City Life is the third studio album by the American R&B/jazz-funk fusion group the Blackbyrds, released in 1975 on Fantasy Records. This album peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard Top Jazz LPs, No. 3 on the Top R&B Albums and No. 16 on the Top Pop LPs charts. City Life has also been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
Background City Life was produced by Donald Byrd and includes singles "Happy Music" and "Rock Creek Park." "Happy Music" peaked at No. 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 on the Hot R&B Songs charts. The tune also got to No. 11 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. "Rock Creek Park" peaked at No. 37 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart.
Critical reception Stewart Mason of AllMusic proclaimed, "The Blackbyrds -- a jazz-funk outfit formed in a university class taught by jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd, who produced the albums and wrote most of the tunes -- were more of an Earth, Wind & Fire-style horn band than a purist jazz crew, but few groups were better in their chosen style, and 1975's City Life is probably their best album...This is often-sublime stuff ripe for rediscovery by fans of '70s funk, soul, and fusion."
Track listing Song credits and timings taken from original LP.
Personnel The Blackbyrds Kevin Toney – keyboards Stephen Johnson – saxophone Orville Saunders – guitar Joe Hall – bass Keith Killgo – drums
Additional musicians The original LP doesn't credit any musicians individually and instead gives a general "very special thanks" to them. Vocals for the album are also uncredited. Merry Clayton – vocals on "Rock Creek Park" and "Happy Music" George Bohanon Ernie Watts Patrice Rushen Gary Bartz Larry Mizell Fonce Mizell Tommy Morgan
Charts
Album Chart (1976)PeakpositionUS Billboard Top LPs16US Billboard Top Soul LPs3US Billboard Top Jazz LPs1
Singles YearSingleChartPosition1975"City Life"Disco Singles4"Flying High"Billboard Hot 10070Hot Soul Singles221976"Happy Music"Billboard Hot 10019Hot Soul Singles3Disco Singles6"Rock Creek Park"Billboard Hot 10093Hot Soul Singles37
References
External links The Blackbyrds-City Life at Discogs The Blackbyrds-Billboard Albums at AllMusic The Blackbyrds-Billboard Singles at AllMusic