Weather Report "Sportin Life"

[magiccarpetride]

I spent the weekend going through my CD collection, looking at CDs I still haven't ripped and listened to on my Squeezebox Touch (usually, ripping a familiar CD and giving it a listen on the Touch is a pleasant revelation). Came across the Weather Report "Sportin Life" (their next-to-last album that they recorded back in 1985 - http://www.amazon.com/Sportin-Life-Weather-Report/dp/B000002635/ref=sr_1_34?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1303762326&sr=1-34).

I'm of two minds when it comes to Weather Report -- some of their stuff I like, but most of it didn't really age that well. So I skipped many of their CDs when I was ripping my CD collection for digital streaming.

Anyway, to cut the long story short, gave it a go and was super pleasantly surprised. The sound quality pouring from my Maggies was simply to die for. The opening track ("Corner Pocket") sounds amazing. Huge soundstage, incredible amount of air surrounding the instruments and the vocals. Plus, absolutely analog-like warmth, silkiness, depth. One of the best sounding CDs in my collection.

Encouraged, I've enthusiastically ripped all the other WR CDs, and started listening. Big disappointment, the sound quality is not nearly as good as on "Sportin Life". The closest one is the remastered "Black Market", even though that CD still sounds harsh and glassy compared to "Sportin Life".

I was also quite disappointed in "Tale Spinnin'", as I was expecting it to sound crisp and warm. Instead, I got a little bit of digital artifacts and glare, especially in the upper highs, which creates a sense of brittleness that always pushes me to stop listening.

I don't know what these guys did on "Sportin Life", but it sounds incredibly good. I wish all other CDs would sound this pleasant.

[Stratmangler]

Is the music any good ?
Sounding great is all well and dandy, but if there's no actual content........

[WOStantonCS100]

A cerebral band for sure. I still like it and it is quite good; but, I have to be in the right frame of mind to enjoy their "tone poem" stuff. When they groove (especially w/ Jaco) they're unstoppable.

All my WR is on vinyl so I haven't heard the CD's, remastered or otherwise. I take that back. I did have "Black Market" on CD prior to getting an original on vinyl. That's the main reason I got the Marantz VC 6001. I know there are differences of opinion on the value of upsampling. But, CD's that grate on my ears to the point of wanting to stop, are at least, tolerable pumped up to 88.2kHz or 176.4kHz. (The Marantz doesn't do 96kHz.)

Can you upsample/resample with the Squeezebox Touch (no experience)?

[magiccarpetride]

Is the music any good ?
Sounding great is all well and dandy, but if there's no actual content........

The music is a bit gimmicky, but nevertheless enjoyable to listen to (first two tracks at least, and the vocal track as well). The rest sounds tedious to my ears, somewhat contrived and over-the-top 'Caribbean sunset' cheery. Even some steel drums thrown in for good measure.

Still, better than most of their other material (save for "Black Market" and "Tale Spinnin'", which are mostly good). What I find oddly attractive on this CD is Bobby McFerrin's jagged vocalizations -- weird sounding but still very fitting into the soundscape. Feels very original, to the point where I'm now thinking of recording something with my odd vocalizations thrown in. So yes, definitely inspiring. I can almost guarantee you that you've never heard anything like that before, but in a good way.

Overall, their music didn't age well at all. Too jerky and jumpy for its own good.

[magiccarpetride]

A cerebral band for sure. I still like it and it is quite good; but, I have to be in the right frame of mind to enjoy their "tone poem" stuff. When they groove (especially w/ Jaco) they're unstoppable.

All my WR is on vinyl so I haven't heard the CD's, remastered or otherwise. I take that back. I did have "Black Market" on CD prior to getting an original on vinyl. That's the main reason I got the Marantz VC 6001. I know there are differences of opinion on the value of upsampling. But, CD's that grate on my ears to the point of wanting to stop, are at least, tolerable pumped up to 88.2kHz or 176.4kHz. (The Marantz doesn't do 96kHz.)

Can you upsample/resample with the Squeezebox Touch (no experience)?

Yes, I can upsample on the Touch (up to 96 kHz max), still some badly mastered tracks seem unsalvageable.

One thing I appreciate about Weather Report is their sense of band dynamics. They really know how to take you, the listener, through fantastic ups and downs in terms of the band volume. From a whisper to a very loud scream and back. Despite the fact that they're, as you said, 'cerebral', there is certain 'organic' quality to their sound as well. The band breathes on the record, which is something you can't say for many other acts.

[WOStantonCS100]

...still some badly mastered tracks seem unsalvageable.

:(


One thing I appreciate about Weather Report is their sense of band dynamics. They really know how to take you, the listener, through fantastic ups and downs in terms of the band volume. From a whisper to a very loud scream and back. Despite the fact that they're, as you said, 'cerebral', there is certain 'organic' quality to their sound as well. The band breathes on the record, which is something you can't say for many other acts.

Well, if they're not going to play mainstream music... :rolleyes: I had opportunity to see Wayne and Herbie when they did their duet thing. It was a fantastic concert musically, I thought; but, not everyone was hanging with them.

I used to have "Sportin' Life"; don't know where it went to. Thanks to you, I'm going to have to go replace it, now. ;)