John McLaughlin Music for Abandoned Heights 180g 33RPM LP

SIDE 1

1. The Scene
2. Curaçao Dream
3. Will & Elijah On the Train
4. Elijah in DC
5. Malcolm Fitzgerald

SIDE 2

1. DC Basketball
2. Nathaniel & Christine
3. Nathaniel Drives to New Jersey
4. One Step Out
5. The End

“I love this album. John’s songs are so beautiful and the playing is strong and sensitive. An album you can listen to over and over as you find new corners and performances to admire.”
–Mark Myers, Jazz Wax
Read Mark’s article HERE!

“McLaughlin isn’t revisiting old ground — he’s still exploring, still refining, still pushing into expressive territory that feels unmistakably his. Music for Abandoned Heights stands on its own as a compact, thoughtful, and surprisingly emotional statement from an artist who continues to create with purpose.”
–Scott Wilson, Audiophilia
Read Scott’s article HERE!

“Abandoned Heights now joins my collection of favorite film scores. I’ve played it a dozen times, and it pins me to the listening seat from first to last… It’s the most engaging fusion album I’ve heard in an exceptionally long time.”
–Dennis Davis, The Audio Beat, Music 5/5, Sound 5/5
Read Dennis’s article HERE!

“From a sonic perspective, this work sets the bar high: from the 24-bit/48 kHz recording to the mastering and vinyl cutting, everything was crafted with the utmost precision. The result is an LP that impresses with its outstanding sound.”
–Vinylfan (translated from the German)
Read Vinylfan’s article HERE!

“We had been waiting a long time to release this music, which Jack had by 2019. Abey Fonn from Impex Records and I decided that the music had to come out whether or not there is a film. I love this album. I love the way the musicians played together. The Impex vinyl sound is just outstanding.”
–John McLaughlin, in an interview with Goldmine Magazine’s Warren Kurtz
Read the Goldmine interview HERE!

“This is truly a beautiful package….The sound is immaculate, and the quality of the music befits being released by such a distinguished label. I can’t think of a jazz-inspired ‘soundtrack’ audiophile release in recent memory that can match the dizzying heights of this release.”
–Steve Matteo, The Vinyl District, A+
Read Steve’s article HERE!

“A superb offering, from sonic quality to packaging to the extraordinary performances by McLaughlin and his crew.”
-Bill Milkowski, The Absolute Sound, March 2026, Music 4.5/5, Sonics 5/5

“There is no filler on this record; every track is either touchingly emotive, propulsively dynamic, or incredibly entertaining, with a level of sterling musicianship that one rarely encounters with the consistency displayed on Music For Abandoned Heights.”
–Tom Gibbs, Positive Feedback

“The HQ-180 gram LP from RTI was about as close to perfection as it gets, with perfectly flat sides and no appreciable surface or groove noise. Both LP and CD versions offered a superb representation of the recorded acoustic, with the players all clearly delineated in the wide and deep soundstage. Music For Abandoned Heights ticked every box for me in terms of providing an emotional connection to the music, with tracks that run the gamut from impassioned, mellifluous poignancy to thrillingly dynamic, all-out jazz-rock fusion.”
–Tom Gibbs, Positive Feedback
Read Tom’s article HERE!

“Because these are not the usual short film cues, each piece is fully fleshed out propelled by Husband’s powerful drumming on the uptempo numbers and on one, ‘Curacao Dream,’ McLaughlin solos, adding musical and emotional textures with overdubs. McLaughlin followers will note quotes and inspiration from familiar older material while those new to his work will simply enjoy, and if inspired to dig back into the catalog, find the roots of much of what’s on this inspired set… The sound here, recorded and mixed by George Murphy at London’s Eastcote Studios, is the highest quality modern digital, which means it’s super-dynamic, full bodied and thoroughly enjoyable in every possible audiophile way. The sound isn’t ‘warm’, nor, filled with modern electronic effects, should it be, though a track like ‘DC Basketball’ would be worthy of a spin at a hi-fi show on any of the big room rigs cranked up to the max. The moody ‘Nathaniel & Christine’ demonstrates that modern digital can produce a three dimensional soundstage and excellent front to back instrumental imaging… If this movie ever does get produced, admirers will get to see if McLaughlin’s music fits the picture—not that it matters. The music stands up well on its own.”
-Michael Fremer, Tracking Angle, Music 9/10, Sound 9/10
Read Michael’s article HERE!