This was the only tour to feature the 1977 group, which included original members Chick Corea, bassist Stanley Clarke and saxophonist Joe Farrell, along with keyboardist/vocalist Gayle Moran (previously in Mahavishnu Orchestra), and a six-piece horn section.

Originally released as a single LP, the album was re-issued in 1978 as a four LP set called Return to Forever Live: The Complete Concert, which contained the full concert as heard by those who attended, including extended sections of dialogue and audience applause.

The original release was a single LP with a cover featuring the MoMA version of Pablo Picasso's Three Musicians.

In June 2011 Columbia (Sony) released a five CD boxed set, Return to Forever, The Complete Columbia Albums Collection which includes the entire 1977 Live: The Complete Concert recording on three CDs together with 1976's Romantic Warrior and 1977's Musicmagic studio albums.

However, this 2011 reissue features "The Endless Night" and "Musicmagic" as one track each, instead of the original splits and fades of each song.