Sweetnighter

Sweetnighter
Studio album by Weather Report
Released	April 27, 1973
Recorded	February 3–7, 1973 Connecticut Recording Studio
Genre	Jazz fusion
Length	44:41
Label	Columbia
Producer	Bob Belden (Reissue producer)
Weather Report chronology
Live in Tokyo (1972) Sweetnighter (1973) Mysterious Traveller (1974)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	(B)[2]
Rolling Stone	(not rated)[3]
Sputnikmusic	[4]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[5]

Sweetnighter is Weather Report's fourth album, released on Columbia Records in 1973. The group had recorded the songs in a five-day stretch during February of the same year. It was to be the last album to feature founding member Miroslav Vitouš as the primary bassist. Zawinul began to assert greater control of band, steering it away from the collective improvisation that marked its live performances toward more structured compositions emphasizing funk and groove. This was exemplified by the album’s two dominant tracks, “Boogie Woogie Waltz” and “125th Street Congress,” as well as the closer, “Non-Stop Home.” Other tracks were reminiscent of Weather Report’s previous albums. Sweetnighter is considered to be the most stylistically transitional release by the band as it bridged the gap between the more open, improvisational earlier style to a more compositionally structured format. Also, the more prominent use of electric bass is evident here. Zawinul had taken the decision to add some funky beats in the band's sounds, so he recruited drummer Herschel Dwellingham and percussionist Muruga Booker to play on the album. Andrew White was hired to play the English horn, but also handled the bass for three tracks of the album. Sweetnighter was recorded at a Connecticut recording studio in less than a week, and was released in April 1973.

Track listing

1. "Boogie Woogie Waltz" (J. Zawinul)– 13:06
2. "Manolete" (W. Shorter)– 5:58
3. "Adios" (J. Zawinul)– 3:02
4. "125th Street Congress" (J. Zawinul)– 12:16
5. "Will" (M. Vitouš)– 6:22
6. "Non-Stop Home" (W. Shorter)– 3:53

Personnel

• Piano (2-6), Electric Piano (1 to 5), Synthesizer (1-2-6) – Josef Zawinul
• Saxophones – Wayne Shorter
• Bass - Miroslav Vitouš (Acoustic 1-2-4 & Electric 3-5), Andrew White (Electric 1-4-6)
• English Horn – Andrew White (3-5)
• Drums – Herschel Dwellingham (1-2-4-6), Eric Gravatt (2-4intro-6)
• Moroccan Clay Drums (1-2), Roller Toy (3), Israeli Jar (4) - Muruga Booker
• Percussion & Wood Flute – Dom Um Romão

References

External links