar) and Larry Young (organ) formed on the heels of Williams' departure as a longtime member of Miles Davis' band. Legend has it, that having already solidified the lineup for his group, Williams showed up for Miles' recording of In a Silent Way and was shocked to find that the bandleader had also booked McLaughlin for the session. In protest, Williams toned down his characteristically thunderous drumming for Davis' session and saved his venom for the recording of Emergency! a few months later. The resulting LP was supremely intense, even by Williams' standards - and despite being dismissed by purists upon its release, is now appreciated as the defining document of jazz/rock that it is...but then, don't ALL the great fusion records from this era share this story? The trio is on the edge of boiling over throughout this double LP, pulling the reins only to make room for Williams' sporadic stoned soliloquies (oddly fitting at points, mildly annoying at others), and plowing back into some ferocious jams just before the bottom drops out. A complete mess, but a focused and inspired one. Cream bassist Jack Bruce would join the band on their next LP Turn It Over, but the songs became shorter, tighter and more pop-oriented - proving further that they had it right the first time.