Remembering a classic: Roy Ayers 'Everybody Loves the Sunshine'

Jimmy Coultas ensconces himself in the sounds of Roy Ayers' summer drenched masterpiece.

Jimmy Coultas

Last updated: 26th Feb 2019

Image: Roy Ayers

This instalment of 'Remembering a classic' is laced with some sunshine infused jazz, funk and soul courtesy of Roy Ayers and his Ubiquity band. We're rolling back to seminal LP Everybody loves the Sunshine as we look forward to a duo of Roy Ayers dates at London's Union Chapel in April.

What was the fourteenth studio album of vibraphonist Ayers, it was the first that really broke his appeal over here in the UK, helped in no part by the joyous title track which for many remains Ayers' signature cut.

Listening to it, with the vocals imparting that "Folks get down in the sunshine, Folks get brown in the sunshine", is a one step trip to sunnier climes that would even raise a smile from Scrooge. (Stream the album below on Spotify).

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The rest of the album is great too, form the tinkering vibes showcases on 'The Golden Rod' and 'The Third Eye' straight up to the blissed out 'Keep on Walking' - our personal favourite.

The whole thing sits in this woozy netherworld where jazz, funk and soul collide, never really fitting any of the standard troupes for each and all the better for it. If anything is going to blast this dreary weather out of the way, it's this.

Ayers live is just as gorgeous a proposition, bringing the same mellow, gentle happiness and scintillating musicianship to the UK on a frequent basis.

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