Weather Report - Mysterious Traveller (1974)

After two initial exploratory records (links below) and something of a transitional third one, Weather Report were well on the way to the tighter compositions and funkier grooves they became famous for.  This didn't suit everyone on board, and amid general acrimony, founding bassist Miroslav Vitouš headed for the exit, represented here only by his brief co-write with Zawinul, American Tango.  Still a couple of years away from the arrival of their definitive bass player, WR's journeys into funk on this album, Cucumber Slumber and the title track, were underpinned by Alphonso Johnson.

As well as it being increasingly tighter and well-composed throughout (Zawinul writing the lion's share, with a Shorter feature in the middle), I love Mysterious Traveller primarily as an album full of atmospheres.  The production still sounds great, making all the more vivid (as does the cover art) the title track's evocation of visitation by the galaxy's funkiest aliens.  Also on the album's second side, Scarlet Woman is similarly eerie, and the closing Jungle Book returns to earth with the wide open space atmosphere of Pat Metheny's later experimental ventures like As Falls Wichita.

link

pw: sgtg

Previously posted at SGTG:

s/t debut

I Sing The Body Electric