What makes Believe It by The Tony Williams Lifetime notable?

Believe It is significant for its innovative blend of jazz fusion and rock elements, showcasing Williams' vision during a transformative era for both genres. The album received critical acclaim, helping to solidify the jazz fusion movement and influencing subsequent artists such as Weather Report and Herbie Hancock. Released in 1975, Believe It was The Tony Williams Lifetime's third studio album, following their influential release, Emergency! in 1969. At this point in his career, drummer Tony Williams was already a prominent figure in the jazz world, known for pushing boundaries and collaborating with notable artists like Miles Davis.

How many songs are on Believe It?

Believe It has 6 tracks, running approximately 33 minutes.

Believe It

The Tony Williams Lifetime · 1975

33 min · 6 tracks · jazz fusion

A sonic exploration where intricate jazz fusion weaves through progressive rock influences and experimental structures.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Snake Oil — The opening track sets the tone with its dynamic interplay between instruments, highlighting Williams' exceptional drumming and the band's improvisational skills.
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Fred — This track features complex rhythms and harmonies, demonstrating the band's technical prowess while maintaining an engaging melodic structure.
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Proto-Cosmos — An experimental piece that showcases ambient textures alongside intricate percussion patterns, illustrating the band's adventurous spirit in exploring new soundscapes.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

61 /100

Treeline

Higher than 71% of albums we've rated

The album showcases intricate compositions and a unique blend of genres, marking it as a notable entry in jazz fusion.

What we noticed

Each track often shifts between distinct sections, blending jazz improvisation with rock-inspired riffs.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Snake Oil 6:26
2 Fred 6:45
3 Proto-Cosmos 4:00
4 Red Alert 4:34
5 Wildlife 5:18
6 Mr. Spock 6:12

What to play next

Listen next

Million Dollar Legs

1976

Go back to

The Lost Wildlife Sessions

1974

Full The Tony Williams Lifetime discography Artists like The Tony Williams Lifetime

jazz fusion

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata