BBE Music continues its long and fertile partnership with vibraphone legend and godfather of neo-soul, Roy Ayers, with the first ever reissue of his 1983 album Silver Vibrations. Originally released in the UK only on Uno Melodic Records, the album shares some of its musical DNA with Lots of Love, Ayers’s US album from the same year. However, Silver Vibrations contains four unique cuts all of its own, plus extended takes of three songs, including the definitive version of iconic song ‘Chicago’. The rarity of the original pressing has led to eye-watering second-hand prices for this truly brilliant LP...

Collectors of classic soul music will jump at the chance to own the reissued release of Roy Ayers's 1983 Silver Vibrations. This 7 track (43 min, 55 sec) LP brought to mind Stevie Wonder's Innervisions (1973). It's not that it's overly similar in style, but from time to time there's a riff or a beat that sounds incredibly familiar.

Sadly, this has aged quite poorly, and for those that didn't grow up with this scene, or have grown to appreciate classic soul music, this album will probably sound a little cheesy. The opening 'Chicago' is particularly cringe worthy, with Ayers constantly saying "Chicago" in a way that becomes annoying very quickly.

Ayers's fans will enjoy this, as will fans of the genre.

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Nick Smithson