Light As a Feather
Featuring the same band as the firstReturn to Foreveralbum--vocalistFlora Purim, saxophonist-flutistJoe Farrell, bassistStanley Clarke, and drummerAirto-- 1973'sLight As a Featherwas the result of a conscious effort on Chick Corea's part to communicate with a broader audience. Although Corea's electric piano and Purim's spacey-samba vocals might sound dated, the album includes a couple of Corea's most beloved compositions, "500 Miles High" and "Spain." Subsequent Return to Forever albums turned to conceptual bombast and silly fantasies. Here, Corea strikes an appealing balance between art and accessibility.--Rick Mitchell