Action is the fifth studio album by American R&B/jazz-fusion band the Blackbyrds. It was the band's fourth highest-charting album on both the Pop and R&B album charts at number 43[2] and number 8, respectively, and was their first album not to appear on the American Jazz album charts.[3] The album was certified gold by the RIAA.[4]
| Action | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 1, 1977 | |||
| Recorded | 1977 | |||
| Studio | The Sound Factory | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 33:45 | |||
| Label | Fantasy | |||
| Producer | Donald Byrd | |||
| The Blackbyrds chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Action | ||||
| ||||
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
Ed Hogan reviewed the album for AllMusic in a somewhat positive light. He said, "If you had to own only one album by the Blackbyrds then Action should be it." He reasoned that "all the elements came together for the Donald Byrd protégés" and he singled out "Supernatural Feeling" for its wise lyrics as well as "Something Special" and "Dreaming About You" for their smooth jazz feel.[5]
Band members' thoughts
editDrummer Keith Killgo briefly referenced the album during a 2022 interview with East of the River News when recounting the band's history.
"I would have to say that 'Soft and Easy' is my favorite song out of all the Blackbyrds compositions. It is a ballad but then it is really not. I love 'Mysterious Vibes' too."[6]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Supernatural Feeling" | Orville Saunders, Kevin Toney | 3:47 |
| 2. | "Lookin' Ahead" | Toney | 5:30 |
| 3. | "Mysterious Vibes" | Keith Killgo | 4:46 |
| 4. | "Something Special" | Killgo | 4:43 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5. | "Street Games" | Toney | 4:45 |
| 6. | "Soft and Easy" | Saunders | 4:25 |
| 7. | "Dreaming About You" | Toney | 5:49 |
Personnel
editThe Blackbyrds
- Kevin Toney – acoustic piano and ARP synthesizers
- Keith Killgo – drums
- Joe Hall – bass
- Orville Saunders – guitar
- Stephen Johnson – saxophone
with:
- Ernie Watts – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
- Ray Parker, Jr. – guitar
- Ollie Brown – vocals (with the Block Boys Orchestra), drums, percussion
- Eddie "Bongo" Brown – congas
- David Shields – bass
- Donald Byrd – trumpet
- The Block Boys Orchestra singers (Jim Gilstrap, John Lehman, Roy Galloway, Bill Threadford, Ollie Brown, Ronnie Mayez) – vocals
- Production
- Phil Carroll – art direction
- Gerald Panopolous – photography
- Lance Anderson – design
- Wade Marcus – arranging and conducting
- George Bohanon – horn contractor
- Charles Veal, Jr. – concertmaster and string contractor
- Jim Nipar – recording and remix engineer
- Serge Reyes – assistant engineer
- Mike Reese – engineer[7]
Charts
editAlbum
edit| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Top LPs | 43 |
| Top Soul LPs | 8 |
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | "Soft and Easy" | Hot Soul Singles | 30 |
| 1978 | "Supernatural Feeling" | Hot Soul Singles | 19 |
References
edit- ^ a b https://www.blackbyrdsmusic.com/about
- ^ https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1977-11-20/
- ^ a b https://web.archive.org/web/20141021115317/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-blackbyrds-mn0000049367/awards
- ^ "Certifications for Blackbyrds". Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/action-mw0000870921#review
- ^ https://eastoftheriverdcnews.com/2022/12/20/meet-keith-killgo/
- ^ Action (album). The Blackbyrds. Berkeley, California: Fantasy Records. 1977. F-9535.
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