WEATHER REPORT | Ranking the Albums

[@marcelob4132]

Sweetnighter, Mysterious Traveller, Black Market and Heavy Weather are perfect down-to-earth Jazz-Rock albums

[@naderzekrya5238]

I was nearly gonna report you for not including Tale Spinnin' in your string of thought 😅

[@marcelob4132]

​@@naderzekrya5238 Well remembered

[@EixtremeDrummer]

Black Market Heavy Weather Misterious Traveller Tale Spinnin'

[@FreeBrunoPowroznik]

You got my top 4 in exact order 😂

[@grahamnunn8998]

As a guitarist, I loved Weather Report as they made me listen harder to other instruments!

[@ral1020]

Back in the mid 70’s, I was playing with a very successful regional band. We had several days off. Our sound man, Bob, called me - I believe it was on a Sunday afternoon - he said “ You need to come over. I just picked up an album you have to hear”. To set the stage: Bob’s brother was in the military and stationed in India. He had sent Bob a small package. Beautiful chunk of greenish yellow hash. . I should also add that Bob had an incredible Hifi system at the time: Phase Linear amp. Marantz preamp. Klipsch La Scala speakers. Thorens turntable. After a few hits of the pipe, Bob puts on Black Market.. It was a life changing moment. A huge epiphany for me musically that has stayed with me ever since

[@arvidsson56]

I am glad you have "Mysterious Traveller" so high on your list. It has always been one of my favorite Weather Report albums, and I think it often has been overlooked.

[@SPY1964-LL]

Bravo! Traveller, Sweetnighter and Weather Report are supreme. I tried to get into Body Electric but cannot. Maybe I need to drop some heavy liquid Acid to get it. I would to hear Andy play this style of music. I wonder what he would do - go the Alphonse Mouzon direction? Love Alphonse with Larry Coryell's 11th House.

[@danielduesentriebjunior]

I watched Weather Report 1979 at the Antibes Jazz Festival. It was overwhelming. Before that I hade listened to rock music like Pink Floyd or Genesis. Thereafter I got into Jazzrock and later also into Jazz. For me Weather Report were the perfect band facilitating the development of my musical taste.

[@trevorhoward2254]

The Miroslav Vitous composition, Morning Lake from the first album is one of my fave tunes ever. I have tow other versions, one on a live album and another woth Terje Rypdal and Jack DeJonette

[@howardduck2851]

Mr Gone features a tune called River People. Can’t speak for the whole album, but I love this tune. It’s not a big feature for drummers, and actually doesn’t have much of a singable melody, But it’s classic Jaco top to bottom. (Maybe should have been on a Jaco solo album instead)

[@kenjones6441]

Has to be Heavy Weather or Black Market. Supremely composed Jazz fusion by ultra talented musicians. Never enjoyed them as much live though.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

See, I’d go for 8:30 myself - but that was the first Weather Report album I heard, so I may be biased!

[@rolfjamne8922]

O yes Black Market , whe are on the same page on this one Andy. Check out Acuna /Hoff/Matisen Trio. Acording to Acuna this was his best work since Weather Report. There is a live dvd on Drumchannel with a interview by Terry Bozzio. Hoff and Mathisen has worked with different Trio and Quartet formats Mike Stern and Gary Husband are names that comes to my mind.❤

[@ESP77769]

My favorite band!! This is tough, I'd say a 3-way tie for "Night Passage"/"8:30"/"Black Market"... "Jazz is the pop music of the future" - Zawinul.

[@kenjones6441]

Now we’re talking.

[@Threadbow]

Ren, welsh artist. I would like to hear his views on his music. KZbin Renmakes music. Genuine review would be great to hear.

[@LowKeyTired-q7d]

Could be right about black market ... Elegant people is a sick tune ...

[@jazzpunk]

Wayne Shorter's tune...Absolutely! And ditto for Alphonso Johnson's "Herandnu".

[@clevebaker8399]

I found “I sing the body electric “ right after it came out! The cover! After that we saw them a couple of times! Nobody was like weather report! Great work Andy! Every lp has something to inspire!

[@lucienlachance9604]

I can’t help smiling when I see that there’s a live album called 08:30. When I saw the band in Paris (78?) they came on stage at 11:30 pm. I think that it was because their material was blocked at the border.

