Mahavishnu fans only

I had to really think this one through. The Mahavishnu Orchestra sound is ALL refined power. Listen to the Dance of Maya again. Of course, it’s outrageously powerful, but note the structure that drives it. The time signatures. The counterpoint. Syncopation...

The truth is that I love nearly all of their stuff. It’s also true that I heard the Inner Mounting Flame album before any of the others, and that may bias my analysis.

Still, when I HAVE to hear some Mahavishnu, I almost always turn to Inner Mounting Flame first, just as I did all those years ago.

Also:   I entirely concur with Heilbron's opinion of McLaughlin's "quiet soulful virtuosity of My Goal’s Beyond".   
IMO, his cover of "Goodbye Porkpie Hat" is the best of the many versions if that great jazz standard.  

Well, I was going to just eavesdrop because " Mahavishnu fans only", but this short thread got me interested so I headed straight for Amazon Music.  Since The Inner Mountain is supposedly their more raw album I figured I'd start with that.  First off mind blown, never heard of these guys before and I was raised around a wide range of jazz and classical, among other types of music, and my tastes are all over the place, so I'm totally on board with this.  Now the music is great but I'm on my desktop computer listening through Definitive Technology Inclines and this UltraHD Remastered version sounds incredible!  I'm about to run downstairs to kick my wife off the rig in the living room but I will patiently wait until tomorrow to get some daytime listening in so I can crank it.  I probably won't though, I'll most likely still put this on when she goes to bed (My 12-2:30am ritual listening session).  I've been really amazed at the sound I've been getting since upgrading my DAC (Topping DX7-Pro) and I can't wait to see what this sounds like through it.  Equipment upgrades aside, I'm actually excited to find out which one I prefer better.  Rumor has it that my Moabs are "in the homestretch" and they are "worth waiting for", so this will probably get the first play when those arrive and are setup.  I'm enjoying the music that much.

Well that was random and unexpected.  Thanks?!? :)

Original Japanese LPs of both The Inner Mounting Flame and Birds Of Fire sound better than anything else. I tried them all. For Visions Of The Emerald Beyond look for original US White Label Promo, it sounds better than original Japanese. Don't buy UK and other pressings. 
John McLaughlin is a unique and legendary performer, but I don't like his later work.
Meetings of the Spirit and Dance of Maya are absolute classics.

@mysterioso1

The live From Nothingness To Eternity has become my go LP, though I love them all.

Agreed. That album is fantastic, both the recording and performance. Ya have to turn that album up....loud. It just sucks you in.