Atmospheres was an American jazz-rock supergroup that released two albums on Capitol in 1974.

Members: Clive Stevens, John Abercrombie, Billy Cobham, Steve Khan, Rick Laird, Ralph Towner, Harry Wilkinson

Atmospheres

Atmospheres were a studio-only jazz-rock ensemble formed in the early 1970s by English saxophonist Clive Stevens. Capitol issued two albums under the name in 1974: Atmospheres Featuring Clive Stevens & Friends and Voyage to Uranus.

Members: Clive Stevens (saxophones, flute, keyboards, percussion), John Abercrombie (guitar), Ralph Towner (keyboards, guitar), Steve Khan (guitar), Rick Laird (bass), Billy Cobham (drums), Harry Wilkinson (percussion), Stu Woods (bass), Michael Carvin (drums), David Earle Johnson (percussion)

Background

Clive Stevens was born on February 18, 1948, in Bristol, England, and studied saxophone with Eddie Jackman and Ronnie Ross. His first professional records included Fat City (Welcome to Fat City) and Bob Downes (Open Music). In 1970, he recorded with Manfred Mann’s Chapter Three and moved to Boston to study composition at Berklee College of Music. There he met John Abercrombie and Ralph Towner. Stevens formed Atmospheres as a studio group in the early 1970s and recorded demos with both classmates and other associates. In 1973, Capitol signed Stevens.

Atmospheres Featuring Clive Stevens & Friends

Atmospheres released their self-titled debut album, Atmospheres Featuring Clive Stevens & Friends, in February 1974 on Capitol.

Stevens composed all six pieces for a septet of electric pianist Ralph Towner, guitarists John Abercrombie and Steve Khan, bassist Rick Laird, drummer Billy Cobham, and percussionist Harry Wilkinson. Towner also used a ring modulator, while Stevens added keyboards and percussion to his soprano and tenor saxophone parts.

A1. “Earth Spirit” (5:30)
A2. “Nova ’72” (5:52)
A3. “Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow” (6:40)
B1. “Astral Dreams” (9:21)
B2. “All Day Next Week” (6:50)
B3. “The Parameters of Saturn” (5:47)

Sessions occurred on February 5, 1972, at Mayfair Recording Studio in New York, where the core sextet completed the album in one unrehearsed day. Wilkinson added percussion in a later session. Laird and Cobham made their only joint recording outside Mahavishnu Orchestra at Mayfair. Martin Stevens produced the record with engineer Michael Green. Jimmy Ienner served as executive producer and also produced 1974 albums by Three Dog Night (Hard Labor) and Grand Funk (All the Girls in the World Beware!!!).

Thomas R. D’Acunto designed the sleeve around a red-tinted portrait by Chick Walsh beneath a cloud-and-rainbow emblem.

ESC Records issued a CD edition in April 2020 with the original six-track program.

Voyage to Uranus

Atmospheres released their second album, Voyage to Uranus, in August 1974 on Capitol.

Abercrombie and Towner returned with bassist Stu Woods, drummer Michael Carvin, and percussionist David Earle Johnson. Stevens composed all eight pieces and expanded his parts to alto flute, keyboards, echoplex, percussion, and wah-wah effects.

A1. “Shifting Phases” (6:55)
A2. “Culture Release” (6:50)
A3. “Inner Spaces and Outer Places” (5:15)
A4. “Un Jour Dans Le Monde” (4:43)
B1. “Voyage to Uranus” (5:52)
B2. “Electric Impulse from the Heart” (4:15)
B3. “Water Rhythms” (8:44)
B4. “Return to the Earth” (5:15)

Ienner produced the Record Plant sessions in New York with engineer Shelly Yakus and assistant Richard Appuzzo. In 1974, Yakus also engineered John Lennon (Walls and Bridges) and Return to Forever (Where Have I Known You Before).

Chick Walsh handled the graphics around Alexandra Odell’s blue cover painting, which depicts floating figures and birds against a yellow field. Frank Worth supplied the photography.

MIG/ESC issued a CD edition in November 2021 with the original eight-track program.

Discography: