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Apocalypse
Studio album by Mahavishnu Orchestra
Released	April 1974
Recorded	March 1974
Studio	AIR Studios (London)
Genre	Jazz fusion
Length	52:23
Label	Columbia
Producer	George Martin
Mahavishnu Orchestra chronology
Between Nothingness and Eternity (1973) Apocalypse (1974) Visions of the Emerald Beyond (1975)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Christgau's Record Guide	C
Sputnikmusic	3.5/5
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings

Apocalypse is the Mahavishnu Orchestra's fourth album and third studio album, released in 1974.

It is performed by the second line-up of the Mahavishnu Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra. It was produced by George Martin, who regarded it as "one of the best records ever made".

The back cover features a poem by Sri Chinmoy as well as a group photo of those who created the album.

Track listing

All music composed by John McLaughlin; lyrics to "Smile of the Beyond" composed by "Mahalakshmi" Eve McLaughlin.

Personnel

• John McLaughlin – guitars, vocal composer
• Gayle Moran – keyboards, vocals
• Jean-Luc Ponty – electric violin, electric baritone violin
• Ralphe Armstrong – bass guitar, vocals
• Narada Michael Walden – drums, percussion, vocals

with

• Michael Tilson Thomas – conductor, piano
• Michael Gibbs – orchestration
• Marsha Westbrook – viola
• George Martin – producer
• Carol Shive – violin, vocals
• Philip Hirschi – cello, vocals
• Geoff Emerick – engineer

Charts

References

1. Apocalypse at AllMusic
2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: M". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 2, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
3. Campbell, Hernan M. (4 August 2012). "Review: Mahavishnu Orchestra - Apocalypse | Sputnikmusic". sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
4. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 135. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
5. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 922. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
6. Martin 1979, p. 109.
7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
8. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5087a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October June 15, 2024.
9. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
10. "Mahavishnu Orchestra John McLaughlin Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October June 15, 2024.
11. "Mahavishnu Orchestra John McLaughlin Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October June 15, 2024.

Bibliography

• Martin, George (1979). All You Need Is Ears. New York: St. Martin’s Press. ISBN 0-312-02043-0.

• Albums produced by George Martin
• Mahavishnu Orchestra albums
• 1974 albums
• Columbia Records albums