Weather Report Live In Tokyo

[Tom 1960]

I have heard great things about this album.  I see Wounded Bird reissued this album several years ago. It appears however it was not remastered.  I also see a Sony Japanese issue which has been remastered. I guess the question is this. Would it be worth spending some extra money on getting the Japanese issue versus the Wounded Bird issue?  Does it really matter? i probably already know the answer to this but I would like to hear from people in the know that are more familiar with this album. Thoughts are much appreciated.

Edited November 11, 2021 by Tom 1960

[JSngry]

I can't advise on the audio stuff, I've always had it as Japanese product, but the music is exceptional - if you are inclined to liking it. Me, I love it. But some might find a bit (or more) loud and aggressive. Because it is! But this was the band to do that!

Side two of I Sing The Body Electric is a condensed/edited version of the same gig, so if you like that, hey, dive in!

[jazzbo]

I love this two album set, splurged on it when it was a new Japanese issue, and have had several digital versions. The music is worth having, indeed. And will probably be fine in any of the options. My one caveat is. . .Wounded Bird sometimes gets lackluster transfers and their discs have sound often foundbetter elsewhere. I have not heard the Wounded Bird version.

[Eric]

50 minutes ago, jazzbo said:

I love this two album set, splurged on it when it was a new Japanese issue, and have had several digital versions. The music is worth having, indeed. And will probably be fine in any of the options. My one caveat is. . .Wounded Bird sometimes gets lackluster transfers and their discs have sound often foundbetter elsewhere. I have not heard the Wounded Bird version.

What he said!

[HutchFan]

I had the Wounded Bird reissue and then I gave it to a friend when I got the The Columbia Albums 1971-1975 set.  ... I guess I'm not enough of an audiophile to have noticed much of a difference.

In any case, like others have said, I would DEFINITELY recommend hearing it -- in one form or another.

Here's a brief write-up on Live in Tokyo from my 70s jazzblog.  

[Guy Berger]

The music is awesome and essential listening.  The studio recordings from this period are great too but give little to no hint of how intense this band could be.

Also - while I’ve (not totally successfully) tried to get my hands on every live recording of WR from 1971 through 1974, this one has a pretty unique sound - different from the 1971 concerts or the ones later in 1972

[BFrank]

I have the Wounded Bird edition, too. Yes, aggressive, but that's the way they were in the beginning. I enjoy all their pre-Jaco albums.

BTW, I saw them about a year after this show at the Whiskey-a-Go-Go in Hollywood, of all places! Mahavishnu Orch there around the same time, too! 

[CJ Shearn]

My favorite Weather Report album 

[Tom 1960]

One of our fellow board members offered me up an extra copy of the Live In Tokyo album Japanese issue. I should have that in my hands by the end of next week. I look forward to hearing this.