Roy Ayers - Silver Vibrations [LP]

Originally released in the UK only on Uno Melodic Records, ��_��_��_Silver Vibrations��_� shares some of its musical DNA with ��_��_��_Lots Of Love��_�, Ayers��_� US album from the same year. However, ��_��_��_Silver Vibrations��_� contains four unique cuts all of its own, plus extended takes of three songs, including the definitive version of iconic song ��_��_��_Chicago��_�. The rarity of the original pressing has led to eye-watering second-hand prices for this truly brilliant LP.

��_��_��_Silver Vibrations��_� was perhaps the last album to retain the sound of Ayers��_� organic ��_��_��_classic��_� period of the latter ��_�70s and manages to stand up well under its current re-evaluation. ��_��_��_Chicago��_�, the unedited version of which is exclusive to this L.P., received considerable airplay in its time and has barely faded from earshot ever since;

its woozy, mysterious vibe and cosmic ruminations from Roy in the second half have certainly endured. The strutting, funky ��_��_��_Good, Good Music��_� echoes Ayers at his pre-��_�80s, up- tempo disco peak, sporting a grittier edge and an old-school party atmosphere. Title track ��_��_��_Silver Vibrations��_� was only ever released in the U.K., both on this album and as a single, backed with ��_��_��_Fast Money��_�.

Both ��_��_��_Lots Of Love��_� and ��_��_��_Keep On Movin'��_� hark back to previous times and are a pleasant listen without being at all taxing. ��_��_��_Smiling With Our Eyes��_� is mid- tempo, lilting and jazzy, with a vocal vaguely reminiscent of Stevie Wonder in places. The wistful ��_��_��_D.C. City��_�, a close companion of Ubiquity��_�s original recording of ��_��_��_The Third Eye��_� is, in many ways, quintessentially Roy Ayers.

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