British guitarist, songwriter, and artist (for the British pop songwriter see John McLaughlin).
Born: 4 January 1942 in Kirk Sandall in Yorkshire, England, UK.
A household name since the early 1970s, John McLaughlin was a fusion guitarist when he led the Mahavishnu Orchestra. He started on guitar when he was 11 and was initially inspired by blues and swing players. He worked with David Bowie, Alexis Korner, Graham Bond, Ginger Baker, and many others in the 1960s, and played free jazz with Gunter Hampel for six months. His first album was a classic, "Extrapolation" (1969), and was followed by an obscurity for the [url=https://www.discogs.com/label/442686-Dawn-7]Dawn label with John Surman, a quintet set with Larry Young on album "Devotion" (1970), and half acoustic solos and half jams involving Indian musicians on "My Goal's Beyond" (1971).
In 1969, McLaughlin moved to New York to play with Tony Williams' Lifetime and he appeared on two classic Miles Davis records: "In A Silent Way" (1969) and "Bitches Brew" (1970). In 1971 McLaughlin formed the Mahavishnu Orchestra, a very powerful group often thought of as rock but having the sophisticated improvisations of jazz. After three influential albums – "The Inner Mounting Flame" (1971), "Birds Of Fire" (1973), and "Between Nothingness & Eternity" (1973) – the group disbanded in late 1973.
McLaughlin, who recorded a powerful spiritual album with Carlos Santana that was influenced by John Coltrane, put together a new Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1974 that, despite the inclusion of Jean-Luc Ponty, failed to catch on and broke up by 1975. McLaughlin then surprised the music world by radically shifting directions, switching to acoustic guitar and playing Indian music with his group Shakti. They made a strong impact on the nascent world music scene during their three years. McLaughlin then went back and forth between electric and acoustic guitars; leading The One Truth Band; playing in trios with [a=Al DiMeola] and [a=Paco De Lucia]; popping up on some mid-1980s Miles Davis records; forming a short-lived third version of the Mahavishnu Orchestra with saxophonist Bill Evans[/url]; recording an introspective tribute to pianist Bill Evans; and in 1993, touring with a rollicking jazz trio featuring Joey DeFrancesco and drummer Dennis Chambers.
Throughout his productive career McLaughlin has recorded as a leader across labels, including Marmalade, [url=https://www.discogs.com/label/442686-Dawn-7]Dawn[/url], Marmalade, Marmalade, Marmalade, and Marmalade.
2025
Macro
12", Single, RM
2023
2022
2022
2021
Breaks & Beats
7", RE
2021
2020
2019
Strange Noise (2)
CD
2016
2015
2013
2010
Agora SA, Universal Music Polska
CD, Comp
2010
2010
2009
2008
2008
2007
2007
2007
2007
2006
DeAgostini, DeAgostini
CD, Comp
2006
2006
2004
RMG Records
CD-ROM, Comp, MP3
2004
Sony Music Media
CD, Comp
2004
Mediastarz Studio Monaco
3xDVD, Comp, NTSC, PAL
2003
Warner Music Switzerland
17xCD + Box
2003
2000
2000
2000
1999
Sony Music
CD, Comp
1999
1997
1996
Verve Records
Cass, Promo, Smplr
1996
1996
1995
Verve Records
CD, Album, PMD
1995
1995
1994
Motor Music GMBH
Cass, S/Sided, Promo, Smplr
1994
1993
1993
1991
1991
1990
CBS
CD, Comp
1990
1990
1987
Philips
2xLP, Comp, Gat
1987
1986
1985
1983
Gruppo Editoriale Fabbri
Cass, Comp
1983
Philips
7", Promo
1983
Philips
7", Jukebox
1983
1982
1982
1982
1981
Philips
7", EP, Promo
1981
1981
1980
Polydor
3xLP, Album + Box, Comp
1980
1980
1979
1978
1977
BBC Transcription Services
LP, Transcription
1977
1977
1976
1976
1976
1975
1975
1975
1975
1974
CBS/Sony
2xLP, Comp
1974
1973
CBS/Sony
7", EP
1973
1973
1972
Douglas
7", Single
1971
CTI Records
7", Single
1971
Columbia
7", EP, Promo
1971
1971
1971
1970
1970
1969
CBS/Sony
LP, Comp, Promo, W/Lbl
Not On Label
4xLP, Album + Box
Douglas
7", Promo
2023
2018
2012
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin