Song for the Day Nov 2, 2026-from John McLaughlin's "Extrapolation"-Polydor 1969- "This Is For Us to Share"

 

In 1969 the British guitarist John McLaughlin released one of his most influential albums on the Polydor label titled Extrapolation. Those who took up guitar as a form of expression at the time found his type of playing expanded the possibilities that the guitar could offer. Few could master his facility and speed of execution on the fretboard. His precision and harmonic expression was something to behold and emulate if you had the chops.  Mclaughlin would be a member of drummer Tony Williams’ original power trio Lifetime (1969) with Williams, organist Larry Young and McLaughlin, and a quartet with bassist Jack Bruce (1970). His guitar was later enlisted into Miles Davis’ excursion into the era of fusion on the albums In a Silent Way (1969) and Jack Johnson (1970) before he would follow his own muse and form his first Mahavishnu Orchestra with Jan Hammer on keyboards, Jerry Goodman on violin, Rick Laird on bass, and Billy Cobham on drums in 1971.  Mahavishnu refers to “the absolute truth” and the band is one of the premier groups that ushered in the jazz fusion era.

Extrapolation preceded this musician’s excursion into rock/funk-oriented jazz fusion or McLaughlin’s later off shoot into classical Indian inspired music that he merged with jazz improvisation with his group Shakti. Extrapolation did give the listener a brief glimpse into what was to come from this prolific artist. The album has elements of free jazz, echoes the spiritual jazz work of John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, has slivers of classical guitar influences, and the searing sounds of progressive rock /jazz fusion explorations. The set brought together a potent team of musicians like the expressive John Surman on baritone and soprano saxophones, the fluid sound of double-bassist Brian Odgers and the textual drum and cymbal work of Tony Oxley. I was always enamored by “Arjen’s Bag” which was later revisited as “Follow Your Heart” on The CTI album The Joe Farrell Quartet (1970). For this song of today I feature the beautiful “This Is for Us to Share.”