The Blackbyrds, Walking in Rhythm | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 93^rd edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “Walking in Rhythm” by The Blackbyrds.

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 93^rd edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2023), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Walking in Rhythm”, performed by 🎙 The Blackbyrds.

via GIPHY

“Walking in rhythm / Moving in sound / Humming to the music / Tryna move on.” Woo! The lyrics, which hail from the chorus of 🎙 The Blackbyrds’ gem, 🎵 “Walking in Rhythm”, are easygoing, memorable, and simple. The chorus continues, in feel good vibes, “I’m walking in rhythm / Singing my song / Thinking ‘bout my baby / Tryna get home.” Ah, that where the exuberance hails from on this soul/jazz joint – LOVE! “Walking in Rhythm,” unsurprisingly, was a big hit for the collective, peaking at no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Furthermore, the highlight from their 1974 album, 💿 Flying Start, marks their sole top-10 hit. Notably, renowned trumpeter 🎛 Donald Byrd produced this classic.

Besides the catchy chorus, the verse – of which there is only one – is another moment of excellence from “Walking in Rhythm.” Basically, the guys miss and long for her, after all, “It’s been so long since I’ve seen her.” Making that long journey back home, they have resolved themselves to make, no matter how long the distance! In the process, we get a ‘fake-out’ modulation – it seems like that key is going to change but it resolves and remains in the original key – as well as a legitimate modulation,  which amplifies the energy.  Besides the theme, lyrics, and the key change, you can’t mention “Walking in Rhythm” and leave out the flute solo, in all it’s sophistication.  Furthermore, Byrd’s production is utterly sublime (those strings), as to be expected from a world-class musician.

via GIPHY

🎙 The Blackbyrds • 💿 Flying Start • 🏷 Fantasy / Concord • 🗓 1974

The Blackbyrds, “Walking in Rhythm”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 93 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Fantasy / Concord; John Alan Sperry, PIRO via  Pixabay]