Lifeline is a studio album by Roy Ayers Ubiquity. It was released in 1977 through Polydor Records. The recording sessions for the album took place at Sigma Sound Studios and Electric Lady Studios in New York City, and at Record Plant in Los Angeles. The album was produced by Ayers, Edwin Birdsong, and William Allen. It features contributions from singers Dee Dee Bridgewater and Sylvia Cox, keyboardist Philip Woo, guitarists Calvin Banks, Chuck Anthony, Glenn Jeffrey and James Mason, drummer Steve Cobb, percussionist Chano O'Ferral, saxophonist Justo Almario, and trumpeter John Mosley.
The album peaked at number 72 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and at number 9 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States. Its lead single, "Running Away", reached peak position No. 19 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Critical reception
The Bay State Banner wrote: "Nearly every song parodies a popular soul act. Some even verge on insult—all in fun, of course—and thus Natalie Cole's Aretha-isms, Earth Wind and Fire's sometimes humorless pep-talks, and the Isley Brothers' conservative rock 'n rhythm (in 'Cincinnati Growl') all get their turn for musical pie-in-the-face."
Track listing
Personnel Roy Ayers Ubiquity Roy Ayers – vocals, vibraphone, electric piano, Deagan vibraharp, arrangement (tracks: 2–7, 9–10), producer Edwin L. Birdsong – vocals, piano, arrangement (track 8), co-producer William Henry Allen – bass, arrangement (track 1), co-producer Dee Dee Bridgewater – vocals Sylvia Cox – vocals Philip Woo – Moog synthesizer, ARP String Synthesizer, electric piano, piano Chuck Anthony – guitar Calvin Banks – guitar Glenn S. Jeffrey – guitar James Philip Mason – guitar Kwame Steve Cobb – drums Chano O'Ferral – congas, percussion Justo Almario – tenor saxophone John Clifford Mosley, Jr. – trumpet Technical Michael Hutchinson – engineering David Wittman – engineering Bruce Hensal – engineering Jerry Solomon – engineering James Patrick Green – engineering Basil Pao Ho-Yun – art direction Kathie McKinty – photography
Chart history Chart (1977)Peakpositionscope="row" scope="row"
References
External links