My Goal's Beyond

My Goal's Beyond
Studio album by
John McLaughlin
ReleasedJune 1971
RecordedNew York City, March 1971
GenreJazz fusion, world fusion
Length43:27
LabelDouglas
ProducerJohn McLaughlin
John McLaughlin chronology
Where Fortune Smiles
(1971) 		My Goal's Beyond
(1971) 		The Inner Mounting Flame (with Mahavishnu Orchestra)
(1971)
John McLaughlin solo chronology
Where Fortune Smiles
(1971) 		My Goal’s Beyond
(1971) 		Electric Guitarist
(1978)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideB[2]
All About Jazz[3]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide[4]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings[5]

My Goal's Beyond is the third solo album (after Extrapolation and Devotion) by guitarist John McLaughlin. The album was originally released in 1971 on Douglas Records in the US. It was later reissued by Douglas/Casablanca (1976), Elektra/Musician (1982), and in 1987 by Rykodisc on CD and LP.[6][7]

This album marks the first chronological major stylistic change from McLaughlin, apart from his move to an acoustic guitar. The music is strongly influenced by music of India, and was dedicated to McLaughlin's spiritual leader, Indian guru Sri Chinmoy. Side one has two longer pieces for the whole band, including soprano saxophonist/flautist Dave Liebman, violinist Jerry Goodman and percussionists Airto and Badal Roy. Side two of the album features eight short compositions (five standards and three originals) played by McLaughlin on double-tracked acoustic guitars, with occasional punctuation on various cymbals by Billy Cobham.[8]

  1. ^ Ginell, Richard S.. My Goal's Beyond at AllMusic
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: M". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 7 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ Kolosky, Walter (19 November 2002). "John McLaughlin: My Goals Beyond". allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  4. ^ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. pp. 135. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
  5. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 976. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
  6. ^ Jazzlists: Elektra Musician LP discography, accessed March 20, 2018
  7. ^ Both Sides Now: Elektra/Asylum Album Discography, Part 8: Consolidated 60000 Series (1982- ), accessed March 20, 2018
  8. ^ Palmer, Bob (24 June 2009). "John McLaughlin: My Goal's Beyond : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Internet Archive/Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 24 June 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)