ONE LP PORTRAITS: MUSIC LOVERS: Brian Morris

"Sweetnighter was my introduction to modern electronic jazz, but not the first jazz album I owned, (Jon Hiseman’s Colosseum, - Those About To Die Salute You) - which I also love. 

However, Weather Report’s Sweetnighter, opened my musical horizons and journey into jazz, rock, fusion and what was later progressive music, at a time when music was really changing with new electronic instruments, the synth for example, and probably used for the first time in jazz by Herbie Hancock with his band Head Hunters, and the album of the same name - another favourite I play to this day. 

Listening to live music and LPs became and remains an important part of my life, especially as a keen hifi enthusiast or audiophile, listening to vinyl at home for the cerebral immersion in the sound and form this new and exciting music delivered and especially the music of Weather Report. 

Many years later I was fortunate to attend a concert by Weather Report at the Universal Amphitheatre in LA and will never forget that performance and especially the encore – an improvised and emotional duet between Wayne Shorter and Josef Zawinul. 

The LP is an important and historical document like no other regardless of genre, expressing an artist’s journey, music, culture, and musical intent, embodied in physical ownership. 

Sweetnighter by Weather Report is therefore, my One LP of significance for its ground-breaking music, influence and longevity and is now in a collection of Weather Report LPs and part of a diverse collection of more than 5000 LPs many years later." 

Brian Morris 

Session date:18th November 2021 

Location: House of Linn, Manchester 

Artist: Weather Report 

Recording: Sweetnighter 

Released: April 27, 1973 

Recorded February 3–7, 1973 

Studio: Connecticut Recording Studio 

Length: 44:41 

Label: Columbia 

Produce: Bob Belden (Reissue producer)