1980 The Blackbyrds – Better Days
Better Days is the final 1980 studio album by the American jazz-funk fusion group The Blackbyrds, as well as the title of the album’s horn-laced, stomping track. Produced by legendary keyboardist George Duke, the project marked a notable transition into a tighter, radio-friendly 1980s R&B and soul sound.
Tracks
1 Dancin’ Dancin’ (Deborah Gordon, Louisa Farmer, Marcus Gordon)
2 Lonelies For Your Love (Louisa Farmer, Orville Saunders)
3 Better Days (Dan Stewart, Keith Killgo, Roslyn Monroe)
4 Do It Girl (Jo Hann Hall Skehan, Joe Hall, Roslyn Monroe)
5 Without Your Love (Jo Hann Hall Skehan, Joe Hall, Roslyn Monroe)
6 Do You Wanna Dance (Casey James, Leroy Bell)
7 Love Don’t Strike Twice (Alvin Alexander, Joe Hall, Roslyn Monroe)
8 What’s On Your Mind (Alvin Alexander, Orville Saunders)
9 Don’t Know What To Say (Louisa Farmer, Orville Saunders)
10 What We Have Is Right (Louisa Farmer, Orville Saunders)
Biography
Musicians
1 Dancin’ Dancin’
| Bass | Joe Hall |
| Drums | Keith Killgo |
| Guitar | Orville Saunders |
| Electric Piano | Kevin Toney |
| Synthesizer | Marc Cohen |
| Sax | Larry Williams |
| Trombone | Bill Reichenbach |
| Trumpet | Jerry Hey |
| Trumpet | Gary Grant |
| Percussion | Dan Stewart |
| Background Vocals | Jim Gilstrap |
| Background Vocals | Carl Carwell |
| Vocals | James Garrett |
| Vocals | Keith Killgo |
| Vocals | Joe Hall |
2 Lonelies For Your Love
| Bass | Joe Hall |
| Drums | Keith Killgo |
| Guitar | Orville Saunders |
| Keyboards | Kevin Toney |
| Sax | Larry Williams |
| Trombone | Bill Reichenbach |
| Trumpet | Jerry Hey |
| Trumpet | Gary Grant |
| Percussion | Paulinho Da Costa |
| Background Vocals | Keith Killgo |
| Background Vocals | Joe Hall |
| Vocals | James Garrett |
3 Better Days
| Bass | Joe Hall |
| Drums | Keith Killgo |
| Guitar | Orville Saunders |
| Acoustic Guitar | Mark Smith |
| Keyboards | Keith Killgo |
| Synthesizer | George Duke |
| Sax | Larry Williams |
| Trombone | Bill Reichenbach |
| Trumpet | Jerry Hey |
| Trumpet | Gary Grant |
| Background Vocals | James Garrett |
| Background Vocals | Joe Hall |
| Vocals | Keith Killgo |
4 Do It Girl
| Bass | Joe Hall |
| Drums | Keith Killgo |
| Guitar | Orville Saunders |
| Clavinet | Marc Cohen |
| Electric Piano | Kevin Toney |
| Synthesizer | Kevin Toney |
| Synthesizer | George Duke |
| Sax | Marc Cohen |
| Percussion | Dan Stewart |
| Background Vocals | Jim Gilstrap |
| Background Vocals | Carl Carwell |
| Background Vocals | Keith Killgo |
| Background Vocals | Joe Hall |
| Vocals | Keith Killgo |
5 Without Your Love
| Bass | Joe Hall |
| Drums | Keith Killgo |
| Guitar | Orville Saunders |
| Acoustic Guitar | Mark Smith |
| Electric Piano | Kevin Toney |
| Keyboards | Joe Hall |
| Percussion | Dan Stewart |
| Background Vocals | James Garrett |
| Background Vocals | Carl Carwell |
| Background Vocals | Jim Gilstrap |
| Vocals | Joe Hall |
6 Do You Wanna Dance
| Bass | Joe Hall |
