Search - Weather Report :: Procession

NEW 2007 JAPAN REMASTER(S) AVAILABLE

BOB | LOS ANGELES, CA | 09/30/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"In 2007, the main 16 Weather Report Columbia titles were re-released in Japan with new DSD remastering in mini-sleeve format. From an audio quality standpoint, the DSD versions now supercede all the earlier standard-CD-audio U.S. releases (some of the WR catalog are available as SACD's).



Additionally, the Japan editions feature a welcome 2CD restoration of "8:30" to the original 13-track double-LP album configuration, with the proper inclusion of "Scarlet Woman", which had been edited off all domestic editions to allow for a cheaper, single-disc release.



So far, the WR DSD catalog is only available in mini-sleeve format, and all `sleeves are limited edition. If it is your desire to own the latest/greatest audio, then don't delay in picking these up, although it is always possible that Sony Japan will release them again as less expensive jewel case editions somewhere down the road. However, for the true WR fan and vinyl nut, it's great to have the wonderful mini-LP replicas of the original LP covers!



I wanted to provide links for each 2007 `sleeve edition, but unfortunately, Amazon only allows 10 per review. But, by linking to the 2007 DSD remaster of the first Weather Report album, you should be able to use the "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought" tool to locate the rest of the 2007 DSD titles (just make sure you verify the release date and Product Description).



Also, of note: In this same release were updated DSD remasters of the following WR-member solo albums, also as mini-sleeves:



Jaco Pastorius (1st album)

Wayne Shorter "Native Dancer"

Joe Zawinul "Di-a-lects"



And, the two Havana Jam albums, both where WR appeared live, also as `sleeves:



Havana Jam 1

Havana Jam 2



And, FINALLY: 2007 witnessed John McLaughlin finally relenting to release the full Trio Of Doom studio & live recordings, the awesome line-up of McLaughlin, Pastorius and Tony Williams, which could only be found previously on the Havana Jam albums, albeit in edited form.



WHAT IS A JAPAN "MINI-LP-SLEEVE" CD?



Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12" vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.



Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 135MM X 135MM cardboard precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, anything contained in the original LP, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and/or die cuts, are precisely replicated and included. An English-language lyric sheet is always included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.



Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2/K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.



Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "obi" ("oh-bee"), a removable Japan-language promotional strip. The obi lists the Japan street date of that particular release, the catalog number, the mastering info, and often the original album's release date. Bonus tracks are only listed on the obi, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork. The obi's are collectable, and should not be discarded.



All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common (again, not always). The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake mini-sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs."

Heavy Weather

Mr. Richard D. Coreno | Berea, Ohio USA | 02/28/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It was bound to happen.



The professional drama that had mostly eluded Weather Report since its inception stormed onto the scene in late-1981 - a delay in the release of the album, Weather Report, then a tour being cancelled - which ultimately found Jaco Pastorius, Peter Erskine and Robert Thomas, Jr., leaving the fold for a variety of projects.



With Weather Report being released in early-1982 and record company pressure to get on the road, Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter hired drummer Omar Hakim, who then quickly got bassist Victor Bailey and percussionist Jose Rossy into the fold. And this is where Procession actually begins.



About a month into the tour to support Weather Report, the band went into the studio to record this album - literally a work in progress - which was released in Spring 1983. After the 1982 tour, the band took time to regroup and then played nearly 90 gigs the following year.



Though the selections lack the spontaneity that was a hallmark of the group, the strength in the musicianship is heard in the title cut, a Zawinul composition that kicks-off the album. The second selection, Plaza Real, is a ballad composed by Shorter that builds to his wonderful sax solo. An intriguing number is Where the Moon Goes, which features the vocal group Manhattan Transfer.



That Weather Report was able to forge ahead at all makes the album one of the most interesting in the band's discography. But the powerful back story ultimately trumps the music."

Undervalued strength

IRate | 03/21/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Procession is probably one of those late-career discs that gets lumped in with other apathetic 80's releases, but in fact sounds bolder, richer, and more dynamic than a few overpraised early works."