ANTHOLOGY (1975-1982)

I have just added this very comprehensive 2-CD compilation to the site because it is a perfect introduction to Al Di Meola, I presume the recent 5 stars ratings for the "Elegant gypsy" album must have evoked some excitement for those progheads who are not familiar to the music from Al Di Meola! This compilation spans the time between 1975 and 1982, his most interesting period. Al Di Meola his guitar sound is very spectacular: fiery, powerful and often very speedy featuring howling and biting soli, propulsive riffs, exciting accellarations and his distinctive 'deading of the strings', GREAT! He used to work with known and virtuosic musicians, from Jan Hammer and Jaco Pastorius to Simon Phillips and Phil Collins!

"Anthology" contains all the 'classic' tracks like "Land Of The Midnight Sun" (swinging and dynamic with splendid interplay between guitar, electric piano and the rhythm section, an exciting percussive break and a captivating duel between the Minimoog and guitar), "Race With Devil On Spanish Highway" (spectacular propulsive rhythm and catchy guitar riffs and swirling interplay between guitar and keyboards), "Elegant Gypsy Suite" (wonderful Spanish flavor with acoustic guitar and string-ensemble from Al Di Meola), "Medley: Short Tales Of The Black Forest/Fantasia suite for two guitars" (virtuosic interplay between acoustic guitar, marimba and electric piano), "Alien Chase On Arabian Desert" (spectacular Yamaha CS-80 synthesizer sound and a sultry climate delivering a sensational duel between the guitar and Minimoog), "God Bird Change" (swinging and dynamic rhythm with again great interplay between electric guitar, keyboards and percussion and an exciting percussive break on conga's from Mingo Lewis), "Electric Rendezvous" (sensational atmosphere, very catchy and dynamic featuring howling electric guitar and flashy Minimoog flights from Jan Hammer), "Egyptian Dance-live" (also very dynamic and exciting) and "Crusin'-live" (sounds like The Mahavishnu Orchestra delivering splendid work from Al Di Meola and Jan Hammer). The track "Sequencer" features fiery electric guitar and Jan Hammer on the famous Fairlight computer delivering a catchy sequencer sound, this evokes the time that Jan Hammer worked with Jeff Beck on "Wired". On the short "Bianca's midnight lullaby" Al Di Meola plays romantic acoustic guitar. This compilation includes four previously unreleased tracks, the final two on CD2 are recorded in Holland in 1982 ("Al Di's Dream Theme" and "Theme To The Mothership").

IF YOU ARE UP TO EXCITING PROGRESSIVE JAZZROCK/FUSION WITH SENSATIONAL GUITAR AND KEYBOARD WORK, THIS 2-CD IS A MUST!!