[@naderzekrya5238]

I remember thinking it was all over when Jaco, Erskine left, which is why "Processional", and especially "Sportin- Life" mean a lot to me! I can listen to "I Sing The Body Electric" every year. The rest I listen to every 3 years cause they're far more memorable!

[@ftlpope]

Great stuff. Acuna is my drummer.

[@johnayres2303]

Andy you deserve a quarter of a Million followers.

[@davestephens6421]

You have done it Professor Edwards.....I agree with this list 95% Of course it might change tomorrow 😂 I was lucky enough to see 3 different line-ups live, & some many times. My favourite was when Alex Acuna played drums....just check him out on the Live At Montreux video !!! (With Manolo on percussion). Although I love Peter Erskine, the more times I saw that line up, and the more gigs I saw, the more they became a thrash to me....and 8,30 does reflect this at times. I have always loved😅 Alphonso's playing and wished I saw him play with WR, but I did see him with the Cobham /Duke on the same bill with WR (and Shakti!!!). I agree totally that he is vastly underrated!! And we must not forget he left WR to join Billy and George!!! Great video Andy !!!

[@cuttycutty2411]

Yeah I saw that show in London, what a line up. One of the best shows ever.

[@davestephens6421]

@@cuttycutty2411 it was amazing wasn't it? Hammy Odeon!!!! Happy days!!!

[@GBsdclf01]

First album is my favourite and even one of my top fusion albums. Just has a certain magic for me.

[@toneslotohnz4540]

Nice list as usual AE. But I confess to being one of those "Weather Report snobs", so of course I have to post my $0.02... here are the facts: I'm so one of those snobs I completely snubbed the post Jaco era Weather Report. I know they were completely competent, but I wasn't hearing anything new or groundbreaking, so I moved on. I was always disappointed that Omar and Jaco never got to play together on a WR album, but yeah, I really need to go back and check those out. I also admit to being late to realizing what an amazing album Tail Spinnin is. I never gave it its due because it had the misfortune of coming between Mysterious Traveller and Black Market, but when I got the quad mix on SACD about 6 years ago it blew my mind! What a young idiot I was! Back in 1980, I couldn't understand how everybody on the planet hadn't stopped what they were doing to declare Night Passage one of the best albums ever made. Mr. Gone is pop fusion without being elevator music, which was huge at the time thanks to Spyro Gyra and their ilk blowing up the airwaves at the time. I was mildly disappointed but I still loved it, and felt it was a normal exhale after Heavy Weather. And my God does "Young and Fine" swing like a monster! In fact so does most of the album... I put Mr' Gone on when I don't want to hear "serious" Weather Report and absolutely enjoy it. Sweetnighter is still in the space in my head where Tail Spinnin used to be... "meh", surrounded on either side by "wow". But I'still give it a spin every now and then to try to grok why people seem to like it so much. The first album is beautiful. The second is stunning. Heavy Weather is like Sgt. Pepper, Aja, or other classics to me... an album so perfect, so popular, and so overplayed, that it's hard to remember the context in which it arrived, so it's perceptive quality and importance is taken for granted these days. As for you preferring Manhattan's Transfer's version of Birdland, that's eminently more forgivable than when the USC marching band use to credit it as "Maynard Ferguson's "Birdland"". That used to rile me to no end. 😤 Anyway, all that baggage leaves my list as: 1. Heavy Weather 2. Night Passage 3. Black Market 4. Mysterious Traveller (Blackthorn Rose...) 5. Weather Report (1st) 6. Tale Spinnin 7. Mr. Gone 8. I Sing the Body Electric (great, but Live in Japan makes the second side redundant.... and it's only 1/2 a full studio album) 9. side four of 8:30 (great stuff, but again only 1/2 a full album...) 10. Sweetnighter 11. Weather Report (2nd) 12 - 15 the rest in no particular order... TBD if anyone gets this far... thanks for reading! And thanks again Andy for stimulating such great memories!

[@cuttycutty2411]

After watching this, I just realised I’ve been listening to WR for 47 years! I go swimming 3 times a week and got myself some swimming mp3 headphones 6 months ago and Black Market is the first album on the playlist and I just can’t bring myself to skip it. I just never get tired of it. Sheer Genius.😊

[@ibornalone]

In my personal world "I Sing..." is the best record EVER made of ANY genre, No other record changed me as this one, and I've listened to many....

