Billy Cobham – Crosswinds

The mastering and performances of this record are great, however I got what looked like a beautiful copy turned out extremely noisy. These PRC pressings are pretty crappy quality.

"Heather" is among the finest moments in the long and distinguished careers of both Michael Brecker and George Duke. Light a candle and zone out.

As mentioned below this album is a masterpiece. It’s a great sounding copy as well. Average thickness on vinyl, good soundstage, low noise, some smudging of original print on label on the version I have (scratched out matrix) where the Atlantic colour bands cross.

A classic of early fusion. Michael Brecker’s turn on the ballad “Heather” is simply one of the greatest saxophone solos ever recorded— heart-rending beauty, intense tenderness. Meanwhile, the track “Crosswind” is not only a perfect choice for someone who’s wondering “What does ‘funk’ sound like?”, but it sounds like the actual birth of go-go… and, who knows, maybe it was.

I must agree with the earlier reviewer who said a CD might be preferable in this case. A highly moving, personal experience like “Heather”— an induced emotional trance state, if you will— is not something that should be invaded by rumble, groove noise, clicks, or any other unwanted vinyl characteristics, especially on headfones. That’s part of what convinced me to make the gradual transition to CDs thirty years ago (haven’t gotten rid of the original vinyl, though!). If I’d known how much STUPID HARSH BRICKWALLING I was going to encounter, would I still have made the change? Hard to say…

While not as immediate as "Spectrum", this is a fine album, which runs the gamut of soft and gentile to over the top agressive (The way "Spectrum" did)
"The Pleasant Pheasant" is going to grab you immediately with it's energy and funkiness, while tracks like "Heather" suck you in with their serene mellowness.

Side A is great too.

Agreed, Crosswinds is one of the best. I've seen reviews speak to this second BC album as being uneven and not as strong as his debut, Spectrum. BC has stated he was not trying to make another album like Spectrum and Crosswinds was conceived as a completely different approach, expressing more personal writing as band leader, arranger, and song writer. Side one is a single composition comprised of four parts, under the main title Spanish Moss - A Sound Portrait. Side two has three compositions. There is nothing "uneven" about Crosswinds. It's a musically dynamic tour de force ranging from skillfull muscle-pummeling-jack-hammer-impact to some of the most delicate playing to ever grace an album. That's very dynamic writing AND playing. Two of the quietest tracks (Savannah The Serene and Heather) reside mostly below -20dB in volume, and that's deep into LP surface noise territory. It's imperative to have a very clean copy of this album to really appreciate the experience and in this special case I could recommend the CD if only to allow the full range of sonics to live outside of any vinyl noise that would be a distraction from the beauty of the music. I have many versions of this LP to find the most preferred mastering and quiet record surface. A new vinyl release would seem to be the way to go, but...

I had this particular 2001 Warner-Jazz LP and was so excited to get a sealed version with the promise of sonic bliss. Yes, the cover was excellent, the LP was a very clean 180g, flat as could be, labels perfect...then I listened. Within 20 seconds I stopped it and wondered what was wrong. I've known this album since 1974 and this was not a pleasant surprise. I didn't even have to compare it to anything else to realize it, but I did. Suffice it to say it sounded flat and lifeless. I came back to it days later in hopes something would be different, and of course it wasn't. I didn't even finish a side. It was given to a friend that was unfamiliar with it and he enjoys it, so it's serving a good purpose. To each his own but I would recommend the Monarch (MO), which I have a promo of as well as a Presswell promo and a Presswell '70's reissue. Those I know and can as being sonically superior in mastering but harder to find a very quiet copy of. Even used copies stated to be in EX condition are oftyen not quiet enough. I know, I've tried several as well as NOS sealed. Therefore I would suggest several CD versions. The 2000 Wounded Bird, the 2001 Warner Jazz, Atlantic Masters, or the 2012 Original Album Series that contains the first 5 BC albums and all are mastered wonderfully and not tampered with, such as the awful 2014 Atlantic Warner-Japan - WPCR-28039. Yes, you might hear more "details" but only because it was compressed to artificially boost low-level information to allow a triangle to sound as loud as a snare drum, while smashing the rest of the actual loud ages against a limited ceiling. Some people like that. "I hear things I never heard before!" Of course you do, it's jacked completely out of proportion from the way it was engineered to sound, back when they knew HOW to engineer for good sound! That isn't high fidelity and anyone who understands what high fidelity and "audiophile" sound actually is is likely over 40 years old, so horses for courses. This old stallion is an audiophile and has had more than my share of 180g, remastered BS foolery. Not to say all are bad, I've not heard the Music On Vinyl version and objective enough to be willing to listen to it, but hype and pageantry in this day and age rarely delivers the real deal, just a poor sounding changeling remanufactured for unsuspecting buyers with nothing to compare to. All that said, in my experience and in this particular case I would recommend one of the three CD's above to really experience this fantastic album. I love my LPs but Crosswinds is a full pallette of dynamics ranging from thunder to raindrops on flower pedals and the quieter the medium is (AND mastered as it SHOULD be), the better the experience. Heard in the evening in a dimly lit room (or on the beach at dusk if you're lucky enough) with a glass of Courvoisier can take you a long way too ;-)

Odd but lovely record! Matrix reads sta-743081a on mine. I hope I picked the right edition.

I'll it upfront, I AM a Billy Cobham fan, especially his early releases. Besides Spectrum, this is the other album worth pursuing. If for no other reason, it is to appreciate John Abercrombie's guitar solo on the title track. As the previous reviewer has mentioned, it is too short and could have done with another 2 minutes or so. Nevertheless this Supraphon pressing does justice to the album sonically and can be recommended with confidence for the current asking price because this is as good as it gets. Expect some surface noise from the pressing especially during the quiet ages, but otherwise wil not distract you from listening to this excellent group of musicians who deliver classic fusion jazz in great style and taste.

Colourful and refined album. Respectful drummer who ed many great bands in the past, finally introduced in 1973 his first effort Spectrum. Year later also one beauty. Perfect album from drummer cannot be only the stormy bing-bang record like evidence of his skills or amount of cymbals. Cobham had in one concert nineteen microphones! But as well very frigile, melodic, dreaming music full of art like Heather with beautiful Brecker solo. Or the remerkable jazz-rock Crosswind which is too short, pity. To my mind one of the best album from 1974 across genres. Also one of the few with almost identical cover from Eastern Europe. The sound has energy and clarity, despite regular flat taste so typical from Supraphon. Easily recommended.

Now I might be imagining this but I think this cut of 'Heather' is louder when compared with the other UK pressing.