Turn It Over is the second album by the American jazz fusion group the Tony Williams Lifetime, released in 1970 via Polydor Records.[7][8] It was rereleased by Verve Records in 1997, as part of Spectrum: The Anthology.[9] Williams is again joined by guitarist John McLaughlin and organist Larry Young, along with former Cream frontman Jack Bruce.
| Turn It Over | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | December 1970 | |||
| Recorded | July 1970[1] | |||
| Studio | Olmstead Sound Studios, New York City | |||
| Genre | Jazz fusion, jazz-rock | |||
| Length | 34:50 38:36 (reissue) | |||
| Label | Polydor Records | |||
| Producer | Monte Kay, Jack Lewis, Tony Williams | |||
| The Tony Williams Lifetime chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Robert Christgau | B+[3] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD | |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
Jack Bruce joined the group for Turn It Over, providing bass and vocals.[10] Tony Williams was excited by the amplification he could employ during the recording of the album; his liner notes repeatedly instruct the listener to play the album at a high volume.[8] Williams described the album as his version of the MC5's Kick Out the Jams.[11]
The album contains a cover of John Coltrane's "Big Nick".[12]
AllMusic called the album "one of the more intense pieces of early jazz-rock fusion around," writing that "in parts, it's like Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys with much better chops."[2] JazzTimes praised Larry Young's "fearsome long tones and wobbly distortions" and "psychedelic, dissonant harmonies."[13] Vibe deemed Turn It Over "one of the most violent, raucous recordings ever to issue from a noted jazz musician."[10] The Guardian called it "tougher" than the debut, singling out the cover of "Big Nick".[12]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "To Whom It May Concern - Them" | Chick Corea | 4:18 |
| 2. | "To Whom It May Concern - Us" | Corea | 2:58 |
| 3. | "This Night This Song" | Tony Williams | 3:45 |
| 4. | "Big Nick" | John Coltrane | 2:43 |
| 5. | "Right On" | Williams | 1:52 |
| 6. | "Once I Loved" | Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes, Ray Gilbert | 5:05 |
| 7. | "Vuelta Abajo" | Williams | 4:57 |
| 8. | "A Famous Blues" | John McLaughlin | 4:15 |
| 9. | "Allah Be Praised" | Larry Young | 4:39 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | "One World" (originally released as a UK single, 1970) | McLaughlin | 3:45 |
| Total length: | 38:36 | ||