My Goal's Beyond

My Goal's Beyond is the third solo album (after Extrapolation and Devotion) by guitarist John McLaughlin. The album was originally released in 1971 on Douglas Records in the US. It was later reissued by Douglas/Casablanca (1976), Elektra/Musician (1982), and in 1987 by Rykodisc on CD and LP.^[6][7]

My Goal's Beyond
Studio album by John McLaughlin
Released	June 1971
Recorded	New York City, March 1971
Genre	Jazz fusion, world fusion
Length	43:27
Label	Douglas
Producer	John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin chronology
Where Fortune Smiles (1971) My Goal's Beyond (1971) The Inner Mounting Flame (with Mahavishnu Orchestra) (1971)
John McLaughlin solo chronology
Where Fortune Smiles (1971) My Goal’s Beyond (1971) Electric Guitarist (1978)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	B[2]
All About Jazz	[3]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[4]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[5]

This album marks the first chronological major stylistic change from McLaughlin, apart from his move to an acoustic guitar. The music is strongly influenced by music of India, and was dedicated to McLaughlin's spiritual leader, Indian guru Sri Chinmoy. Side one has two longer pieces for the whole band, including soprano saxophonist/flautist Dave Liebman, violinist Jerry Goodman and percussionists Airto and Badal Roy. Side two of the album features eight short compositions (five standards and three originals) played by McLaughlin on double-tracked acoustic guitars, with occasional punctuation on various cymbals by Billy Cobham.^[8]

Track listing

Douglas – KZ 30766^[9]

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Peace 1"	John McLaughlin	7:15
2.	"Peace 2"	John McLaughlin	12:18

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Goodbye Pork Pie Hat"	Charles Mingus	3:15
2.	"Something Spiritual"	Dave Herman	3:35
3.	"Hearts and Flowers"	Theodore Moses Tobani	2:05
4.	"Phillip Lane"	John McLaughlin	3:35
5.	"Waltz for Bill Evans"	Chick Corea	2:00
6.	"Follow Your Heart"	John McLaughlin	3:17
7.	"Song for My Mother"	John McLaughlin	3:30
8.	"Blue in Green"	Miles Davis/Bill Evans	2:37
Total length:			43:27

Personnel

• John McLaughlin – acoustic guitar
• Charlie Haden – double bass
• Jerry Goodman – violin
• Mahalakshmi (Eve McLaughlin) – tanpura (Indian drone instrument)
• Dave Liebman – flute, soprano saxophone
• Billy Cobham – drums
• Airto Moreira – percussion
• Badal Roy – tabla

Charts

Chart (1972)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[10]	38
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11]	48
US Billboard 200[12]	194

Chart (1982)	Peak position
US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard)[13]	34

See also

• John McLaughlin discography

Notes

1. Ginell, Richard S.. My Goal's Beyond at AllMusic
2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: M". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 7 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
3. Kolosky, Walter (19 November 2002). "John McLaughlin: My Goals Beyond". allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
4. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. pp. 135. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
5. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 976. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
6. Jazzlists: Elektra Musician LP discography, accessed March 20, 2018
7. Both Sides Now: Elektra/Asylum Album Discography, Part 8: Consolidated 60000 Series (1982- ), accessed March 20, 2018
8. Palmer, Bob (24 June 2009). "John McLaughlin: My Goal's Beyond : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Internet Archive/Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 24 June 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
9. "John McLaughlin – My Goal's Beyond". Discogs. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
10. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
11. "Offiziellecharts.de – Mahavishnu John McLaughlin – Birds of Fire" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October June 15, 2024.
12. "John McLaughlin Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October June 15, 2024.
13. "John McLaughlin Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October June 15, 2024.