[@rocketshiptoaltair]

My number one would be Mysterious Traveler. I discovered it same time as Caravanserai by Santana and I played both albums back to back. Very much my jam back in the day. I've piled my CDs in your order and going to play in concession over the next few days. Then going to check out Joe's solo stuff as I spent all my pocket money on Chick Corea albums and didn't get a chance to catch up with Joe. Thanks Andy. Great stuff as always.

[@royjones3099]

I love tale spinning....the drumming by chancellor

[@jazzpunk]

Ndugu killed on TALE SPINNING...the opening track? Ridiculous. IIRC, Ndugu took a better paying gig with Santana. Too bad, woukda loved to hear more...Ndugu & Jaco in his prime would have been a wet dream.

[@hauskahirvi]

Way back around 1981 when I was 17 the first two fusion LPs I ever bought were The Inner Mounting Flame and Heavy Weather and I still have those copies. Around the same time my older brother made me a cassette tape of Night Passage and Black Market. I really like those two albums especially Black Market but I have not heard it in ages. I have all of the WR albums on vinyl up to 1980 but I am missing Black Market! I thought I had it (I need to correct that!). A few years ago, I bought the first 5 WR albums on vinyl at a record fair for a really good price and all are in fine shape and all original or early pressings. I nice score. Just today I picked up a used LP of Mr. Gone. I like it. The search is on for a copy of Black Market! Your video inspired me to give a good listen to my WR collection again soon.

[@johnayres2303]

I bought I Sing the Body Electric when it was released. I remember the booth and the record shop where I listened to it. The record changed my life, for me it was the jump from Prog Rock to Jazz.

[@wolupin]

Andy, you could have mentioned the Album "Live and Unreleased" because it gives you the raw and incredible fiery live feeling of a band that was cooking in the seventies (Just listen to Shorter's solo on Freezing fire). I know what I'm talking about. Saw them twice in 1975 - Berlin and Zurich. The Berlin concert is available on DVD, though the Zurich gig was much more incredible. Went to see them 1977 in Stuttgart, the Heavy Weather tour with Acuna and Badrena. Saw them 1978 in Offenbach, another concert that is available on DVD as part of the box set Forecast: Tomorrow. Again saw them in 1980 and last in 1984 in Den Haag. I had my awakening with Mysterious Traveller when i heard it the first time in 1974 as it landed in the Record shop where i lived. Nubian Sundance and Mysterious Traveller: Zawinul and Shorter in Essence. There is so much more.....

[@stevebeaney9684]

Yeah! Cucumber Slumber = maximum funk. All round a good overview. Well done.

[@superdananderson1382]

One of my favorite jazz combos of all time.

[@DesmondTravis-y1u]

I had the pleasure of seeing Weather Report at Ronnie Scott's in 1972 which I think was their first London (UK?) appearance. They had Miroslav Vitous, Eric Gravatt and Dom Um Ramao with them - truly awe inspiring! Big fan ever since and Black Market defo no. 1 favourite.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

I’d go 8:30, Heavy Weather, Black Market, Night Passage, Procession, Mr Gone…….based on the WR albums I own! Notable mentions have to go to Jaco’s solo albums (Word Of Mouth in particular), which are fantastic!

[@markperry9427]

Thanks goor that Andy, i have a couple of Weather Report albums but needed dome pointers for others to check out, and noe i havr them. Incidentally, I Sing The Body Electric was the first WR album i bought, i had it on CD, msinly because it ethe title of a Ray Bradbury short story, one of my favourite authors. Only a few days ago, i managed to get a beautiful 1972 original vinyl at s record fair 👍

[@johannhauffman323]

Black Market is my favorite. I am surprised so many other people find it their favorite too. While I love Jaco, I think the band and Shorter in particular sounded better with Alphonso and Chester .

[@jazzpunk]

Anyone recall Downbeat's 1-Star rating of MR. GONE? Couple issues after, Downbeat had the band do a rebuttal, cover and all. The rebuttal was 95% Joe/Jaco. Shorter/Erskine only had a short comment or two. My YT handle is actually from Jaco's tune "Punk Jazz"...not SHT.

[@davestephens6421]

Impossible task!!!!!

[@markruthin]

Great video again and some interesting trivia. I have all of these albums, started in '76 with Mysterious Traveller, then I Sing, then Heavy Weather, huge fan. And I've watched so many of your videos now I'm even fan of yours. Jeez! See you on 10th Nov (or is it 24th as the "poster" seems to suggest. I don't want to drive to Kiddy 2 weeks early do I?

