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
Hearsay cover

Hearsay

David Sanborn
Tower of Power cover

Tower of Power

Tower of Power
The Veil cover

The Veil

Jim Black, Nels Cline, BB&C, Tim Berne
Spaces cover

Spaces

Larry Coryell
The Bull and the Lion cover

The Bull and the Lion

Mike Makhalemele, Winston "Mankunku" Ngozi
Light of Worlds cover

Light of Worlds

Kool & the Gang
Where Have I Known You Before cover

Where Have I Known You Before

Return to Forever, Chick Corea