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
Moving Cities cover

Moving Cities

Makaya McCraven, Antoine Berjeaut
Infinity of Now cover

Infinity of Now

The Heliocentrics
Hearsay cover

Hearsay

David Sanborn
In These Times cover

In These Times

Makaya McCraven
Bridges cover

Bridges

Brian Jackson, Gil Scott-Heron
The Elements cover

The Elements

Joe Henderson, Alice Coltrane
Love Devotion Surrender cover

Love Devotion Surrender

Carlos Santana, John McLaughlin, Mahavishnu Orchestra