[@stuartmorris9855]

As ever an excellent review of one of my favourite bands, and I agree with Black Market over Heavy Weather 😊

[@Nephilim-81]

What an undertaking 😮

[@craigsolomon4783]

My fave jazz/rock group-WeatherReport...... ..

[@boudiccamarchestorome9475]

Cool cool. I only really liked WP during the Pastorius period. Black Market was brilliant.

[@RabbiSteve1]

I have to say, I pretty much agree with this entire ranking. I started with WR just after I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC came out. And saw that band a number of times and I became a Report-Head, like a Dead Head. While I didn’t travel all over to see them, I saw them every time they came to the New York Metro area from 1972-1977 and then saw them twice more between 78-1980. BLACK MARKET remains my favorite WR album, and the band that toured in support of that album, with Jaco, Acuña, and Badrena remains my favorite WR touring unit, with the band before that featuring Alphonso, just below that, and almost tied. And I also agree that TALE SPINNIN’ is a remarkable album that deserves way better than it gets. I might rate MR. GONE just a bit higher, but not much [edit: I meant a bit higher than Andy ranked it, but not higher than TALE SPINNIN’!] I recognize its flaws, but I still love it.

[@nicholaspetergagg7769]

what a band just faB MOVING JAZZ FORWARD but nodding to the past greats of jazz they swing they funk they are just exceptional.

[@PaulCartwright-v7p]

As I am sure someone has mentioned in the comments below (won't scroll through), but 8.30 was supposed to be a full 2 LP set, but and engineer accidentally erased a few of the live tracks. The band added some new studio tracks to make it a double album.

[@toneslotohnz4540]

That's interesting, I'd never heard that. I'd always assumed that since WR had just moved onto ARC, which was a short-lived subsidiary label run by Maurice White (of Earth, Wind, & Fire, and who also appears on Mr. Gone), that the idea was to format it like EW&F's platinum selling Gratitude album (3 sides live, 1 side studio) to suck in fans who wouldn't normally buy a live album. Wonder if it was the same engineer that accidentally erased most of Steely Dan's "Second Arrangement" around the same time... who let that guy back in a studio? 😂

[@tookmyjob]

When I think of Weather Report, I always think of that sax solo in “Man In A Green Shirt”. That decending line gets me every time.

[@michaelstirling1]

Very cool Andy. Thanks for that. Sweetnighter, I sing the Body Electric (with the amazing cover) & Mysterious Traveller. Rich times for music then.

[@soloensemble1]

Great video, and I largely agree with your rankings. I am particularly pleased that you had Black Market ahead of Heavy Weather, and I probably would have had Tale Spinnin and Mysterious Traveller ahead of Heavy Weather as well. As you said, Tale Spinnin is very underrated, and I am also partial to it because it was in my dad's record collection and played constantly during my early formative years.

[@slobodanudarac5]

Love Sportin' Live, one of my favourites.

[@narosgmbh5916]

Curt Bianchi, author of "Elegant People", maintains an org adress where the story of WR is told from the musicians inside with the records releases, incl. the band members own rankings. According to YT I can't link the adress, but it consists of the name of the group follewed by discography. What comes after the dot is above. It's not just for WR fans .

[@hulldanfan]

I bought a hifi system in the late 70's and spent double my budget because of 'A Remark You Made' off Heavy Weather. The salesman used it as a reference piece across the different options. I'd never heard of them before and I was blown away.

[@willemvandeursen3105]

In 1974, I had a job in a backstreet cinema, ('art films', but I also saw Polanski's Fearless Vampire Killers there for the first time) where the film operator played a tape for the visitors in the auditorium, and in the lobby. I heard a rather long track over and over again: Boogie Woogie Waltz. plus the other tracks on that album side,( as I found out later). Me, an exclusive pop fan, started to get addicted to the Waltz, and eventually, I bought every WR album after. I found them totally unique. But for B B Waltz and the Mysterious Traveler album, I have very specific sentimental feelings. And in the seventies, they also helped me to take further progressive routes. Thanks Mr Zawinul and Mr Shorter!

[@guitarlaurence]

Great band, great albums! 40K subs is mega! Road to 100k!

