The Blackbyrds

There was 1978's Night Grooves: The Blackbyrds' Greatest Hits, then 1989's Greatest Hits, and now there are two additional sets that handle the Blackbyrds' discography with a little more love and depth. This one -- Happy Music: The Best of the Blackbyrds -- covers most of R&B chart hits and other energetic highlights, while LoveByrds: Soft and Easy focuses on the finer proto-smooth jazz material. Here's some of the most uplifting, most melodically developed (and most sampled) jazz-funk made, and the disc also showcases the group's versatility. Including the exuberant "Happy Music," the lilting "Walking in Rhythm," the heart-melting "Mysterious Vibes," the awesomely sleazy "Rock Creek Park," and the War dead ringer "Do It, Fluid," along with eight other highlights and an unreleased track that doesn't feel out of place, it easily trumps the compilations that came before it. It sounds much more vivid, and the liner notes, from producer Don Mizell, are another treat. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide