The Blackbyrds (album)

The Blackbyrds
Studio album by The Blackbyrds
Released	1974
Recorded	October 1973 to March 1974
Studio	Fantasy Studios (Berkeley, California)
Genre	Soul, jazz funk, jazz fusion
Label	Fantasy
Producer	Larry Mizell, Donald Byrd
The Blackbyrds chronology
The Blackbyrds (1974) Flying Start (1974)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic

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.

Track listing

1. "Do It, Fluid" (Donald Byrd) 5:27
2. "Gut Level" (Lincoln Ross) 4:08
3. "Reggins" (Larry Mizell) 4:05
4. "The Runaway" (Donald Byrd, Kevin Toney) 4:13
5. "Funky Junkie" (Donald Byrd) 7:01
6. "Summer Love" (Allan Barnes) 5:08
7. "Life Styles" (Larry Mizell) 3:13
8. "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)	Peak position
US Top Albums	96
US Top R&B Albums	14
US Top Jazz Albums	6

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1974	"Do It, Fluid"	US Billboard Hot 100	69
1974	"Do It, Fluid"	US Hot Soul Singles	23
1974	"Gut Level"	US Disco Action	9

External links

• The Blackbyrds-The-Blackbyrds at Discogs
• The Blackbyrds-Billboard Albums at AllMusic
• The Blackbyrds-Billboard Singles at AllMusic