DocB Sportin' Life came as a breath of fresh air when it was released in 1985, with Weather Report sounding more spontaneous, and Wayne Shorter contributing more than he had on some recent releases. The album followed two of the best releases since 1977's Heavy Weather - 1983's Procession and 1984's Domino Theory. My personal Weather Report favourites are Mysterious Traveller, Tale Spinnin' and Black Market, from the era that was the band's and jazz fusion's high point, and Sportin' Life harkens back to that era. I quite like it. Here's what the trades have to say about the album's merits: (Editor's note) Unfortunately I had to remove the other two reviews that were attached to this original review. Here at JMA, we are only interested in original reviews, not reviews taken from other sources. Thank you for your understanding.

Sean Trane Exactly why the WR duo of Shorter Zawinul tried another album so late in the 780’s is a bit beyond me. Contractual reasons, sheer stubbornness, lack of hindsight? The only thing this album achieved is to dismantle a bit more WR’s legend. With an average stylised artwork, the group has a quartet vocal section (including McFerrin) that is supposed to illuminate the album, but is not used wisely and is present on four of the 8 tracks, plus more of the singers on the other tracks.

This album is an atrocious blend of funk and Caribbean music, mixed with some of the decade’s bad ideas in terms of musical habits, although they avoid the worst like those ugly drum machines. But some tracks approach the muzak-level, and when WR dares to have a sung track (Confians), it sounds like a bad joke! And unfortunately, it isn’t the only bad one as Pearl On The Half Shelf is atrocious with those synthesized percussions, and if it wasn’t for the closing Barroom Floor (the only track not affected by this decade’s flaws), the album would be simply atrocious.

Although this album does remain a WR album, (it probably isn’t as bad as I tend to describe it), but it is disgraceful compared with the rest of their discography, with the time/era context most likely the prime responsible for such a poor effort. As far as I know, this is their last WR album. Best avoided, really!!