Light as a Feather

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Return to Forever chronology
Light as a Feather

Studio album by Return to Forever
Released	1972
Recorded	October 8 and October 15, 1972
Genre	Jazz fusion, Latin Jazz, Post-bop
Length	45:28
Label	Polydor
Producer(s)	Chick Corea
Return to Forever (1972)	Light as a Feather (1972)	Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy (1973)

Light as a Feather (1972) is the second studio album of fusion band Return to Forever, led by keyboardist Chick Corea.

The second and last album by the first line-up of Return to Forever was recorded in the same year eight months later. The style of the music remains mostly the same though vocal tracks have now a bit larger role than on the first album. This album has equal classic status among the listeners of electric jazz music as the first album. This time the recording company is Polydor (under which most of later Return to Forever albums are released) and Corea himself has produced the album - though this has not led in any essential change in sound. To point out some minor changes, it is notable that this time Stanley Clarke plays only an acoustic bass, and Corea utilizes wah-wah pedals with his electric piano. Since the debut album was not released in the USA before 1975, this was the first Return to Forever album for many listeners.

First track is Corea's song, "You're Everything". Corea has claimed that this is his favorite among the vocal songs he has written. The track begins with Purim singing verses slowly, the rest of the band joining in later to create a light groove. The short solo is played by Joe Farrell on flute. The second track is the title track. It is Stanley Clarke's first major composition and the only track of the album not written by Corea. Purim sings during the theme of the track and in the end, but most of the time is taken by long solos performed by Corea, Farrell and Clarke. Farrell plays flute during the theme but switches to saxophone during his solo. The next track is "Captain Marvel", a fast latin piece, that provided the name for Stan Getz's album released in the same year. Corea and Farrell play melodical solos throughout the song and it may be hard to see which parts are improvised and which parts are composed. Purim plays percussion and sings without words during the song's main riff. Both DC Comics and Marvel Comics have a superhero called "Captain Marvel" [see articles Captain Marvel (Marvel Comics) and Captain Marvel (DC Comics)].

B-side begins with a song called "500 Miles High". Like the title track, it is a vocal song that has long solos. This time Farrell plays his sax throughout the track. Corea has claimed that the title of the song does not refer to drug experience but to a "spirit flying high". The second last track of the album is "Children's Song". It is one of many "Children's Songs" Corea has written. They are all short haunting pieces with quite minimalistic melody. Percussion plays tick-tock pattern that resembles a clock's sound.

The albums ends with Corea's famous jazz standard, Spain. The song has been recorded many times, but this is probably its most famous appearance. Corea, Farrell and Clarke have each a long solo and Purim doubles melody with wordless singing during the theme.