Roy Ayers

Listen/Download Roy Ayers Ubiquity – Running Away

Greetings all

Things being what they are, with the air cooling and everyone finding their wayback into the post-summer groove, I thought I’d like to get the week started with something a little funky.

But before we get started, I have something very cool to share with you.

This past Saturday morning I was sitting on the sofa, still waking up and getting ready to post the link to the archive of Friday night’s Funky16Corners Radio Show (i.e. a routine Saturday…).

While I was on the Funky16Corners Facebook page, I noticed a message I hadn’t seen from a fan of the blog that contained the following text:

“I’m probably late to the party on this, but I just finished reading Telegraph Avenue and was psyched to see one of my favorite blogs listed in the acknowledgements!”

Well, this came as something of a shock, mainly because I had read Michael Chabon’s ‘Telegraph Avenue’ (excellent novel centered around a record store) and while I enjoyed it immensely, I never noticed the acknowledgements.

Fortunately for me, the book was sitting in a stack on the telephone table right next to me, so I excitedly pulled it from the pile and this is what I saw:

 

I had no idea.

If you haven’t read the book, you should really check it out (it’s in paperback now).

Not only is Chabon an excellent writer (The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay, The Yiddish Policeman’s Union) but he really manages to capture what music lovers and vinyl fiends really love about record stores, all woven into a complex and satisfying story.

I’m glad I only found out about this after I read the book, because I probably would have approached it differently.

Anyway, that was my weekend, now, on to the music.

I think it’s probably a safe assumption that you al know who Roy Ayers is.

Whether you’re tuned in only to the later ish, like ‘Everybody Loves the Sunshine’ or you have a grasp on the deep, jazzier end of his catalog when he was vibing behind cats like Jack Wilson and Curtis Amy, you know that the man is nothing if not versatile.

I found my way into his discography from the bottom up, meaning the first time I ever heard him on the vibes was when I was lucky enough to find a copy of Jack Wilson’s early 60s ‘Ramblin’ LP, which quicklybecame one of my favorites.

From there, it was on to Ayers work as a sideman for Herbie Mann, as well as his own solo albums from that period, and then on into the heavily sampled 70s era.

It is from that latter period that I bring you today’s selction, ‘Running Away’.

Released in 1977 from his ‘Lifeline’ album, ‘Running Away’ is fast moving jazz-inflected funk that was catchy enough that it made it into the R&B Top 20 that year.

The bass line and percussion is especially sharp, and vocals by Edwin Birdsong keep things moving.

The tempo made the record perfect for disco dance floors, though you’d probably never think of it as disco.

The record was later sampled by Big Daddy Kane and A Tribe Called Quest.

It’s a groovy track, and I hope you dig it.

I’ll see you all on Wednesday.

Keep the faith

Larry

 

 

PS Yes, I know it’s the “old” URL but I’m sure the whole package was put together more than a year and a half ago

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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived!

The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock.

They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US).

Click here to go to the ordering page.
Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

 

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.