Return to Forever were one of the most important and influential bands in jazz fusion — Chick Corea’s genre-defining group, equally beloved by jazz heads and prog fans. Here is our fellow fan’s ranking of their albums.

The short version

For the heart of Return to Forever, start with Romantic Warrior, Light as a Feather and Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy — the masterpiece and the two peaks of their acoustic and electric eras. The full ranking is below.

Fusion’s shape-shifters

Formed in 1971 by keyboardist Chick Corea, Return to Forever stood — alongside the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report — at the very centre of the 1970s jazz-fusion explosion. They moved across two great incarnations: an airy, Brazilian-tinged acoustic group built on Corea’s Fender Rhodes and Flora Purim’s voice, and a fierce, electric, rock-powered quartet whose virtuosity reached its peak on the classic Romantic Warrior. These seven records are their complete studio discography.

How we ranked them

This is one fan’s order, weighing composition, playing and lasting importance — across two quite different versions of the band. The facts are accurate; the order is a starting point for the debate.

The essential three

At the top sits Romantic Warrior (1976), their masterpiece and biggest seller — the classic electric quartet of Corea, Clarke, White and Di Meola at the absolute peak of their powers, on a dazzling concept album of medieval themes. Beside it sits Light as a Feather (1973), the airy, Brazilian-flavoured high point of their acoustic era and the home of Corea’s most famous tune, “Spain”. Just behind comes Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy (1973), the album on which they plugged in and reinvented themselves as an electric fusion powerhouse.

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Reliably great

The next tier is well worth your time. Where Have I Known You Before (1974) brought the young Al Di Meola into the fold and sharpened the electric quartet’s attack, while their self-titled debut Return to Forever (1972) is a gorgeous, crystalline acoustic record — gentler than what followed, but a thing of real beauty.

For completists

Two more albums complete the seven. No Mystery (1975) is a varied, Grammy-winning set that sits a little in the shadow of the records around it, and Musicmagic (1977) — their last, with an expanded lineup of horns and vocals — is an ambitious departure that divides fans. Both reward listeners who already know the peaks.

Every album, in order

Return to Forever’s complete studio discography, in chronological order. Click through to the full write-up on any record.

Where to start

Begin with Romantic Warrior — their most celebrated album and a high point of all 1970s fusion. From there, Light as a Feather and Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy show the two very different sides of the band.

Prefer to own them? Find these on Amazon: Romantic Warrior · Light as a Feather · Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy

The players

Return to Forever were led throughout by keyboardist Chick Corea — one of the greatest pianists in jazz — with bassist Stanley Clarke his one constant partner. The band moved through two classic incarnations: an acoustic, Brazilian-tinged lineup with saxophonist and flautist Joe Farrell and the husband-and-wife team of percussionist Airto Moreira and vocalist Flora Purim; and the fierce electric quartet that paired Corea and Clarke with drummer Lenny White and guitarist Al Di Meola. Chick Corea died in 2021, a giant of the music; Clarke, White and Di Meola remain active to this day.

Why they still matter

Return to Forever did as much as any band to bring jazz and rock together, and Chick Corea’s vision shaped the whole progressive fusion world. Standing with British jazz-rock cousins like Soft Machine and Nucleus and eclectic Americans like Frank Zappa, they made some of the most thrilling and virtuosic music of the 1970s — loved by jazz heads and prog fans alike.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: read about the best Return to Forever songs. You can also place them in the bigger picture with our list of the best progressive rock albums of all time.

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