Action (The Blackbyrds album)

Action is the fifth studio album by American R&B/jazz-fusion band the Blackbyrds, released in 1977 on Fantasy Records. This album peaked at No. 43 on the US Billboard Top Pop LPs chart and No. 8 on the US Billboard Top Soul LPs chart. Action has also been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

Critical reception

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.

Band members' thoughts

Drummer Keith Killgo briefly referenced the album during a 2022 interview with East of the River News when recounting the band's history. <blockquote>"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."</blockquote>

Track listing

Personnel

The 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

Charts

Album

Singles

References