Return To Forever was Chick Corea's Jazz Fusion group.
After Corea played on Miles Davis's ground breaking fusion albums, In A Silent Way and Bitches Brew, he formed Avant-Garde Jazz group, Circle.
He disbanded Circle after he became a member of the Church of Scientology and wanted to use his music to promote the religion and reach a wider audience.
Corea then formed Return To Forever as a Fusion band and in 1972 they released their debut self titled album with a line up of Floria Purim, Airto Moreira, Joe Farrell, and Stanley Clark.
By 1976 the line up of the band hand changed a few times, with the only constants being Chick Corea and bassist Stanley Clarke. The current roster was Corea and Clarke with Al Di Meola and Lenny White.
They released Romantic Warrior that year on Columbia Records. It went on to be Return To Forever's best selling album, as it went certified gold.
Corea wrote the album's opening, "Medieval Overture" as well as two longer pieces that closed out each side of the album. The other members contributed one song each.
As to be expected from a lineup like this one, the playing is superb. Chick Corea and Al Di Meola really stand out.
My purchase price was $5 in very good condition.
My favorite track is the title track, "Romantic Warrior".
A couple of tracks get to be to progressive/smooth jazz style for my tastes but fans of that style will find this album quite a treat. There is plenty to like here for fusion and funk fans. Stanley Clarke's bass never lets you down if you are a fan of the low end.
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