Flying Start (album)

Flying Start
Studio album by the Blackbyrds
Released	November 1974
Recorded	August to October 1974
Studio	Sound Factory (Hollywood)
Genre	Jazz funk, jazz fusion [1]
Length	38:30
Label	Fantasy
Producer	Donald Byrd
The Blackbyrds chronology
The Blackbyrds (1974) Flying Start (1974) City Life (1975)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

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.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"I Need You"	Donald Byrd, Cheryl Toney	5:30
2.	"The Baby"	Byrd	5:17
3.	"Love Is Love"	Keith Killgo	4:46
4.	"Blackbyrds' Theme"	Joe Hall, Allan Barnes, Kevin Toney	4:03

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Walking in Rhythm"	Barney Perry	4:13
2.	"Furture Children, Future Hopes"	K. Toney	4:41
3.	"April Showers"	Barnes	3:49
4.	"Spaced Out"	K. Toney	6:11

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 [2]	30
US Top R&B Albums ( Billboard ) [2]	5
US Top Jazz Albums ( Billboard ) [2]	2

Single

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1975	"Walking in Rhythm"	US Billboard Hot 100 [2]	6
		US Hot Soul Singles [2]	4
		US Easy Listening [2]	5

References

1. Gabriel, Robert. The Blackbyrds: Flying Start > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
2. "The Blackbyrds: Billboard Charts (Archived)". AllMusic . Retrieved January 14, 2025– via archive.org.

External links

• The Blackbyrds-Flying Start at Discogs