‘This Is This!’ is the 14th and last studio album released by legendary American jazz fusion giants Weather Report in June 1986 through Colombia Records. While the band previously thought that they had successfully fulfilled all of their contractual obligations with their label Columbia Records by releasing their previous studio album ‘Sportin’ Life‘ one year earlier in 1985. Nevertheless, this wasn’t the case and the band had to release one more studio album in 1986. This is how ‘This Is This!’ came to life, musically speaking, that is.
Weather Report – This Is This! (1986). Image source: www.open.spotify.com
‘This Is This!’ was produced by co-frontmen Joe Zawinul (keyboards) and Wayne Shorter (saxophone) and has a total length of 45 minutes and 41 seconds. After its release, the studio album was moderately well received by Allmusic and The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings, both which awarded the studio album with 3 stars out of 5.
‘This Is This!’ has 8 tracks as follows:
- This Is This (composed by Joe Zawinul)
- Face the Fire (composed by Joe Zawinul)
- I’ll Never Forget You (composed by Joe Zawinul as a tribute to his parents)
- Jungle Stuff, Part 1 (composed by Mino Cinélu)
- Man with the Copper Fingers (composed by Joe Zawinul)
- Consequently (composed by Victor Bailey)
- Update (composed by Joe Zawinul)
- China Blues (composed by Joe Zawinul)
In addition, the line-up of the band was as follows:
- Josef ‘Joe’ Erich Zawinul – keyboards and cover concept
- Wayne Shorter – saxophones
- Victor Bailey – bass guitar
- Mino Cinélu – percussion and vocals
- Peter Erskine – drums
- Omar Hakim – drums on ‘Consequently’
Also, aside from the main line-up of the band above, there have also been a series of guest musicians invited to perform on the record as follows:
- Carlos Santana provided guitars on ‘This Is This’ and ‘Man With the Copper Fingers’
- Marva Barnes provided additional vocals
- Colleen Coil provided additional vocals
- Siedah Garrett provided additional vocals
- Darryl Phinnessee provided additional vocals
Regarding the technical personnel, they were as follows:
- Howard Siegel and Paul Ericksen were the engineers
- Tony Lane and Nancy Donald were the artists who designed the cover artwork
- Lou Beach was the artist who designed the cover illustration
Down below you can integrally listen to ‘This Is This!’, track by track via Youtube! Have a great audition in the musical company of American jazz fusion giants Weather Report! All the best, much health, take care, stay safe, and have a most peaceful and excellent spring!
- This Is This! on www.wikipedia.org (in English)
- This Is This! album rating on www.allmusic.com
- This Is This! album information on www.weatherreportdiscography.com (Weather Report The Annotated Discography)