[@juansecar2]

Used to be Heavy Weather, for obvious reasons being a bass player myself, I transcribed pretty much every single track, including that roaring Havona, with its solo,... and I still love it to death, after all these years. But, Black Market has surpassed it recently. Also, every single Victor Bailey album is great. But, Black Market is my personal fav. Cheers

[@flame-sky7148]

1. Sweetnighter!!! 2. Mysterious Traveller Classics that could have been masterpieces if : Heavy Weather add (In a Silent Way duet or alt duet) omit (Rumba Mama) Black Market (Cigano) omit ( Three Clowns) 8:30 Live add (River People, Mr. Gone, Young & Fine, Waterfall (engineer blunder) omit (8:30, Orphan,Sightseeing) Night Passage add (Sightseeing) omit (Forlorn & Rockin in Rhythm), the LP already has 2 ballads I Sing the Body Electric add studio versions (Directions, Dr. Honoris Causa) omit (1972 Live in Tokyo concert) They all might be masterpieces, but great showcase Professor Andy

[@luizjose778]

Haevy wether fantastico banda fantastica jaco inigualavel tenho esse.album"cd".saudo desde Brasil.❤

[@VladimirBarriere]

Black Market and Mr Gone by a mile

[@georgeshirley5978]

I agree the Alphonso Johnson version is the best Weather Report. I rate those three main albums the opposite of you. I prefer TaleSpinnin'. The bubbling bass on that one is just wonderful. My next favorite is Mysterious Traveller. One thing I like about that is it's the minute before the multiphonic synthesizers show up. Underpinning chording is always on the Rhodes, which I much prefer to those synthetic pads. (I believe multiphonic synthesizers were the cause of death of fusion.) Next of the three would be Black Market, which doesn't really grab me. I prefer the three early albums and Heavy Weather to Black Market.

[@eightrodway]

Hey Andy, I've been listening to WR since the first album. I even got to see the Erskine lineup. Your top three are my top three, though maybe not always in that order.

[@colinburroughs9871]

I had Mr. Gone first, while being a goofy Rave kid (I dunno.. why) and noticed some proto dance/disco bits that actually opened up my ears to the whole thing. Now I like the Jazz, but the stuff that the heads DID NOT like, actually brought me to the thing. You just never know

[@bentleycharles779]

Mysterious Traveller is beautiful. They’re all beautiful.

[@EixtremeDrummer]

I noticed your preferences for Narada, who unfortunately I've never seen performing... but I saw Omar Hakim and never had seen such a beast playing drums before. Memorable.

[@MichaelAlexander-b1b]

Agree to disagree. 1982 is one of my favorite albums, gave it a listen just now. #4 behind Heavy Weather, Black Market & Mysterious Traveler. I think it was a rethinking of Heavy Weather with new instrumental means, Joe added Prophet-V and Korg Vocoder, Jaco played his Jazz Bass through an MXR Chorus pedal.

[@stevescott200]

I picked up the double CD " Live and unreleased" its excellent I seen them twice in the 70's. I agree with your listing, Black market is the killer. cheers Andy,

[@davel.9467]

My Top 5 - Black Market Mysterious Traveler Sweetnighter Tale Spinnin’ I Sing The Body Electric

[@FreeBrunoPowroznik]

1 Sweetnighter 2 Mysterious Traveller 3 Black Market 4 Heavy Weather 5 (First) Weather Report 6 Night Passage 7 Tale Spinnin' 8 I Sing The Body Electric 9 Sporting Life 10 Procession

[@willemvandeursen3105]

''Mysterious Traveler' I find their most accessible of the early albums. It has an almost prog-rocking into, and the last track on the album,stands out for me too; a fantastical dream. I just don't agree with its title: 'Jungle Book', Mowgli snake-charming??

[@FreeBrunoPowroznik]

@@willemvandeursen3105 Yes, usually if an album is too accessible it goes down in my estimations, but Mysterious Traveller has such beautiful melodies and joyful exuberance that I can't fault it.

[@willemvandeursen3105]

@@FreeBrunoPowroznik , I started to buy the first three, but #1 and #2 were a bit too avant garde for me; Sweetnighter hit the right tone with me. And of course Mysterious Traveler. After THAT one, I was in calm weather. 🙂‍

[@FreeBrunoPowroznik]

@@willemvandeursen3105 Boogie Woogie Waltz gives me goosebumps everytime I listen to it

[@willemvandeursen3105]

@@FreeBrunoPowroznik What appeals to me most is the percussion, the constant rhythm. And I don't want it to end. It was a band of musical geniuses.

