"Tale Spinnin'" is the fifth studio album by the American jazz fusion band Weather Report, released on May 1975. This album introduces a more harmonic style and marks the beginning of a more relaxed and integrated period for the band. It also marks a directional shift that the band would continue to pursue over their next few ventures with the introduction of more melody and textural contrasts.
Staying true to their approach of using a combination of electric and acoustic sounds, "Tale Spinnin'" highlights a slight departure from their previous efforts with an even more profound use of studio production techniques. Expanding their palette by incorporating more African rhythms, this album demonstrates a noticeable progression from earlier works, which were considered experimental and pushing boundaries in terms of jazz fusion.
Featured musicians in the album include band leaders, the Austrian Keyboardist Joe Zawinul and American Saxophonist Wayne Shorter, alongside Alphonso Johnson on bass, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler on drums, and Alyrio Lima on percussion. Considered by critics and fans alike as a more balanced and integrated ensemble performance from the group, the album’s standout tracks include "Lusitanos," "Between the Thighs," "Badia", and "Freezing Fire".
"Tale Spinnin'" is a quintessential 1970s jazz fusion album that demonstrates the band’s creativity, experimentalism and ability to seamlessly blend jazz with elements of rock, world music and other genres. The album remains a landmark release that has had a lasting influence within the evolution of jazz.
