Lenny White | Venusian Summer

AllMusic Review by Robert Taylor

One of the better entries to emerge from a genre that was quickly growing tired. Return to Foreverdrummer Lenny White, while not as powerful or talented as counterparts Billy Cobham or Alphonse Mouzon, had an excellent feel for funk and an amazing sense of taste. "Chicken-Fried Steak" contains enough odd-time beats and fills to satisfy any drum fanatic, but White proves to be more than just a technician. "The Venusian Summer Suite" and "Mating Drive" are both moody pieces that were obviously influenced by the music of Tangerine Dream. But the primary reason this session succeeds is "Prince of the Sea." It is a strong composition that features Al di Meola and Larry Coryell. This was their only recorded performance together in the '70s and fans are still seeking this recording out to see "who won". This is a must-have fusion recording.

Bass Doug Rauch Electric Piano, Clavinet Onaje Allan Gumbs (tracks: A2, A4, B2, B3) Engineer [Orchestra Sequences] Dane Butcher, John Viera* Engineer, Remix -- Dennis MacKay Guitar -- Al Di Meola (tracks: B3), Doug Rodrigues (tracks: A1, A2, B2), Larry Coryell (tracks: B3), Raymond Gomez* (tracks: A1, B2) Keyboards, Synthesizer -- David Sancious (tracks: A2, A4) Mastered By -- John Dent Organ -- Jimmy Smith (tracks: A1), Larry Young (tracks: B2), Weldon Irvine (tracks: A2) Producer, Drums -- Lenny White Synthesizer -- Patrick Gleeson (tracks: A3 to B1), Peter Robinson (tracks: A3, A4) Synthesizer, Flugelhorn -- Tom Harrell (tracks: A3, B3) Recorded June and August 1975, Electric Lady Studios, New York. Orchestra sequences recorded at Different Fur, San Francisco.



A1 Chicken-Fried Steak 0:00 A2 Away Go Troubles (Down The Drain) 4:37 The Venusian Summer Suite 8:19 A3 Part 1. Sirenes A4 Part 2. Venusian Summer B1 Prelude To Rainbow Delta 18:24 B2 Mating Drive 19:36 B3 Prince Of The Sea 27:30