Weather Report's seventh album was originally released in 1977. It is the band's second album with bassist Jaco Pastorius, but "Heavy Weather" marks his first appearance as a full band member, whereas on "Black Market" he only appeared on two tracks.

The opener of "Heavy Weather", "Birdland", was a commercial success, which was not necessarily typical for Instrumental music. Released just as the jazz rock/fusion movement was running out of steam, "Heavy Weather" shows that despite everything, there was still creative life in the genre.