Beez wrote: 
Just a seminal piece of music that forever changed the way people look at Jazz in general, and the electric guitar in particular. Nothing special. Move along.

What a truly great radio station this is!
The best effort to please all of the people all of the time I know!

 

What the hell is this cheese?

I spent the afternoon listening to my Jaco collection the other day as I was unpacking my office after moving. When Birdland came on I cranked up the volume. Just did it again. Jaco's bass makes this otherwise great piece of music astounding!

 laozilover wrote: 
I agree!  This song is probably W.R.'s most commercial track but a good entree into their music. Some of the band's other music - especially with Jaco Pastorius (arguably one of the most creative bassists ever) - is especially inspired. Zawinul/Shorter were genius together.

This sucks, but then I looked at the album art and was like .. is it that bad? That cover rules. 

The music itself has some pretty terrible moments. It's embarrassing; I could not play this from start to finish for a friend.  I think I may even need to leave the office...

 ballyhairs wrote: 
I wholeheartedly agree!!!  No hesitation voting "1" for this. 

 Tippster wrote: 
precisely!

This was my first exposure to Weather Report - oh, 20 years ago - and the first time i heard Birdland as well.  It has stuck with me as one of the best arrangements of this piece (heck of just about any music) in ages.  

An 11 in my book.

And Jaco Pastorius FTW!  o/ 

More Weather Report, Bill, Please!

Joe Zawinul / Weather Report made lots of great music. This song/album was after they had peaked creatively. Much too Muzak for my tastes. Something off "Mysterious Traveller" would be an improvement.

Ditto.  Boring over-repetitive white-man "Jazz."  Might as well play Kenny G next, not the Cure.

This is the worst thing I have ever listened to
Please delete it

 Grammarcop wrote: 
I know. I saw them in Norfolk Va. that year. So glad I got to see Jaco play.

Jaco classic

This came out in 1977? YIKES!!!

 Businessgypsy wrote: 
I concur.

GregX59 wrote: Thanks for letting us peek behind the curtains, very nice. I wonder how many people have a shared experience (perhaps with less dramatic results). Weather Report and Tangerine Dream certainly helped broaden my tastes as a boy.

Manhattan Transfer didn't have to change a note in their version of this classic.
Belatedly, I see I am echoing another's thought.
Must be true, then. 

This takes me back.  One of the best concerts I ever attended opened with John McLaughlin and Shakti (at the time, talented and worldy beyond my appreciation), followed by Weather Report (same), followed by the main act, Santana.  Carlos, of course, insisted that John McL, Jaco, and a few others from the "warm up" bands join him for an extended jam during Santana's set.  It was unusual in Cleveland Public Auditorium for the musicians to get you even higher than the other things floating around, but these guys sure did.

Sounds like (bad) TV theme music.

 vandal wrote: 
I was thinking the same thing!

Thanks for the fusion infusion!

At the risk of sounding nerdish, this album (along with Return to Forever's Music Magic) changed my life.  It caused me to seek out jazz, take up the bass guitar, and changed my musical tastes forever.  RIP Jaco.

 Papernapkin wrote: 
No, but I would gladly pull a tooth out from ya

Dentist chair music.

Ahh, Birdland.  I played this tune so many times in high school and college jazz ensemble, I knew it by heart.  In college our director would mix it up and let people go off and do their own solos for an extended jam session.  It was a great way to break up the monotony. 

smooth...  love it...

Nice, but I'd like to hear some other stuff from Weather Report.