Flying Start (album)

Flying Start
Studio album by
the Blackbyrds
ReleasedNovember 1974
RecordedAugust to October 1974
StudioSound Factory (Hollywood)
GenresJazz funk, jazz fusion[1]
Length38:30
LabelFantasy
ProducerDonald Byrd
The Blackbyrds chronology
The Blackbyrds
(1974)		 Flying Start
(1974)		 City Life
(1975)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[1]
DownBeatStar[2]
Buffalo Evening Newsfavorable[3]
The Guardianmixed[4]
Sunday Gazette-MailB[5]
Omaha World-Heraldfavorable[6]
North County Timesfavorable[7]
The Ann Arbor Newsfavorable[8]
Huddersfield Daily Examinerfavorable[9]
Dorset Echofavorable[10]
Evening Post (Bristol)favorable[11]
Evening Post (Nottingham)favorable[12]
Grimsby Evening Telegraphfavorable[13]
The Commercial Appealfavorable[14]

Flying Start is the second album by the American band the Blackbyrds. Produced by Donald Byrd, the album includes the top ten hit single "Walking in Rhythm".

Track listing

Credits taken from original LP liner notes.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Need You"Donald Byrd, Cheryl Toney5:30
2."The Baby"Byrd5:17
3."Love Is Love"Keith Killgo4:46
4."Blackbyrds' Theme"Joe Hall, Allan Barnes, Kevin Toney4:03
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Walking in Rhythm"Barney Perry4:13
2."Furture Children, Future Hopes"K. Toney4:41
3."April Showers"Barnes3:49
4."Spaced Out"K. Toney6:11

Personnel

The Blackbyrds
  • Allan Barnes – flute, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, vocals on tracks 4 and 5
  • Kevin Toney – acoustic and electric piano, clavinet, ARP synthesizer, vocals on tracks 4 and 5
  • Barney Perry – guitar, vocals on tracks 4 and 5
  • Joe Hall – bass, vocals on tracks 4 and 5
  • Keith Killgo – drums, lead vocals on track 1, vocals on tracks 4 and 5
  • Perk Jacobs – percussion, vocals on tracks 4 and 5
Additional Personnel
  • Bobby Bryant – trumpet
  • Oscar Brashear – trumpet
  • Alexander Thomas – trombone
  • George Bohanon – trombone
  • Jackie Kelso – baritone saxophone
  • Ernie Watts – tenor saxophone on track 1
  • Sigidi – vocals on tracks 4 and 5
  • Bruce Fisher – vocals on track 4
  • Keith Barbour – lead vocals on track 7

Charts

Album

Chart (1975) Peak
position
US Top LPs & Tape[15] 30
US Top R&B Albums (Billboard)[15] 5
US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard)[15] 2

Single

Year Single Chart Position
1975 "Walking in Rhythm" US Billboard Hot 100[15] 6
US Hot Soul Singles[15] 4
US Easy Listening[15] 5

References

  1. 1 2 Gabriel, Robert. The Blackbyrds: Flying Start > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  2. ↑ Steingroot, Ira (March 27, 1975). "Record Reviews". Downbeat. No. 6. pp. 19–20.
  3. ↑ Williams, Ceasar (December 21, 1974). "Mini Soul Record Reviews". Buffalo Evening News0. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  4. ↑ Peters, Sam (December 13, 1974). "JAZZ PIANISTS ON RECORD". The Guardian. Manchester, England, United Kingdom. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  5. ↑ Carnes, James L. (January 26, 1975). "Disc-cussion". [[Charleston Gazette-Mail}Sunday Gazette-Mail]]. Charleston, West Virginia, United States. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  6. ↑ Smith, Will (December 20, 1974). "Sonny is Back". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Record Review". North County Times. Oceanside, California, United States. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Fun 'N' Games From Merry Old England". The Ann Arbor News. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  9. ↑ Buxton, Athol (June 13, 1975). "The Manhattan sound". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Huddersfield, England, United Kingdom. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  10. ↑ Mosey, Chris (June 7, 2025). "Great Cash Value". Dorset Echo. Weymouth, England, United Kigndom. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  11. ↑ Belsey, James (June 14, 1975). "POPS". Evening Post. Bristol, England, United Kingdom. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  12. ↑ Nelson, Sidney (October 3, 1975). "BLACKBYRDS FLY FREE". Evening Post. Nottingham, England, United Kingdom. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  13. ↑ Richards, Steve (April 28, 1975). "GOOD STUFF FROM BAD COMPANY". Grimsby Evening Telegraph. Grimsby, England, United Kingdom. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  14. ↑ Dawson, Walter (January 14, 1975). "Sayer Hits Top With Just A Boy". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The Blackbyrds: Billboard Charts (Archived)". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2025 – via archive.org.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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