Pat Metheny GroupFirst Circle

Genre:

Jazz

Style:

Contemporary Jazz

Year:

Tracklist

Forward March 2:47
Yolanda, You Learn 4:43
The First Circle 9:10
If I Could 6:54
Tell It All 7:55
End Of The Game 7:57
Mas Alla (Beyond) 5:37
Praise 4:19

Credits (18)

Versions

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    54 versions
    Image , In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory
    Version Details Data Quality
    Cover of First Circle, 1984, Vinyl First Circle
    LP, Album
    ECM Records – 25008-1 US 1984 US1984
    Cover of First Circle, 1984, Vinyl First Circle
    LP, Album
    ECM Records – 823 342-1 1984 1984
    Recently Edited
    Cover of First Circle, 1984, Vinyl First Circle
    LP, Album
    ECM Records – ECM1278 Canada 1984 Canada1984
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 1984, Vinyl First Circle
    LP, Album
    Polygram – 823 342-1 1984 1984
    Recently Edited
    Cover of First Circle, 1984, CD First Circle
    CD, Album
    ECM Records – 823 342-2 1984 1984
    Recently Edited
    Cover of First Circle, 1984, Cassette First Circle
    Cassette, Album, Dolby HX Pro
    Warner Bros. Records – 2-50084 Canada 1984 Canada1984
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 1984, Vinyl First Circle
    LP, Album, Wakefield Press
    ECM Records – ECM 1278 US 1984 US1984
    Recently Edited
    Cover of First Circle, 1984, Vinyl First Circle
    LP, Album
    ECM Records – ECM 1278 Japan 1984 Japan1984
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 1984, Cassette First Circle
    Cassette, Album
    ECM Records – 823 342-4 1984 1984
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 1984, Cassette First Circle
    Cassette, Album, Unofficial Release, Black
    AS (4) – AS 5118 Saudi Arabia 1984 Saudi Arabia1984
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 1984, Cassette First Circle
    Cassette, Album, Dolby
    ECM Records – ECM 1278 US 1984 US1984
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 1985, CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Reissue
    ECM Records – 823 342-2 US 1985 US1985
    Recently Edited
    Cover of First Circle, 1985, CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Reissue
    ECM Records – (823 342-2) 1985 1985
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 1985, Vinyl First Circle
    LP, Album
    Polygram – 823 342-1 Brazil 1985 Brazil1985
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 1985-02-01, CD First Circle
    CD, Album
    ECM Records – 823 342-2 Japan 1985 Japan1985
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 1987, Vinyl First Circle
    LP, Album, Reissue
    Sung Eum Limited – SEL-RG 045 South Korea 1987 South Korea1987
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 1987, Cassette First Circle
    Cassette, Album
    Sung Eum Limited – CG 300 South Korea 1987 South Korea1987
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 1988-09-01, CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Reissue
    ECM Records – J28J 20249 Japan 1988 Japan1988
    Recently Edited
    Cover of First Circle, 1990-03-25, CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Promo, Reissue
    ECM Records – POCJ-1861 Japan 1990 Japan1990
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 1992, CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo
    ECM Records – 823 342-2 Canada 1992 Canada1992
    New Submission
    Cover of The First Circle, 1992, Cassette The First Circle
    Cassette, Album, Unofficial Release
    leo – 54292L Poland 1992 Poland1992
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 2002-09-19, CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Paper Sleeve Gold-CD
    ECM Records – ECM 1278 Japan 2002 Japan2002
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 2005-02-09, CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Paper Sleeve
    ECM Records – UCCE-9047 Japan 2005 Japan2005
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 2006-06-21, CD First Circle
    CD, Album
    ECM Records – 823 342-1 Japan 2006 Japan2006
    Needs Changes
    Cover of First Circle, 2008-10-24, CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Reissue, Card Sleeve
    ECM Records – 177 9925 2008 2008
    Recently Edited
    Cover of First Circle, 2008-10-28, CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Reissue, Digisleeve
    ECM Records – B0011873-2 US 2008 US2008
    Recently Edited
    Cover of First Circle, 2008-09-03, CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, SHM-CD
    ECM Records – UCCE-9155 Japan 2008 Japan2008
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 2010-09-22, CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue
    ECM Records – UCCU-9834 Japan 2010 Japan2010
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 2011-06-22, CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered, Repress, SHM-CD
    ECM Records – UCCU-6076 Japan 2011 Japan2011
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 2014-12-03, CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo
    ECM Records – UCCU-99094 Japan 2014 Japan2014
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 2016-10-26, CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Reissue, SHM-CD
    ECM Records – UCCU-5722 Japan 2016 Japan2016
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 2017, CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Reissue, Card Sleeve
    ECM Records – 177 9925 2017 2017
    Cover of First Circle, 2019-07-24, CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, UHQCD
    ECM Records – UCCE-9351 Japan 2019 Japan2019
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, 2020, File First Circle
    8×File, FLAC, Album, Reissue, Remastered, 24bit 96kHz
    ECM Records – none 2020 2020
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, , CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Reissue
    ECM Records – 823 342-2
    Recently Edited
    Cover of First Circle, , Cassette First Circle
    Cassette, Album
    ECM Records – 78118-21278-4 US US
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, , CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Reissue
    BMG Classics – 78118-21278-2 US US
    Recently Edited
    Cover of First Circle, , CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Reissue
    ECM Records – 823 342-2
    Recently Edited
    Cover of First Circle, , CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Reissue
    ECM Records – 823 342-2
    New Submission
    Cover of First Circle, , CD First Circle
    CD, Album, Reissue
    ECM Records – 823 342-2 US US
    New Submission

