#199 - Billy Cobham - “Total Eclipse”

In the lead up to our 200th episode, we thought it’d be fun to do three episodes based on the original premise for the show. We’ll each present an album over the next three episodes that we think should be heard and appreciated.

Last up, Nick brings us an album that he first heard only months ago, but that has brought him an incredible amount of inspiration and positive energy. He talked about it briefly in episode 187, but Billy Cobham’s “Total Eclipse” left an immediate and powerful impact. It’s not Cobham’s most popular album and isn’t cited by too many sources as particularly notable, but, taking into account the vast array of drummers that cite Cobham as a major influence, Nick presents the case that this album best exemplifies why he’s been influential. With the five-movement progressive-fusion opener “Solarization,” to the both loveliest & hardest hitting title track “Total Eclipse,” and all the funk-fusion in between, Nick argues that this album is Cobham at the peak of his ambition.

Songs:

• Mahavishnu Orchestra - “Vital Transformation”

• Billy Cobham - “Solarization”

• Billy Cobham - “Lunarputians”

• Billy Cobham - “Total Eclipse’

• Billy Cobham - “Bandits”

• Billy Cobham - “Moon Germs”

• Billy Cobham - “Sea of Tranquility”