| Drums | Keith Killgo |
| Guitar | Orville Saunders |
| Electric Piano | Marc Cohen |
| Synthesizer | Kevin Toney |
| Synthesizer | George Duke |
| Sax | Larry Williams |
| Trombone | Bill Reichenbach |
| Trumpet | Jerry Hey |
| Trumpet | Gary Grant |
| Percussion | Paulinho Da Costa |
| Background Vocals | James Garrett |
| Background Vocals | Carl Carwell |
| Background Vocals | Jim Gilstrap |
| Vocals | Joe Hall |
| Vocals | Keith Killgo |
7 Love Don’t Strike Twice
| Bass | Joe Hall |
| Drums | Keith Killgo |
| Guitar | Orville Saunders |
| Electric Piano | Marc Cohen |
| Synthesizer | Kevin Toney |
| Synthesizer | George Duke |
| Percussion | Dan Stewart |
| Background Vocals | Keith Killgo |
| Background Vocals | Joe Hall |
| Background Vocals | Carl Carwell |
| Background Vocals | Jim Gilstrap |
| Vocals | James Garrett |
8 What’s On Your Mind
| Bass | Joe Hall |
| Drums | Keith Killgo |
| Guitar | Orville Saunders |
| Electric Piano | Kevin Toney |
| Piano | Kevin Toney |
| Synthesizer | Kevin Toney |
| Sax | Larry Williams |
| Trombone | Bill Reichenbach |
| Trumpet | Jerry Hey |
| Trumpet | Gary Grant |
| Percussion | Sheila Escovedo |
| Background Vocals | Keith Killgo |
| Background Vocals | Joe Hall |
| Background Vocals | James Garrett |
| Vocals | James Garrett |
9 Don’t Know What To Say
| Bass | Joe Hall |
| Drums | Keith Killgo |
| Guitar | Orville Saunders |
| Acoustic Guitar | Mark Smith |
| Electric Piano | Marc Cohen |
| Synthesizer | George Duke |
| Flute | Larry Williams |
| Sax | Larry Williams |
| Trombone | Bill Reichenbach |
| Trumpet | Jerry Hey |
| Trumpet | Gary Grant |
| Bells | Keith Killgo |
| Percussion | Paulinho Da Costa |
| Background Vocals | Keith Killgo |
| Background Vocals | Joe Hall |
| Background Vocals | Carl Carwell |
| Background Vocals | Jim Gilstrap |
| Vocals | James Garrett |
10 What We Have Is Right
| Bass | Joe Hall |
| Drums | Keith Killgo |
| Guitar | Orville Saunders |
| Electric Piano | Kevin Toney |
| Synthesizer | Kevin Toney |
| Synthesizer | George Duke |
| Sax | Jose Hernandez |
| Percussion | Sheila Escovedo |
| Percussion | Dan Stewart |
| Background Vocals | Tramaine Hawkins |
| Background Vocals | Lynette Stephens |
| Background Vocals | Jim Gilstrap |
| Background Vocals | Carl Carwell |
| Vocals | Keith Killgo |
Liner Notes
Producer – George Duke
Arranged By (Rhythm) – The Blackbyrds
Arranged By (Horns) – Jerry Hey (Tracks 1, 3, 5)
Arranged By (Horns) – Bill Reichenbach (Tracks 2)
Arranged By (Horns) – Kevin Toney (Track 7)
Arranged By (Horns) – Larry Williams (Track 8)
Engineer (Assistant) – Wally Buck
Mastered By – George Horn
Mixed By – Tommy Vicari
Recorded By – Tommy Vicari
Art Direction – Phil Carroll
Photography – Phil Bray
Mastered At Fantasy Studios, Berkeley
Mixed At Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA
Recorded At Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA
Phonographic Copyright Fantasy Records
Copyright Fantasy Records