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    Reviews

    • rikiheck's avatar
      rikiheck
      Edited 5 months ago
      The composer Stuart Greenbaum wrote his Masters thesis on the song "The First Circle". (Google "Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays The First Circle: transcription and analysis".) Somehow I think that tells you all you need to know.

      Oh, and Metheny writes amazing ballads, like "Mas Alla", which is stunningly beautiful.
      • mikeSF_'s avatar
        mikeSF_
        Edited 3 years ago
        What a truly brilliant suite of music. I've enjoyed this album for many years and finally bought it again on vinyl. This particular pressing is wonderful, 3-dimensional soundstage with full range frequency response. Excellent mastering.
        • Ajapanagamanas's avatar
          Ajapanagamanas
          Edited 3 years ago
          'First Circle' may not be the album on which the PMG sound comes together as a cohesive whole, but throughout its weird and sappy moments there's nothing but proof of the work of musical geniuses -and i swear that's not a term i use often-. Main concept throughout the album could be 'beauty', mind you: all i can make up from the album's title and artwork is that a rainbow was actually the first circle the primitives ever saw (delightfully dumb artwork this one has). But to shake things up they just had to open the whole thing with the stupidest track they ever recorded only for the hell of it. Only to soon reach the heavens with the title track, which has such an uplifting power to it i wouldn't EVER want to meet someone who could remain untouched by it. Acoustic guitar ballads, trickily timed stravaganza, countless layers of synths, stylish solos and the phantasmagorical gem of "Más Allá" with the best use of Pedro Aznar they ever did. Definitely besting their previous recordings, not yet reaching the best which was yet to come, developing that special PMG sound, which to this day remains an enigma to me, as in: how come a band taking cues from so many genres and world influences, who were constantly trying new stuff and whose records were as conceptually and musically eclectic as this one is, achieved such an unmistakable sound of their own, which remains as unique to this day as it ever was? Sound that is, no doubt, the very reason why people either loves the band or hates it.

          About the record, again, a mixed bag. But a mixed bag i couldnt have developed my love for music without. Couldn't have learned that music could be this beautiful, this silly, this precise and this expressive, without this record. One of my favourite records ever.
          • winchrecords's avatar
            winchrecords
            Edited 5 years ago
            Methany was probably the biggest seller on the ECM label, and he certainly had his moments, but for me, he's one of the least interesting and least enjoyable artists on the label, often either boring or annoying. On the other hand, this set is full of surprises and quite interesting for the most part. Even when it gets a bit boring, it usually remains enjoyable. It makes me wonder if I should at least sample more of his releases.

            -- winch (Green Noise Records)
            • zritelle's avatar
              zritelle
              Review by Richard S. Ginell
              In First Circle, the Pat Metheny Group settled into a lineup that lasted for quite a while -- with Metheny, keyboardist Lyle Mays, bassist Steve Rodby, and new drummer Paul Wertico forming the core quartet. The ever-restless Metheny also mixes up the music, not quite leaving the Brazilian glide behind but coming up with some fascinating permutations always affixed with his personal stamp. "Forward March," the album opener, is a bizarre parody full of detuned instruments and half-cocked trumpet from Mays; one wonders if this was directed at a few silly skirmishes of the day (Grenada? the Falklands?). "The First Circle" has Brazilian elements, but now in the service of a grander architectural context, while nothing could be simpler and yet more sophisticated than the delicate ballad "If I Could." "End of the Game" might be the best track on the record, equipped with a beautiful pop-flavored set of tunes and harmonies, with a rock beat fused to the floating ambience of South America as personified by the new Argentine percussionist/vocalist Pedro Aznar. "Praise," the closer, is an out-and-out rock tune, an affirmative flip side of "Forward March" and the last of a series of delightful surprises.

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              • Ratings:814

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