Columbia Albums 1971-1975 (CD)

From the early to mid-1970s saw some of the most adventurous and satisfying work of Weather Report's entire lifespan. It's these recordings - Weather Report, "I Sing the Body Electric", "Live In Tokyo", "Sweetnighter", "Mysterious Traveller" and "Tale Spinnin'" - that established Weather Report as one of the seminal fusion ensembles of the era, alongside such brethren bands as the Mahavishnu Orchestra, The Headhunters, and Return To Forever. The brainchild of the keyboardist and composer Joe Zawinul and the saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter, Weather Report, in it's early incarnations, also featured two brilliant bassists - first, Miroslav Vitous, followed by Alphonso Johnson - and a host of top-notch drummers and percussionists. Blending free form improvisation within a heady atmosphere that balanced lyrical flights of fancy with the bite of rock-textured sonics, the early albums announced the emergence of a daring band to be reckoned with. "Live In Tokyo", heard here in it's entirety, gave notice that Weather Report wasn't afraid to turn up the juice and rock an audience, while the critically acclaimed triumvirate of "Sweetnighter", "Mysterious Traveller" and "Tale Spinnin'", with new bassist Johnson onboard, introduced funk and R&B to the mix and solidified the bands reputation as possibly the most creative of contemporary fusion units. With remastered sound and authoritative liner notes by Bill Milkowski, Weather Report: The Columbia Albums 1971-1975, is also noteworthy for the inclusion of the complete "Live In Tokyo", which captures the band at a peak performance in 1972.

Track List

1. Milky Way
2. Umbrellas
3. Seventh Arrow
4. Orange Lady
5. Morning Lake
6. Waterfall
7. Tears
8. Eurydice (Album Version)
9. Unknown Soldiers
10. The Moors
11. Crystal (Album Version)
12. Second Sunday In August
13. Vertical Invader / T. H. / Dr. Honoris Causa (Live)
14. Surucucu (Live)
15. Directions (Live)
16. Directions (Take 1)
17. Medley: Vertical Invader / Seventh Arrow / T.H. / Doctor Honoris Causa (Live)
18. Medley: Surucucu / Lost / Early Minor / Direction (Live)
19. Orange Lady (Live)
20. Medley: Eurydice / The Moors (Live)
21. Medley: Tears / Umbrellas (Live)
22. Boogie Woogie Waltz
23. Manolete
24. Adios
25. 125th Street Congress
26. Will
27. Non-Stop Home
28. 125th Street Congress (DJ Logic Remix)
29. Nubian Sundance
30. American Tango
31. Cucumber Slumber
32. Mysterious Traveler
33. Blackthorn Rose
34. Scarlet Woman
35. Jungle Book
36. Cucumber Slumber (Live)
37. Nubian Sundance (Live)
38. Man In the Green Shirt
39. Lusitanos
40. Between the Thighs
41. Badia
42. Freezing Fire
43. Five Short Stories
44. Man In the Green Shirt (Live)
45. Directions / Dr. Honoris Causa (Live)