Soul Essentials: Best Of Roy Ayers CD

Recorded between 1987 & 1981. Includes liner notes by Greg Casseu.

This greatest-hits title was the first of its kind upon its release in 1979. During that time, Roy Ayers was one of the leading acts on Polydor Records and solidified his R&B/disco success with "Running Away," included here. The dichotomy between Ayers as a jazz act and an R&B/jazz quiet storm presence is all but kicked off by this album. The emphasis is on the earlier work. The definitive early-'70s songs "Red Black and Green" and "We Live in Brooklyn Baby" both retain their snap and visceral charm. A few great tracks aren't here (including "Kiss" and "Is It Too Late to Try"), but The Best of Roy Ayers: Love Fantasy goes the extra mile to include not only the best of Roy Ayers' work but also key non-hits such as "Gotta Find a Lover" and "You Send Me." ~ Jason Elias

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Compilation producer: Harry Weinger.

Personnel: Roy Ayers (vocals, strings, electric piano, Clavinet, synthesizer, vibraphone, marimba, congas, hand claps, percussion); Edwin Birdsong (vocals, piano); Harry Whitaker (vocals, electric piano, organ); Billy Cobham (vocals, drums); Chano O'Ferral (vocals, congas, percussion); Wes Ramseur (vocals, hand claps); Las Chicas, Carla Vaughn, Wayne Garfield (vocals, background vocals); Dee Dee Bridgewater, Marguerite Arthurton, Mondee Oliver, Gregory Matta, Sylvia Cox (vocals); Jeffrey Quinton, Chuck Anthony (guitar, hand claps); James Mason , Glen Jeffery, Samuel "Little Sonny" Brown, Calvin Brown, Ronald Drayton, Calvin Banks, Bob Fusco, David Barron, Darryl Moore, Billy Nichols, Bob Rose (guitar); Philip Woo (strings, piano, electric piano, synthesizer); Emanuel Brown, Peter Dimitriades, Alfred Brown , Charles McCracken, Emanuel Vardi, Kermit Moore, Irving Spice, Harry Lookofsky (strings); Sonny Fortune (flute, soprano saxophone); Joe Brazil (soprano saxophone); Justo Almario (tenor saxophone); Charles Tolliver (trumpet); Garnett Brown, Wayne Andre, Wayne Henderson (trombone); Lesette Wilson (electric piano); Jaymz Bedord (Clavinet, synthesizer, hand claps, bells); William Allen (marimba, shekere, bells); Richard Bass, John "J-Soul" Solomon (electric bass); J.T. Lewiks, Doug Rhodes, Dennis Davis, Gene Dunlap , Quintin Denard, Steve Cobb, James Gadson, Ricky Lawson, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie (drums); William King (congas, bongos, percussion); Jumma Santos (congas); Dom Um Romao, Vance "Mad Dog" Tenort, Willie Michael (percussion); P. Craig Turner (programming); Carol Smiley, Tamara Richardson, Marty Robinson, Laverne Seabrook, Claudia Moore, Gloria Jones (background vocals).

Liner Note Author: Greg Casseus.

Recording information: 1970-1979.

Unknown Contributor Role: Roy Ayers.

Arrangers: Jaymz Bedord; Harry Whitaker; Roy Ayers; Wayne Henderson ; William Allen.

Personnel includes: Roy Ayers (vocals, piano, electric piano, organ, keyboards, Clavinet, Oberheim, vibraphone, vibraharp, marimba, percussion); Edwin Birdsong (vocals, piano); Philip Woo (harmonica, piano, electric piano, Moog synthesizer); Harry Whitaker (piano, harpsichord, electric piano, organ); James Mason, Glen Jeffrey, Chuck Anthony, Calvin Banks, Billy Nichols, David Barron, Darryl "Sugar Bear" Moore (guitar); William Allen, Emir Kazan, Clint Houston (bass); Billy Cobham (drums, vocals); Bernard "Pretty" Purdy, Steve Cobb, Dennis Davis, Omar Hakim (drums).

Producers include: Roy Ayers, Jerry Schoenbaum, William Allen, Myrnaleah Williams, Maurice Green, Edwin Birdsong.