Life & Times (Billy Cobham album)

Life & Times
Studio album by Billy Cobham
Released	1976
Genre	Jazz, jazz rock
Label	Atlantic
Producer	Billy Cobham
Billy Cobham chronology
A Funky Thide of Sings (1975) Life & Times (1976) Live on Tour in Europe (1976)

Life & Times is an album by the American musician Billy Cobham, released in 1976. ^{[1] [2]} It peaked at No. 128 on the Billboard 200. ^[3] Cobham supported the album by appearing at the Montreux Jazz Festival. ^[4]

Production

Cobham was backed by Doug Rauch on bass, John Scofield on guitar, and Dawilli Gonga on keyboards. ^[5] Aside from "Earthlings", which was written by Scofield, Cobham composed all of the songs. ^[5] "Siesta", on which viola and cello were used, was arranged by Arif Mardin. ^{[6] [5]}

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
Omaha World-Herald	[8]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP & Cassette	[9]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[10]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[11]

The Tampa Times noted that "Scofield's guitar work is at times reminiscent of Mahavishnu Orchestra's John McLaughlin". ^[12] The Ann Arbor News said that the album shows that Cobham "can compose and arrange as well as lead and play the drums and synthesizer". ^[6] The News & Observer praised the album's "vivid contrast—serene settings to strictly danceables." ^[13]

The Omaha World-Herald said that the songs range from "superfunk to [a] Mahavishnu sound". ^[8] The Arizona Republic opined that "the rhythmic themes [are] as important to compositions as the melodic leads". ^[14] The Cincinnati Enquirer said that "Cobham's attacks are explosive... His playing is constantly up front". ^[15]

The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP & Cassette ironically labeled Life & Times "a small masterpiece of miscasting." ^[9]

Track listing

Side one

1. "Life & Times"
2. "29"
3. • a. Siesta
   • b. Wake Up!!!!!! That's What You Said
4. "East Bay"

Side two

1. "Earthlings"
2. "Song for a Friend (Part I)"
3. "On a Natural High"
4. "Song for a Friend (Part II)"

References

1. Gregory, Andy, ed. (2002). The International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002. Taylor & Francis Group. p. 100.
2. Thompson, Dave, ed. (2019). Goldmine Record Album Price Guide. Penguin Publishing Group. p. 141.
3. Whitburn, Joel (1985). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Albums, 1955-1985. Record Research Inc. p. 76.
4. "Billy Cobham Biography by Steve Huey". AllMusic. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
5. "Record Reviews". South Mississippi Sun. Vol. 3, no. 118. March 17, 1976. p. A11.
6. "Record Reviews". The Ann Arbor News. No. 95. April 4, 1976. p. 33.
7. "Life & Times Review by Robert Taylor". AllMusic. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
8. Smith, Will (April 9, 1976). "Jazz-Rock". Omaha World-Herald. No. 175. p. 10.
9. The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP & Cassette. Penguin Books. 1994. p. 253.
10. The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. Random House. 1985. pp. 42–43.
11. Larkin, Colin (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Virgin Books. p. 277.
12. Torres, Ernie (March 24, 1976). "Cobham album has 'fine moments'". The Tampa Times. No. 40. p. 2B.
13. Lowery, Raymond (April 4, 1976). "Off the record". The News & Observer. Vol. CCXXI, no. 95. p. 10V.
14. Walker, Gus (April 11, 1976). "Jazz, rock, classics fused". The Arizona Republic. No. 331. p. N9.
15. Radel, Cliff (April 25, 1976). "Cobham and Ponty Excel Without Guru Guitarist". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. F6.