Weather Report's "8:30"

[CJ Shearn]

I was listening to some of it last night (I bought the Mastersound edition a while back since it has the complete album unlike the domestic) and I think that compared to the other WR albums I have (Black Market, Live in Tokyo, Live and Unreleased, and Heavy Weather) it's the weakest of the bunch, the live portions are excellent, but the studio half is a little dissapointing, "Sightseeing" cooks, but "Brown Street" despite having some cool grooves and patterns (Zawinul's walking bass with a little "hump") but it doesn't go anywhere on the whole. "Live in Tokyo" is IMO the ultimate WR live album, they just take amazing chances on that. "8:30", as I understand it was a "greatest hits" sort of tour, so the risks they took may not have been as great during that time. Anyone care to weigh in their perspectives on "8:30"?

[jazzbo]

C J, I hear it pretty much as you do. I dug it when it first came out because I had SEEN that tour, but I never listen to it any longer.

The lps up through Tale Spinnin' are da schitte for me NOW and I hardly spin any of the others at all.

[rockefeller center]

Never liked the stuff they did during the 1978 tour (Mr. Gone), which the live tracks of this album consist of, too much. I do like the version of "Scarlet Woman" (especially 06:05 - 06:40), "Sightseeing" and the title track with JP on drums.

Some background info on 8:30

[CJ Shearn]

thanks Rockfeller, I have read that info before. I just think with "8:30", it doesn't have an edge, even though the live stuff is great it doesn't have many risks as say "Live in Tokyo" or even tracks off "Live and Unreleased" from around the same time. I love the edition with Jaco, but I think the lack of percussion took out a pleasing textural element that was there before, and I think the groove thing they went it too maybe restricted things a tiny bit. Although I still think "Heavy Weather" and "Black Market" are great albums. Compositionally, HW is great.

[Guy Berger]

I was listening to some of it last night (I bought the Mastersound edition a while back since it has the complete album unlike the domestic) and I think that compared to the other WR albums I have (Black Market, Live in Tokyo, Live and Unreleased, and Heavy Weather) it's the weakest of the bunch, the live portions are excellent, but the studio half is a little dissapointing, "Sightseeing" cooks, but "Brown Street" despite having some cool grooves and patterns (Zawinul's walking bass with a little "hump") but it doesn't go anywhere on the whole. "Live in Tokyo" is IMO the ultimate WR live album, they just take amazing chances on that. "8:30", as I understand it was a "greatest hits" sort of tour, so the risks they took may not have been as great during that time. Anyone care to weigh in their perspectives on "8:30"?

I've always thought it was pretty boring, even the live stuff. The best parts are "Sightseeing", "Black Market", and (especially) "Badia/Boogie Woogie Waltz".

Guy

[GregK]

I've always been partial to their first 2 releases and the Live in Tokyo double disc. I've found much of the rest to be pretty boring