Tale Spinnin' [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Weather Report | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 4, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• Run Time: 43 minutes
• ASIN: B000066T3K
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #371,974 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars up-beat album with some extended solos, May 19, 2003

By 

Ian K. Hughes (San Mateo, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tale Spinnin' (Audio CD)

Two previous albums ( "SWEETNIGHTER" & "MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER") established what could be termed the "Weather Report sound", a pattern continued in "TALE SPINNIN" (1975) and characterized by:

1. The adoption of funky rhythm & blues "grooves" (a 1970's analogue to the bop swing feel that had for decades characterized jazz rhythm).

2. Elaborate electronic textures employed by Zawinul in an artistic manner (as opposed to the self-indulgent toys they became in lesser hands ).

3. An aura of the mysterious and ethereal (one of the prominent aspects of Wayne Shorter's compositional style)

4. Influence of music from various cultures around the world ( Joe Zawinul in particular, was an early exponent of what is now called "world music" ).

5. Virtuoso musicians: a point obviously true of Shorter & Zawinul, WR featured superb "supporting" musicians who were vitally important to the group's success.

Featuring a number of elaborately constructed compositions, "TALE SPINNIN" differs from its equally distinguished predecessor in the amount of room it allows for individual improvisation.

The opener ( "Man in the Green Shirt") is a "sunny" piece that exemplifies the albums penchant for more extended improv. For those that complain that Wayne Shorter rarely got to "stretch out" with Weather Report (a contention that misses the point of WR) "Man in the Green Shirt" provides a good argument to the contrary: this particular tune is certainly a good feature for the famed saxophonist's golden tone and quicksilver imagination.

"Lusitanos" is a typically well-composed Wayne Shorter tune, replete with a bizarre ("carnival funhouse") theme and delicate contrasting sections ( Zawinul has a good solo on acoustic piano ).

"Between the Thighs" (Zawinul) is a long tune ( 9 min ) in the favored mode of the "WR groove" but evincing a more elaborate, suite-like quality in its composition.

"Badia" (Zawinul) is a sequel to "Jungle Book" ("MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER"): a delicately orchestrated tune incorporating various "exotic" instruments ( muzthra, oud, melodica ) that radiates a life-affirming warmth.

Joe Zawinul has some good solo time on "Freezing Fire" but some of his synthesizer textures (esp the high pitched "bird chirp" doublings) tend to irritate. Shorter is featured with a darting soprano improv toward the ( somewhat abrupt) end of the tune.

The album closer ("Five Short Stories") is a duet featuring Shorter on tenor sax and Zawinul on acoustic piano, organ and ARP 2600 synthesizer. Romantic in nature, the tune ends "TALE SPINNIN" on an aesthetically pleasing but bittersweet note.

Addendum 1: The advertising sticker put by Columbia Records on the latest version of "TALE SPINNIN" claims that it features Jaco Pastorius. Not true- Alphonso Johnson plays bass on this particular album.

Addendum 2: The 24-bit remastered sound is superb. WR fans should strongly consider replacing the older versions with the new editions, which are definite improvements.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sonic improvement, but needs truth-in-advertising, June 9, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Tale Spinnin' (Audio CD)

Sony/Columbia has long treated the marvelous Weather Report catalogue poorly. What's needed is a full reissue campaign with all titles being re-released within a timely period (1-2 years). Perhaps that's started now with the re-release of "Sweetnighter" through "Black Market." The surprise of records 3-6 is this one, the lightly-regarded "Tale Spinnin'." It's excellent for Wayne Shorter's contributions, and Zawinul has some typically strong material as well. The remastering job is fantastic, and the music, particularly bass and percussion sounds great. Unfortunately, someone at Sony (intentionally ? ) goofed by putting a sticker on the front cover stating that the late, great Jaco Pastorius makes an appearance. He does not, and Sony/Legacy's credibility takes a hit. Nonetheless, Pastorius isn't needed here; the music does fine without him.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Disregard Amazon's Review, Tale Spinnin is the Best, October 21, 2006

By 

Eddie (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tale Spinnin' (Audio CD)

This album gets 6 stars. It is one of the albums that stands up there on the pinnacle of that era along with "Birds of Fire", "Light as a Feather", "Bright Size Life", and a few others.

While "everyone is entitled to their opinion", I was alarmed by Amazon's Editorial Review saying it lacks substance, etc. and by a comment one reviewer referred to saying the album was considered lightly regarded. Independent of the place it has in my heart, it was a five-star album in the Downbeat review of the time.

I consider it the best of Weather Report's work. It is, to borrow Mr. Sachs' term, "transitional" in the best sense of the word. The earlier Weather Report was darker and more "outside" in its improvisations and aesthetic. The later Weather Report was more composed and structured.

This album is the perfect blending of the compositional and the improvisational. That line between those two facets is at its least detectable of all their albums. And for me, that was the goal of that era of music; to make everything feel organic and created in the moment. To listen and relisten to the music and wonder what was written down and what took off in the moment of performance. I read that Joe Zawinul arrived at much of their music by jamming. This is why "jazz", for lack of a better term, is the most life-honoring of the musical forms. Life has its structured moments and its moments of the unplanned, the whim, allowing oneself to follow the unexpected.

And the range of what the music evokes is as broad as the globe itself. Sights and sounds of the Carribean, North Africa, the Middle East, urban America, first world, third world, acoustic, electric. There are moments that are joyous and celebratory, there are moments of great tenderness, there are moments of ache and longing, there is power, there is space, comtemplation, and distance.

I just hope you enjoy this album as much as I have over the years