[@danielduesentriebjunior]

"Birdland" became a world hit. Every better town chapel has it in its repertoire.

[@ganazby]

Black Market is the one for me. But many great WR albums.

[@Matt__B]

I'd always have Black Market as my favorite. Why choose between a Jaco or an Alphonso album when you can have the one that has both?

[@jazzpunk]

I love The MT's vocal version of "Birdland" (EXTENSIONS is a fine album. Vocal version of Spryo Gyra's "Shaker Song" is also on this album). The MT & Weather Report (Hakim/Bailey era) team up on "Birdland" - THE PLAYBOY JAZZ FESTIVAL 2-LP set. No cds (that I know of)...video of the performance in on YT.

[@willemvandeursen3105]

Vocal group Manhattan Transfer also helped to spread general attention to Weather Report.

[@BeatKasterG]

Andy - would you do a top ranking music documentary video please?

[@peterpeper4837]

After watching When the wind blows im more like which single weather report album I will take with me in the shelter

[@jacobheaney3836]

Awesome, one of my all time favourite bands. I agree with what you said about Black Market being the best as it’s my number one as well. Here’s my ranking: 1) Black Market (1976) 2) Mysterious Traveller (1974) 3) Tale Spinning (1975) 4) Weather Report (1971) 5) Procession (1983) 6) Night Passage (1980) 7) Sweetnighter (1973) 8) I Sing The Body Electric (1972) 9) Heavy Weather (1977) 10) Mr Gone (1978) 11) Weather Report (1982) 12) Domino Theory (1984) 13) Sporting Life (1985) 14) This Is This (1986)

[@jacobheaney3836]

@@naderzekrya5238 thanks, i love all of the albums. Many people like Heavy Weather as it’s their most successful album but all of the records before plus Procession are fantastic.

[@naderzekrya5238]

Though i love "Sportin' Life" and "Mr Gone" I reckon your list here is truly, honestly very good! 👍🤟 (Personally, Sweetnighter before Night Passage) !

[@naderzekrya5238]

​@@jacobheaney3836yeah, good list! Of course Heavy Weather, remarkable, 10 outta 10, relatively easy listening compared to the rest, "birdland" is actually quite comical and makes me laugh ! 😅

[@elmolewis9123]

I watch their live concert at Offenbach 1978 video at least once a year. My top 3 albums would be Black Market/Mysterious Traveller/Tail Spinnin'

[@SPY1964-LL]

Great video Andy. Do you know PASSPORT with Curt Cress on drums? Or ever heard of FOCUS?

[@fredbarnes196]

Have to agree with your top two although I would flip them around. I cringe when I hear Jaco was classic WR because to me it was Alphonso Johnson who provided a better groove. Jaco and Vitous should have learned proper soloing instruments instead of bass. I mean they sometimes forgot they got a job to do down there. Never knew American Tango was Mirislav Vitous, that is an epic ballad,

[@motherlesschild102]

Only 40,000? People are missing out! Didn't even notice the odd stutter. Pretty much agree with you-never really checked out Tale Spinning' -I will have to do so. I thought some of their late stuff (with Victor Bailey) was good and would deserve around a 6 rating. Also, I would put Sweet Nighter higher and Heavy Weather lower by one or two- but no complaints-you do know your stuff!

[@motherlesschild102]

I still don't know why KZbin puts lines through my sentences-or sentence fragments.

[@brianparsa7794]

Was there a construction crew working near you when you did this recording, Andy? Or perhaps a thunderstorm -- lots of unsettling bangs on the audio, lol.

[@MrTrueseventh]

The 'incredible bass playing' on the last track of Domino Theory is Joe.

[@jbognap]

@Andy, I beg to differ on the 2nd "Weather Report" record. One thing which is interesting is Jaco emulates Alphonso Johnson a bit with his use of distortion and wah. I think he may have started going off the rails at this point. 😢

[@roby1376]

No mention of Alex Acunia - ttc ttc

[@prcago]

42:38

[@jamescastelli]

Now wait - 8:30 has those 3 or 4 studio songs, so is it a live album? Remember that I Sing The Body Electric is half live, as you said, and you include it. Isn't Night Passage live too, or bit of it? The double CD import Live In Japan is their only true live album, from which material is taken for side 2 of ISTBO.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Well ISBE is 50% live, 8.30 is 75% live but I did state where I would place it. And Night Passage has only one live tune I think

[@jamescastelli]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Like Rhumba Mama on Heavy Weather. Actually, when I hear the applause on the song on Night Passage (I forget which one, Fast City?) I was shocked because the production sounded identical to the other tracks. Could it all be live with the audience removed? That was, after all, a cheap way to record an album, using less studio time, which Zappa did frequently. And then there is the sound of the crowds on Nubian Sundance from Mysterious Traveller, which I think was just added as an effect. I believe this was also the tune that Phil Collins stole the drum rhythm to for Wot Gorilla.

