Folks Get Down In The Sunshine

Last week was challenging. Several days of cloudy skies, snow(?!), and me playing "Ain't No Sunshine" repeatedly. Now let's go a different direction. I hope people enjoyed the beautiful weather this weekend and made time to step outside to take a deep breath. Everybody loves the sunshine.

Ramp ‎– Everybody Loves The Sunshine
ABC Blue Thumb ‎– BT-274
Vinyl, 7", Promo, 45 RPM
US, 1977

A  Everybody Loves The Sunshine (Stereo)
B  Everybody Loves The Sunshine (Mono)

One of Roy Ayers' greatest albums doesn't feature him playing a note. The brilliant vibraphonist produced and composed for the sole album released by RAMP (aka Roy Ayers Musical Productions).

The handful of recordings released under the RAMP name have a cult following these days, not just they were sampled by A Tribe Called Quest or because Incognito covered their songs and named albums in tribute. It's because they were really that good. Listen to this on headphones and the moment the bass and drums kick in, you'll know.

This is a promo version of the "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" single from 1977. It replaces the B side, "The American Promise" (inspiration for an Erykah Badu album a few years back), with a mono mix of the main track. Ayers released his own recording of the song the previous year- a great song, but if you've got to pick one, this is it.

The record has been well taken care of, but gotten some play that left it a little crackly even after a good cleaning and an effort to digitally tidy up some of the pops and clicks. I think the fantastic song easily shines through. According to Discogs, this promo version of the single seems to trade hands for stupid amounts of money these days. It's a crime that these songs have become a rarity for obsessive record collectors* instead of being heard and lifting spirits in these times.

Well, it's free for you. My soundtrack to a beautiful Sunday afternoon, despite it all.

*Yeah yeah, guilty as charged.