Turn It Over
{{Infobox album
| name = Turn It Over
| type = studio
| artist = the Tony Williams Lifetime
| cover = The Tony Williams Lifetime Turn It Over album cover.png
| alt =
| released = December 1970
| recorded = July 1970{{cite book |last1=Mandel |first1=Howard |title=Miles, Ornette, Cecil: Jazz Beyond Jazz |date=2010 |publisher=Routledge |page=73}}
| venue =
| studio = Olmstead Sound Studios, New York City
| genre = Jazz fusion, jazz-rock
| length = 34:50
38:36 (reissue)
| label = Polydor
| producer = Monte Kay, Jack Lewis, Tony Williams
| prev_title = Emergency!
| prev_year = 1969
| next_title = Ego
| next_year = 1971
}}
Turn It Over is the second album by the American jazz fusion group the Tony Williams Lifetime, released in 1970 via Polydor Records.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x1qMnr-IYHwC&pg=PT133|title=Jazz: the Basics|first=Christopher|last=Meeder|date=August 6, 2012|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781135887124 |via=Google Books}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l6MQms7Wb0UC&pg=PA112|title=Birds of Fire: Jazz, Rock, Funk, and the Creation of Fusion|first=Kevin|last=Fellezs|date=August 8, 2011|publisher=Duke University Press|isbn=978-0822350477 |via=Google Books}} It was rereleased by Verve Records in 1997, as part of Spectrum: The Anthology.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-02-28-ca-33157-story.html|title=Energy, Sheer Musical Force Drive Williams' 'Spectrum'|date=February 28, 1997|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}} Williams is again joined by guitarist John McLaughlin and organist Larry Young, along with former Cream member Jack Bruce on bass guitar.
Production
Jack Bruce joined the group for Turn It Over, providing bass and vocals.{{cite magazine |last1=Tate |first1=Greg |title=The Real Music |magazine=Vibe |date=Sep 1997 |volume=5 |issue=7 |page=242}} 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. Williams described the album as his version of the MC5's Kick Out the Jams.{{cite magazine |last1=Macnie |first1=Jim |title=Renowned jazz drummer Tony Williams, 51, dies |magazine=Billboard |date=Mar 8, 1997 |volume=109 |issue=10 |pages=10, 76}}
The album contains a rendition of John Coltrane's "Big Nick".
Critical reception
{{album ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/turn-it-over-mw0000596082|title=Turn It Over - The Tony Williams Lifetime, Tony Williams | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|via=www.allmusic.com}}
|rev2 = Robert Christgau
|rev3 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
|rev3score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |publisher=MUZE |volume=8 |page=693}}
|rev4 = The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD
|rev4score = {{rating|3.5|4}}{{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Richard |title=The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD |date=2000 |publisher=Penguin Books |page=912 |edition=5th}}
|rev5 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide
|rev5score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite book |title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=1992 |publisher=Random House |page=772}}
}}
The Omaha World-Herald wrote that the Lifetime "is likely the most forceful group on the pop music scene."{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Will |title=Lifetime Album Is an Intense Time |work=Omaha World-Herald |date=17 Jul 1970 |page=8}} 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." JazzTimes praised Larry Young's "fearsome long tones and wobbly distortions" and "psychedelic, dissonant harmonies."{{Cite magazine|url=https://jazztimes.com/features/lists/jazztimes-10-key-post-bitches-brew-fusion-albums/|title=JazzTimes 10: Key Post-Bitches Brew Fusion Albums|first=Michael J.|last=West|magazine=JazzTimes|date=6 April 2020 }} Vibe deemed Turn It Over "one of the most violent, raucous recordings ever to issue from a noted jazz musician." The Guardian called it "tougher" than the debut, singling out the performance of "Big Nick".{{cite news |last1=Fordham |first1=John |title=This week's jazz cd releases |work=The Guardian |date=28 Nov 1997 |location=Friday |page=4}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| title1 = To Whom It May Concern - Them
| writer1 = Chick Corea
| length1 = 4:18
| title2 = To Whom It May Concern - Us
| writer2 = Corea
| length2 = 2:58
| title3 = This Night This Song
| writer3 = Tony Williams
| length3 = 3:45
| title4 = Big Nick
| writer4 = John Coltrane
| length4 = 2:43
| title5 = Right On
| writer5 = Williams
| length5 = 1:52
| title6 = Once I Loved
| writer6 = Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes, Ray Gilbert
| length6 = 5:05
| title7 = Vuelta Abajo
| writer7 = Williams
| length7 = 4:57
| title8 = A Famous Blues
| writer8 = John McLaughlin
| length8 = 4:15
| title9 = Allah Be Praised
| writer9 = Larry Young
| length9 = 4:39
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Reissue bonus track
| title10 = One Word
| note10 = originally released as a UK single, 1970
| writer10 = McLaughlin
| length10 = 3:45
| total_length = 38:36
}}
Personnel
- Tony Williams - drums, vocals on "This Night This Song", "Once I Loved", "A Famous Blues"
- John McLaughlin - guitar, vocals on "A Famous Blues"
- Larry Young - organ
- Jack Bruce - bass, lead vocals on "One Word"
References
{{reflist}}
{{Tony Williams (drummer)}}
{{authority control}}
Category:The Tony Williams Lifetime albums