Where Fortune Smiles
John McLaughlin · 1970
35 min · 5 tracks · jazz
A vibrant fusion of jazz improvisation and world music textures, revealing complex emotional landscapes and rhythmic explorations.
Top tracks — play these first
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Glancing Backwards — The opening track sets a reflective tone with its intricate guitar work and dynamic rhythms, highlighting McLaughlin’s technical prowess and emotive style.
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Where Fortune Smiles — This title track combines lyrical melodies with complex time signatures, serving as a testament to McLaughlin's ability to blend accessibility with musical sophistication.
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New Place, Old Place — With its extended length and improvisational sections, this track captures the essence of live performance spontaneity while showcasing ensemble interplay and individual musicianship.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album blends jazz and world music influences with intricate compositions, showcasing McLaughlin's distinctive style.
What we noticed
- The use of Eastern scales and rhythms is prominent, particularly in the opening track, which sets a distinct tone for the album.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
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.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- wave-like dynamics that engage
- spiritual journey through sound
- intricate rhythms for deep focus
- moments of reflective calm
Maybe skip if you
- prefer straightforward song structures
- seek instant gratification
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album established McLaughlin's unique fusion sound post-Mahavishnu Orchestra.
- Career context
- Released in 1970, Where Fortune Smiles marked John McLaughlin's first studio album following his work with the groundbreaking band Mahavishnu Orchestra. At this point in his career, McLaughlin was transitioning from traditional jazz influences to a more eclectic sound that blended various cultural elements, setting the stage for his later innovations in jazz fusion.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Mahavishnu Orchestra· Al Di Meola· Chick Corea
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Glancing Backwards 9:03
- 2 Earth Bound Hearts 4:21
- 3 Where Fortune Smiles 4:03
- 4 New Place, Old Place 10:37
- 5 Hope 7:18
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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