[@danielschaeffer1294]

If Mahavishnu explored what effect electricity would have on the production of music, WP explored what could be done in the RECORDING of music. Just about everyone since owes them a debt, and their landscapes in sound were revolutionary.

[@Muttron333]

so...cheese.....amqzing cheeeez

[@Liisa3139]

As a bird I can't wait for you to get to 100K subs, so that you can "retire" and start making the bird watching videos. I really like parrots and I have heard that there are parrot colonies in some places in UK. Amazing! But as it will take a while to reach the 100K level, before that you could make a kind of a rap video with an actual talking parrot. It would go like this: you talk whatever you have in mind, philosophy Sunday would be best for this, and over an internet connection the parrot will rap his/her ideas in between. I recommend Gizmo the Grey Bird channel for the rapping. Gizmo is a very popular YT celebrity (over 400K subs) and he has a lot to say (except when he is not in the mood). That would be really funky and creative! And unique, I would say. I mean for example Carefree Wandering is a wonderful Philosophy channel and Hans Georg Möller is a darling, but I still doubt he would accept making a video with a parrot. His creativity is a bit limited...Yeah, what can you expect from academia? Not academic freedom, not these days or anytime soon. Yup, Birdland is one of my favorite songs.

[@markruthin]

And where is Live In Tokyo (Double LP) and 8:30? Anyway, let me watch to the end...

[@geoffccrow2333]

RANKED ???!!! :)

[@kcydm9725]

14. Sportin Life 13. Domino Theory 12. This is this 11. Procession 10. Weather Report (1982) 9. Mr. Gone 8. Night Passage 7. Tale Spinnin 6. Heavy Weather 5. Black Market 4. Weather Report (1971) 3. Mysterious Traveller 2. I sing the body electric 1. Sweetnighter But Live in Tokyo (1972) is their best album overall

[@oliverclements5011]

Why isn't South Of Heaven ever mentioned? Those Death cats never get the instrumental motives they deserve

[@mattw8332]

Not too familiar with the band I mustard mitt. All I have of Weather Report is an MP3 download of Birdland. I immediately loved that track after hearing it on DJ Simon Mayo's old ”Drive time ” Radio 2 show around 8 years ago. Every now and again he used to dedicate the last hour of his show to some excellent long play tracks that weren't too radio friendly. Unfortunately some feminist managers at Radio 2 stuck their oar in on Simon's show, ruined it and he left the BBC.

[@carlharvey6461]

Would it be an equally perfect world to say "the rock group Weather Report"?

[@PaulHarmon-s9i]

The underlying narrative of Weather Report: money ruins everything.

[@besenkopf77]

I never understood why the production on Mysterious Traveler is so poor. It sounds like it was recorded on a degraded cassette. Great album, though.

[@adambarlow7022]

Howard Moon is nursing a semi.

[@kimfreeborn]

Mr. Gone is the pinnacle of Weather Report. Sorry.

[@kdakan]

I don't like Weather Report, for me something's lacking, it's probably the blues element missing. I also find the keyboard sounds cold and overwhelming. I checked again one live show and their top two albums, it's not for me. I don't know what kind of eastern European element is in this music you're talking about, I love Balkan music, but I find none of it in this group's music. Jaco's sound is imitated so much that even he doesn't sound that exiting to me at this age.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Interesting - I always found Zawinul one of the few synth players who managed to get something organic out of the instruments. His Rhodes sound is always wonderful…….but each to their own!

[@mikeydflyingtoaster]

200 IQ algorithm play, here. Kudos

[@Loskov-my3xw]

Only the Miroslav Vitous era fully holds up for me. Never a big fan of Zawinul's writing and he fully gave in to his inclinations to bombastic cheese and kitschy applications of various ethnic music after that. Still some good stuff on Tale Spinnin, Black Market and Heavy Weather, but it's far more hit and miss, with numerous lows that pointed the way towards fuzak/smooth ambient jazz.