Sportin' Life (Weather Report album)

Sportin' Life is the thirteenth studio album by American jazz fusion band Weather Report which was released in June 1985 through Columbia Records. Although featuring many more vocal performances than any of their previous studio albums, words are rare and most vocals are chants from guest musicians such as Bobby McFerrin or Carl Anderson. The album is named after a character from Porgy and Bess. Sportin' Life was to be the last Weather Report studio album, but due to contractual obligations with Columbia the band had to release a follow-up, This Is This!, in 1986.

Sportin' Life
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 25, 1985
RecordedAugust – September 1984
GenreJazz fusion
Length39:09
LabelColumbia
ProducerJoe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter
Weather Report chronology
Domino Theory
(1984)
Sportin' Life
(1985)
This Is This!
(1986)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings[2]

Track listing

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All tracks composed by Joe Zawinul; except where indicated.

  1. "Corner Pocket" – 5:46
  2. "Indiscretions" – 4:05
  3. "Hot Cargo" – 4:41
  4. "Confians" (Mino Cinélu) – 5:07
  5. "Pearl On the Half Shell" (Wayne Shorter) – 4:06
  6. "What's Going On" (Renaldo Benson, Alfred Cleveland, Marvin Gaye) – 6:29
  7. "Face on the Barroom Floor" (Wayne Shorter) – 3:59
  8. "Ice-Pick Willy" – 5:00

Personnel

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Weather Report

Additional musicians

  • Bobby McFerrin – vocalist (tracks 1, 3, 5, 8)
  • Carl Anderson – vocalist (tracks 1, 3, 8)
  • Dee Dee Bellson – vocalist (tracks 1, 3, 8)
  • Alfie Silas – voice (tracks 1, 3, 8)

Production

  • Howard Siegel – engineer
  • Tony Lane, Nancy Donald – art direction
  • Jerry McDonald – album artwork

References

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  1. ^ Ginell, Richard S. (2011). "Sportin' Life - Weather Report | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  2. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1475. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
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