The Blackbyrds is the debut album by the American rhythm and blues and jazz-funk fusion group the Blackbyrds. It was produced by Larry Mizell and Donald Byrd with production supervision by Orrin Keepnews.
The album artwork is a section of the Vincent Van Gogh painting Wheatfield with Crows.
Critical reception
Robert Gabriel of AllMusic declared, "This amazing album is the product of six full-time Howard University students taking the direction of department head and jazz great Donald Byrd into the Fantasy Studios along with the aid of production wizard Larry Mizell. The result is some of the finest groove-oriented jazz music ever recorded."
Track listing "Do It, Fluid" (Donald Byrd) 5:27 "Gut Level" (Lincoln Ross) 4:08 "Reggins" (Larry Mizell) 4:05 "The Runaway" (Donald Byrd, Kevin Toney) 4:13 "Funky Junkie" (Donald Byrd) 7:01 "Summer Love" (Allan Barnes) 5:08 "Life Styles" (Larry Mizell) 3:13 "A Hot Day Today" (Donald Byrd, Barney Perry) 3:16
Personnel Donald Byrd - Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Vocals The Blackbyrds - Vocals Kevin Toney - Keyboards, Melodica, Synthesizer Joe Hall - Electric Bass Keith Killgo - Drums Allan Barnes - Soprano & Tenor Saxophone David Williams - Bass Oscar Brashear - Trumpet, Flugelhorn Perk Jacobs - Percussion Ray Armando - Percussion
Charts
Album Chart (1974) PeakpositionUS Billboard Top LPs96US Billboard Top Soul LPs14US Billboard Top Jazz LPs6
Singles Year Single Chart Position1974"Do It, Fluid"US Billboard Hot 10069US Hot Soul Singles231974"Gut Level"US Disco Action9
References
External links The Blackbyrds-The-Blackbyrds at Discogs