Night Grooves: The Blackbyrds' Greatest Hits

by The Blackbyrds

Overview

Despite the fact that 1989's Greatest Hits rendered this earlier Fantasy compilation obsolete -- Greatest Hits contains all seven songs found here, plus four others -- Fantasy continued to keep this disc in circulation. This is a tighter and more discerning collection, sticking to the absolute essential material that Donald Byrd's proteges churned out during the '70s, but simple mathematics places its value below the later, more inclusive anthology. Those who want to dig deeper can start with any of the group's first four proper LPs; each one peaked in the Top Ten of Billboard's jazz album chart, and they all have their charms beyond the singles. Anyone who bet on the Blackbyrds' material to die a disposable pop death must feel foolish now, as cuts like "Rock Creek Park," "Happy Music," and "Walking in Rhythm" remain completely unironic fixtures in the record crates of many house DJs. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	05/21/2002
Label:	Bgp / Beat Goes Public
UPC:	0029667514729
Rank:	100535

Tracks

1. Happy Music
2. Gut Level
3. Walking In Rhythm
4. Do It Fluid
5. Rock Creek Park
6. Supernatural Feeling
7. Soft And Easy

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Blackbyrds   Primary Artist,Vocals
Barney Perry   Guitar
Ernie Watts   Saxophone,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano)
Ray Armando   Percussion
Ray Parker, Jr.   Guitar
Oscar Brashear   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Ollie E. Brown   Drums,Vocals,Percussion
Orville Saunders   Guitar
David Sheilds   Bass
Bill Thedford   Vocals
Kevin Toney   Piano,Keyboards,Synthesizer
John Lehman   Vocals
Jim Gilstrap   Vocals
Merry Clayton   Vocals
George Bohannon   Trombone
Steve Johnson   Saxophone
Sigidi   Vocals
Allan Curtis Barnes   Flute,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano)
Joseph Hall III   Bass
Keith Killgo   Drums
Ronnie Mayez   Vocals
Perk Jacobs   Percussion
David Williams   Bass
Eddie "Bongo" Brown   Congas

Technical Credits

Wade Marcus   Arranger
Orville Saunders   Composer
Kevin Toney   Composer
Lincoln Ross   Composer
Keith Killgo   Composer
Joe Hall   Composer
Toney Saunders   Composer
Stephen Johnson   Composer
Barney Perry   Composer
Donald Byrd   Composer