Lifeline (Roy Ayers album)

Lifeline
Studio album by
Released1977
Studio
Genre
LabelPolydor
Producer
Roy Ayers chronology
Everybody Loves the Sunshine
(1976)
Lifeline
(1977)
Let's Do It
(1978)
Singles from Lifeline
  1. "Running Away"
    Released: 1977

Lifeline is a studio album by Roy Ayers Ubiquity. It was released in 1977 through Polydor Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at Sigma Sound Studios and Electric Lady Studios in New York City, and at Record Plant in Los Angeles. Production was handled by Ayers himself with co-production by Edwin Birdsong and William Allen. The album features contributions from singers Dee Dee Bridgewater and Sylvia Cox, keyboardist Philip Woo, guitarists Calvin Banks, Chuck Anthony, Glenn Jeffrey and James Mason, drummer Steve Cobb, percussionist Chano O'Ferral, saxophonist Justo Almario, and trumpeter John Mosley.

The album peaked at number 72 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and at number 9 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States. Its lead single, "Running Away", reached peak position No. 19 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

The Bay State Banner wrote: "Nearly every song parodies a popular soul act. Some even verge on insult—all in fun, of course—and thus Natalie Cole's Aretha-isms, Earth Wind and Fire's sometimes humorless pep-talks, and the Isley Brothers' conservative rock 'n rhythm (in 'Cincinnati Growl') all get their turn for musical pie-in-the-face."[2]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."This Side of Sunshine"William Allen3:16
2."Running Away"3:55
3."Gotta Find a Lover"
  • Roy Ayers
  • Edwin Birdsong
7:10
4."I Still Love You"Roy Ayers4:09
5."Lifeline"Roy Ayers2:50
6."Cincinnati Growl"Roy Ayers3:54
7."Fruit"
  • Roy Ayers
  • Carl Clay
3:53
8."Sanctified Feeling"Edwin Birdsong5:42
9."Stranded in the Jungle"Roy Ayers4:30
10."Together"Roy Ayers3:39

Personnel

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Roy Ayers Ubiquity
Technical
  • Michael Hutchinson – engineering
  • David Wittman – engineering
  • Bruce Hensal – engineering
  • Jerry Solomon – engineering
  • James Patrick Green – engineering
  • Basil Pao Ho-Yun – art direction
  • Kathie McKinty – photography

Chart history

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Chart (1977) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[3] 72
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[4] 9

References

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  1. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Lifeline – Roy Ayers / Roy Ayers Ubiquity". AllMusic. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  2. ^ Freedberg, Mike (July 28, 1977). "Record Reviews". Bay State Banner. No. 93. p. 19.
  3. ^ "Roy Ayers Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  4. ^ "Roy Ayers Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
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