Return to Forever/Germany 1974

From the Euro tour after the release of “Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy” in 1974, the performance in Böblingen, Germany on March 27th was recorded in almost full for 1 hour and 21 minutes, with a good audience master for that time, and the latest digital remastering in 2025. The sound is much easier to listen to by readjusting the somewhat muffled high range, raising the bass sound, and placing the keyboard, which was somewhat separated to the left and right, in the center, and reducing the hiss noise. This is the final period of Bill Connors’ tenure, and the strong rock-colored approach, which is different from the later DiMeola, is also a highlight here. In particular, following the long “After the Cosmic Rain”, the members’ solos are featured from the middle of “Return to Forever”, and around here, the electric ensemble with a stronger rock color and the acoustic solos of the piano and bass intersect, creating an improvisation unique to this period. In addition to Connors’s rock-influenced guitar playing, Lenny’s incredible drum work on the final track, “Theme To The Mothership,” is also a highlight of this rare live performance, which produced the most rock sound in RTF’s history, and is recorded at the highest quality. Recorded at Kongresshalle, Boblingen, Germany, March 27th 1974 : Audience Recording / 2025 Remaster DISC 1 : 1. Tuning 2. HYMN OF THE SEVENTH GALAXY 3. AFTER THE COSMIC RAIN 4. RETURN TO FOREVER DISC 2 : 1. Acoustic Piano Solo (Including SOMETIME AGO) 2. Acoustic Bass Solo 3. Drum Solo 4. THEME TO THE MOTHERSHIP 5. Improvisation – SOMETIME AGO – fade out Chick Corea – Fender Rhodes, keyboards / Bill Connors – guitars / Stanley Clarke – bass / Lenny White – drums