Product details
- Label Blue Note
- Artist Donald Byrd
- Format 1LP
- Country United States
- Released Date 1975
- Genre Jazz
- Sealed No
- Media Condition Near Mint (NM)
- Sleeve Condition Very Good Plus (VG+)
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Condition: Used
Media Condition: Near Mint (NM)
Sleeve Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)
Condition Notes:
Record is super clean NM to M-
Cover has discount corner cut bottom right. Also minor water spot in the same corner.
Original inner.
Clean copy!
Stepping Into Tomorrow by Donald Byrd.
By the mid-1970s, Donald Byrd had traded straight-ahead hard bop for something looser, funkier, and unapologetically forward-looking, and this 1975 Blue Note release captures that transformation at full stride. Much of its identity comes from the Mizell brothers, with Larry Mizell arranging and conducting the bulk of the album and Fonce Mizell adding his own arrangements and instrumental touches. Their fingerprints — layered vocal arrangements, electric textures, and a producer's ear for groove — turn a jazz date into a genre-blurring statement, with George Butler overseeing as executive producer.
The playing is a study in warm, electric sophistication. Gary Bartz brings alto saxophone and clarinet, while Chuck Rainey anchors everything on Fender bass and Harvey Mason drives the kit with real snap, even reaching for bata drum and mouth harp on one cut. David T. Walker and John Rowin trade guitar lines, Mayuto Correa's congas add heat, and Fonce Mizell colors the arrangements with clavinet and trumpet. Above it all, a rotating cast of backing vocalists lends the record its glossy, soulful lift.
The result is a record that glides between jazz, soul, and early fusion without ever losing its cool. For collectors, it's a prime example of Byrd's Blue Note reinvention — richly produced, deeply grooved, and endlessly replayable. A rewarding addition to any serious jazz shelf.
Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Stepping Into Tomorrow
A2. Design A Nation
A3. We're Together
A4. Think Twice
B1. Makin' It
B2. Rock And Roll Again
B3. You Are The World
B4. I Love The Girl
Credits:
Gary Bartz - Alto Saxophone, Clarinet
Fonce Mizell - Arranged By (B4)
Harvey Mason - Arranged By (B1)
Larry Mizell - Arranged By (A1 to B3)
Sigidi - Arranged By (A4)
Fonce Mizell - Arranged By [Background Vocal Arrangements]
Freddie Perren - Arranged By [Background Vocal Arrangements]
Larry Mizell - Arranged By [Background Vocal Arrangements]
Fonce Mizell - Backing Vocals
Freddie Perren - Backing Vocals
Kay Haith - Backing Vocals (A3, A4)
Larry Mizell - Backing Vocals
Lorraine Kenner - Backing Vocals (A1, A2, B1)
Margie Evans - Backing Vocals (B3)
Stephanie Spruill - Backing Vocals (A1, B1)
Chuck Rainey - Bass [Fender]
Harvey Mason - Bata [Batah Drum], Jew's Harp [Mouth Harp] (B1)
Fonce Mizell - Clavinet, Trumpet
Larry Mizell - Conductor
Mayuto Correa - Congas
Sigidi - Copyist
Harvey Mason - Drums
Jim Nipar - Engineer [Assistant]
Dave Hassinger - Engineer [Recording Engineer]
John Mills (21) - Engineer [Recording Engineer]
Val Garay - Engineer [Recording Engineer]
Dave Hassinger - Engineer [Remix Engineer]
Val Garay - Engineer [Remix Engineer]
George Butler - Executive-Producer
David T. Walker - Guitar
John Rowin - Guitar
Rhonghea Southern - Guitar (A4)
Chuck Davis - Music Consultant [Synthesizers Consultant]
Greg Edwards - Painting [Cover Painting: "Facing The Music Of The Spheres II"]
Stuff 'N' Ramjett - Percussion
Doug Metzler - Photography By
Jerry Peters - Piano [Acoustic Piano], Organ
Larry Mizell - Producer
Larry Mizell - Synthesizer [Arp Synthesizers], Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes]
Chuck Davis - Technician [Technical Director]
Donald Byrd - Trumpet [Solo], Flugelhorn, Vocals [Solo]
James Carter (2) - Whistle [Whistler]
Notes:
Original release with blue labels and 'black note', pressed by [l=Research Craft] as denoted by "Re1" and "#" followed by 2 numbers etched in runout, slightly chamfered pressing ring of 2.875" diameter.
Issued with printed inner sleeve containing a Donald Byrd's photo, credits and song titles.
Recorded at The Sound Factory, Hollywood, California November-December 1974
Disc Mastering: The Mastering Lab, Hollywood, California
Sound Effects: Breaking the sound barrier courtesy of Elektra Records
Artist: Donald Byrd
Format: 1LP
Genre: Jazz
Label: Blue Note
Catalog Number: BN-LA368-G
Release Year: 1975
Country: United States
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The condition of our vintage records varies, and we do our best to clearly state the condition of each record in its description. We rate them as 'Mint', 'Near Mint', 'Very Good', 'Good', or 'Fair', following the Goldmine Standard.
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