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The Beginning of the Supergroup Mar 02, 2009
With as much anticipation as rock fans had several years before for Blind Faith, the jazz scene was highly anticipating the debut of the supergroup Weather Report.
Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter and Miroslav Vitous formed the nucleus - with Alphonse Mouzon (d), Airto Moirera (per), Barbara Burton (per) and Don Alias (per) - for the May 1971 release. The eight selections were recorded over three days in March 1971.
The trio created numerous soundscapes with nature/the outdoors as the theme - Morning Lake, Waterfall, Milky Way, Umbrellas - but the real gem is the Vitous penned Seventh Arrow; the 5:23 running length could have easily been doubled and the composition would not have come close to losing its textured brilliance.
There is a hint at things to come (the band had not even performed live before entering the studio) and the accolades came rolling in later in the year; there were a trio of awards from Swing Journal and the Down Beat readers selected the release as Jazz Album of the Year.
This truly was the beginning of a superb supergroup that was poised to define the fusion sound throughout this intriguing decade for jazz.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 First Timer Feb 15, 2009
Ok, Here I am sitting in front of this machine ater 54 years on this planet writing my first music review. I am not going to get into a song by song evaluation of this album...oops(showing my age) nor am I going to try to say anything more or different than those who have already done a worthy job of reviewing this music. But, I will say that in 1971 being 17 years young and having just moved to a small town in South Carolina, where there were only two types of accepted music; country and western finding albums of this type to say the least was a major undertaking. Suffice to say, having moved there from a more progressive venue I was the harbinger of change and subversion to this small country town and what I brought was this album and a few more like it. I had been listening to Miles Davis and others up to this point and though the release dates are 6 months separated I had actually heard Mahavishnu Orchestra's Inner Mounting Flame before I heard this album. When my Buds and I lit that bud and put this album on the turntable the first time we were transported to a new musical landscape John Mclauglin (another Miles musician) notwithstanding. I think, all that need be said is put it on take a listen or 20 and if this music doesn't move you in some way or blow your mind (especially taking the time of its release) then all I can say is maybe fusion is just not your cup of tea!! One of the great fusion albums of the time!!!
Sheer Genius Feb 18, 2008
This work was one of the first jazz albums I ever purchased, when it came out on vinyl. I knew I had a gem because it had a testimony from the president of Columbia Records, praising it as "a classic." I've only grown to appreciate the genius behind 2 cuts especially over the years, Orange Lady and Eurydice. I'm not really one to use superlatives or go heavy on adjectives to describe music but this music always moves me, heart, mind and soul; I love it. Seperately, Mr.s Zawinul, who passed away last year, and Shorter, never achieved the heights they achieved on this album. It really contains a staggering beauty. You must love, and I mean LOVE, jazz, to appreciate this music, especially, to try and understand the freedom effected in Eurydice by the bassist, Miroslav Vitous. If jazz is new to you, consider that it'll take you a few years before you begin to like some cuts. But there's something here for everyone. In time, you'll be glad you made buy. A true work of art.
This is great music... Oct 02, 2007
This album does not fit into the 1970's fusion bin. You must listen to it on it's own terms. Great music by brilliant musicians and I do find this music far more interesting than some of thier later work. 5 stars
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 NEW 2007 JAPAN REMASTER(S) AVAILABLE Sep 30, 2007
In 2007, the main 16 Weather Report Columbia titles were re-released in Japan with new DSD remastering in mini-sleeve format. From an audio quality standpoint, the DSD versions now supercede all the earlier standard-CD-audio U.S. releases (some of the WR catalog are available as SACD's).
Additionally, the Japan editions feature a welcome 2CD restoration of "8:30" to the original 13-track double-LP album configuration, with the proper inclusion of "Scarlet Woman", which had been edited off all domestic editions to allow for a cheaper, single-disc release.
So far, the WR DSD catalog is only available in mini-sleeve format, and all `sleeves are limited edition. If it is your desire to own the latest/greatest audio, then don't delay in picking these up, although it is always possible that Sony Japan will release them again as less expensive jewel case editions somewhere down the road. However, for the true WR fan and vinyl nut, it's great to have the wonderful mini-LP replicas of the original LP covers!
I wanted to provide links for each 2007 `sleeve edition, but unfortunately, Amazon only allows 10 per review. But, by linking to the 2007 DSD remaster of the first Weather Report album, you should be able to use the "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought" tool to locate the rest of the 2007 DSD titles (just make sure you verify the release date and Product Description).
Also, of note: In this same release were updated DSD remasters of the following WR-member solo albums, also as mini-sleeves:
Jaco Pastorius (1st album)
Wayne Shorter "Native Dancer"
Joe Zawinul "Di-a-lects"
And, the two Havana Jam albums, both where WR appeared live, also as `sleeves:
Havana Jam 1
Havana Jam 2
And, FINALLY: 2007 witnessed John McLaughlin finally relenting to release the full Trio Of Doom studio & live recordings, the awesome line-up of McLaughlin, Pastorius and Tony Williams, which could only be found previously on the Havana Jam albums, albeit in edited form.
WHAT IS A JAPAN "MINI-LP-SLEEVE" CD?
Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12" vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.
Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 135MM X 135MM cardboard precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, anything contained in the original LP, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and/or die cuts, are precisely replicated and included. An English-language lyric sheet is always included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.
Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2/K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.
Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "obi" ("oh-bee"), a removable Japan-language promotional strip. The obi lists the Japan street date of that particular release, the catalog number, the mastering info, and often the original album's release date. Bonus tracks are only listed on the obi, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork. The obi's are collectable, and should not be discarded.
All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common (again, not always). The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake mini-sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs.
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