Song of the New World represents a point of departure for McCoy Tyner. In previous recordings he had composed and arranged for medium-sized groups with horns. But for this 1973 album he set himself a challenge of considerable complexity, to properly deploy the resources of a big jazz band and, on some tracks, strings and woodwinds. Tyner more than satisfactorily marshalled these large forces, avoiding the pitfalls of either overwhelming his piano or reducing the supporting cast to mere background music. Tyner's approach to orchestration, as to piano playing, is centered in unity, completeness, and uncompromising musicianship.

with Virgil Jones, Cecil Bridgewater, Jon Faddis, Garnett Brown, Dick Griffin, Julius Watkins, Hubert Laws, Sonny Fortune, Bob Stewart, Joony Booth, Alphonse Mouzon, Sonny Morgan, and others