I challenge you to find better guitar playing.
There aren't enough superlatives to describe this performance. So I won't even try. I will say that my entire perception of "guitar" was forever changed the first time I heard this album. Not only because of the effortless 200 mph runs but moreso because thee guys can do this while paying attention to and complementing eachother's playing.

Friday Night in San Francisco is a beautiful recording with plenty of raw emotion, despite what some other reviewers have said. Once you have removed your jaw from the floor and pay attention to the phrasing, song structure, sheer improvisation, and interplay of three geniuses in their prime, you will add this to your desert island list.

Something else that I really like about this album is the way the stereo mastering has the guitars separated into left and right channels. So if you are sitting in a room with really good audio equipment, you would swear you are in the room with these guys. The sound quality is among the best live recordings I've ever heard (I've heard a lot.)

If you haven't heard this album before, I can't encourage you enough to go forth and destroy the paradigm in your mind of what a guitar can do. You'll be amazed. Truly amazed.

Over the top but that's the point
Those who whine about this being too break-neck obviously can't let their minds (and guts) go to that place. Not everything needs to be perfectly paced and full of musical chiaroscuro. Sometimes you just want to rock!
I have various bootlegs from this tour and they are all incredible for the ferocity and passion the trio brings to this music. This is definitiely the best night that I've heard; we're lucky to have it in such perfect sound quality.
The highlight is definitely Sundance, where Paco's feel and touch makes DiMeloa's oft-emotionless palm-muted runs at 200 miles an hour take on much more heart. Paco keeps up and then some; Al needed a pick to blaze this hard, Paco did not!
McLaughlin is no slouch either, and there's really no dull moment here.
It is indeed a master class for guitarists; I'll never forget hearing it for the first time at age 19 and realizing that acoustic git can wail just as hard as electric. It's also just plain exciting for any pair of ears, musician's or not! Like a strong cup of coffee on a windy mountain side at 5 am, this will get the juices flowing.
These guys know each other's styles so well and mesh so perfectly; for that alone this is five stars. Add the sonic insanity of this many notes played with this much flawless technique and you've got something truly unique and magical. Not a ballad album, nor was it meant to be. The trio has other albums that address that issue; this one is all about amazement and joy.
Still unmatched almost 30 years later.

WoW
Everytime I listen to this CD I come away with something new. I've been listening to this since the 80's and every time I get goosebumps. Three geniuses come together on a magical night and create this something that happens once in a lifetime. I've always thought it would be a great if the three could collaborate and write a book on their inspirations for doing this, how much did they *really* practice and such. It would an incredible read. Today my kids (8 and 10) were listening to this on my iPOD and were blown away!!!

The masters unite
The musicianship here is very professional and enjoyable - this is the only documented audio of these three guitar giants working together in concert. The performance was recorded live in December 1980, at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco. Track #5 is a studio recording, though, but nonetheless coherent and of spectacular quality in both sound and performance.
Throughout the album, all three guitar players (incidentally only playing in pairs on the first three tracks) perform on acoustic guitars, and for an early 80's live recording, the sound quality is surprisingly good (rich acoustics, no feedback, no distortion.) What ruins a lot of the listening experience, however, are the audience members who yell and scream and whistle and clap over some of the music as if they were high on all that currently is illegal to get high on. The wildness of the audience participation on track #2 is especially bothersome; as soon as the guitar players play a fast lick, an unusual effect, anything technically advanced or anything in unison, these people go crazy, and when recognizing an obvious installment of the theme from Pink Panther you can hear them wearing their anuses on their sleeves as they burst from rapture.
But the audience aside, this is an important recording for a lot of obvious reasons - a recording that you definitely should own or at least listen to if you have ever enjoyed any music performed or written by any of these three guitarists. Incidentally, Hal Leonard has produced a book of transcriptions of all titles from this recording.

Not a fan
This is a consert I just stumbled over an liked at once. Superb work of art. It has always been a joy to hear talented people get together and bring happines to the audience. Had this as LP but somebody or in moving things it became unplayable so getting a new copy was a must.