Rating: 
My Goals Beyond is an interestingly constructed release, with two longish ensemble pieces featuring Dave Liebman, Jerry Goodman, Billy Cobham, Charlie Haden, Badal Roy and Airto Moreira, followed by a number of miniature acoustic guitar pieces, played by John himself, sometimes overdubbing a second guitar.
Peace One starts off with a drone, courtesy of Indian percussionist Badal Roy, soon joined in by Charlie Haden’s hypnotic bass line and we know, if we weren’t clued in by the cover art, that we are experiencing a groundbreaking fusion of East and West, mostly from the jazz side of things. The Eastern element is more implied, from the presence of Indian percussionists and the meditative quality of the theme, which is gorgeous and unearthly. McLaughlin would later turn that equation on it’s head with Shakti, where the Indian classical music influence was much more pronounced. John’s solo on Peace One manages to be fiery and contemplative at the same time, and Jerry Goodman follows his lead.
Peace Two is more languid, with the introduction played rubato, with the equally lovely melody played by the unique combination of Dave Liebman’s soprano saxophone and Jerry Goodman’s violin. The tune segues into a shambling raga-like form for John’s solo before Jerry cuts in. Dave Liebman mostly contributes atmospheric and sinuous modal lines that seem to float off into the air. This is one of Liebman’s earliest performances on record, and it’s inspired.
The guitar pieces that make up the second half of the date are not as breathtakingly beautiful and original as the ensemble pieces, but they are lovely just the same. John covers the Miles Davis standard Blue in Green, Mingus’ Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (which Jeff Beck would provide the definitive version of on 1976’s Wired), provides several originals, and unearths the obscure Bob Cornford gem, Hearts and Flowers. While John’s playing is frequently ferocious, these pieces share an underlying contemplative quality with the large group pieces.
What is the value of My Goals Beyond? It has certainly inspired many acoustic guitar albums since, but Peace One and Peace Two stand as unique accomplishments in the jazz canon. I don’t think anyone has seriously even tried to imitate them. It’s pretty much a perfect recording, one of the few out there.
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