Donald Byrd – Stepping Into Tomorrow: BN Classic (180g Vinyl LP)

Blue Note Classic Vinyl Reissue Series Edition of Donald Byrd’s Stepping Into Tomorrow on All-Analog 180g LP. Mastered by Kevin Gray Directly from the Original Master Tapes and Manufactured at Optimal in Germany.

Donald Byrd’s 1974 fusion masterpiece Stepping Into Tomorrow was a high-water mark of the legendary trumpeter’s vibrant latter Blue Note years. Byrd had begun recording for Blue Note in 1958 and, over the course of his tenure, evolved from a top-notch hard-bop trumpeter into a pioneer of R&B/funk fusion, leading the label’s own creative direction along a similar path. Byrd began to introduce elements of fusion to his music with his 1969 album Fancy Free and shadowed Miles Davis early-1970s moves with experimental sessions like Electric Byrd and Ethiopian Knights. When Byrd hooked up with visionary producer Larry Mizell for his landmark 1972 album Black Byrd a new sound coalesced: funky and sultry, sophisticated yet accessible, with intricate arrangements that allowed Byrd’s trumpet to soar over top. A string of commercial successes followed, the third of which was Stepping Into Tomorrow featuring the standout title track and “Think Twice,” which would become touchstones for future hip-hop generations including artists like J Dilla, Madlib, and A Tribe Called Quest. The album featured contributions from saxophonist Gary Bartz, multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Fonce Mizell, bassist Chuck Rainey, drummer Harvey Mason & others.

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.

Musicians:
Donald Byrd – trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals
Gary Bartz – alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet
James Carter – whistler on “Rock and Roll Again”
Mayuto Correa – congas
Margie Evans, Kay Haith, Freddie Perren – background vocals
Fonce Mizell – trumpet, clarinet, background vocals
Jerry Peters – organ, piano
John Rowzin, David T. Walker – guitar
Larry Mizell – Fender Rhodes, ARP synthesizers, background vocals
Chuck Rainey – bass
Harvey Mason – drums, bata drums
Roger Sainte – percussion
Ronghea Souther – guitar on “Think Twice”
Stephanie Spruill – percussion, background vocals

Side A:

1. Stepping Into Tomorrow
2. Design a Nation
3. We’re Together
4. Think Twice

Side B:

1. Makin’ It
2. Rock and Roll Again
3. You Are the World
4. I Love the Girl