School Days cover

School Days

Released

Clarke’s fourth solo album was his commercial breakthrough. The screamingly intense funk-rock title track, led by his popping, bouncing bass line (obviously) but equally driven by high-energy synths, became the song everyone was waiting to hear at his concerts. The album goes a lot of places in only six tracks, though, featuring guest appearances by fellow fusion heavyweights George Duke, Billy Cobham, and John McLaughlin, and orchestral strings and brass on the closing “Hot Fun” and “Life Is Just a Game.”

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
Birds of Fire cover

Birds of Fire

Mahavishnu Orchestra
Komorebi cover

Komorebi

Context Chameleon
La Maquina de Hacer Pajaros cover

La Maquina de Hacer Pajaros

La Máquina de Hacer Pájaros
Skin Tight cover

Skin Tight

Ohio Players
Serú Girán cover

Serú Girán

Serú Girán
Suite for Max Brown cover

Suite for Max Brown

The New Breed, Jeff Parker
Kool and the Gang cover

Kool and the Gang

Kool & the Gang
The Inner Mounting Flame cover

The Inner Mounting Flame

John McLaughlin, Mahavishnu Orchestra
Pure Desmond cover

Pure Desmond

Paul Desmond