Race With Devil On Spanish Highway

Zoo Freaks, you’re tuned into THE ZOO with the Zoo Crew, your favorite hippie DJs spinning the wildest tracks! Right now, we’re cranking up the electrifying "Race With Devil On Spanish Highway" by Al Di Meola from his 1977 album Elegant Gypsy. This jazz-rock fusion masterpiece is a high-octane ride, and we’ve got some juicy trivia to share. In a 2020 Guitar Player interview, Di Meola revealed the song’s riff was inspired by The Kinks’ "You Really Got Me," a garage rock classic he tried playing as a kid. He calls it “simplistic” compared to his later work, but its blazing guitar acrobatics have made it a fan favorite. Fun fact: the studio version, recorded at Electric Lady Studios in NYC, was cut completely live with virtuosos Anthony Jackson on bass, Barry Miles on keys, and Lenny White on drums. Di Meola said their musicianship was so tight, they nailed it after just a few rehearsals!

Here’s a cool story, Zoo Freaks: in April 2015, Di Meola teamed up with guitar legend Steve Vai for a show at the Canyon Club in California. A rehearsal clip from Vai’s Harmony Hut studio, shared by Guitar World, shows them shredding through "Race With Devil" hours before the gig. The encore performance was a fiery rendition that left the crowd floored. Di Meola’s pushed back on the “proto-shred” label some critics slap on the track, telling Guitar Player he’s more about composition than just flashy solos. Oh, and did you know the song’s vibe has a Latin flair? Fans on Reddit rave about its percussive grooves, crediting conga player Mingo Lewis for that extra spice. It’s no wonder this track won hearts, helping Elegant Gypsy go gold and dominate radio in Germany!

Let’s rewind to how Al Di Meola got his start. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1954, this guitar wizard picked up the axe at a young age, jamming to The Ventures and The Beatles. By his teens, he was hooked on jazz, soaking up sounds from Kenny Burrell and Tal Farlow. But it was fusion pioneer Larry Coryell who lit a fire under him to blend jazz, blues, and rock. Di Meola enrolled at Berklee College of Music in 1972, where he played in a quartet with keyboardist Barry Miles. A demo of that group caught the ear of Chick Corea, who scooped up the 19-year-old to join his groundbreaking fusion band Return to Forever. Di Meola dropped out of Berklee to tour with the group alongside Stanley Clarke and Lenny White, cementing his rep as a fusion prodigy. By 22, he launched his solo career with 1976’s Land of the Midnight Sun, and Elegant Gypsy sealed his status as a jazz-rock icon.

Zoo Freaks, you can keep up with Al Di Meola’s latest gigs and releases on his official website. Connect with him on Facebook, Instagram, and X, where he shares tour updates and throwbacks. Want to geek out with fellow fans? Check out the Al Di Meola Fan Club on Facebook, a vibrant group for swapping stories and rare tracks. There’s also Prog Archives, a fan-driven site with detailed reviews of his albums like Elegant Gypsy. So, crank up that volume, let "Race With Devil" take you on a wild ride, and stay groovy with the Zoo Crew!