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When You Might Be Surprised came out in 1985, Roy Ayers wasn't having as many hits as he had enjoyed in the late '70s. The R&B landscape had changed a lot since the days of Vibrations (1976) and You Send Me (1978). Ayers knew that if he didn't want to be accused of sounding dated, he needed to appeal to the urban contemporary tastes of 1985, so on this album he manages to update his approach without being untrue to himself. The production (some of it by James Mtume, some of it by Ayers himself) is high-tech and hip-hop-influenced -- synthesizers and drum machines are prominent, and there are few horns and no strings. But Ayers still sounds distinctive on material that ranges from the clever single "Programmed for Love," and the funky "Can I See You," to the playful title song (a duet with singer Jean Carn). The opener "Hot" has some Prince/Jesse Johnson/Morris Day influence, but without obscuring Ayers' own identity. This time, there are a few likable, if unremarkable, jazz/R&B/pop instrumentals, which include "Night Flyte" and "Virgo" (a tune that employs Branford Marsalis on tenor sax). You Might Be Surprised isn't among Ayers' essential albums, but all things considered, it was a respectable addition to his catalogue.
© Alex Henderson /TiVo
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Roy Ayers, Associated Performer, Main Artist - B. Brice, Composer - James Mtume, Producer - Philip Field, Co-Producer - P. Field, Composer - George Butler, Executive Producer - J. Mtume, Composer - ANDY WALLACE, Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Julian Robertson, Mixing Engineer - Jay Vacari, Engineer
(P) 1985 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Roy Ayers, Associated Performer, Main Artist - D. Frank, Composer - James Mtume, Producer - Philip Field, Co-Producer - D.Pearson, Composer - George Butler, Executive Producer - Julian Robertson, Mixing Engineer - Jay Vacari, Engineer - ANDY WALLACE, Re-Mixer
(P) 1985 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Roy Ayers, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Producer - R. AYERS, Composer - George Butler, Executive Producer - Emil Sam Valazques, Engineer - Ron Banks, Engineer - Tom Roberts, Mixing Engineer
(P) 1985 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Roy Ayers, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Producer - I. Ray, Composer - George Butler, Executive Producer - Emil Sam Valazques, Engineer - Ron Banks, Engineer - Tom Roberts, Mixing Engineer
(P) 1985 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Roy Ayers, Associated Performer, Main Artist - James Mtume, Producer - E. Moore, Composer - Ed Moore, Co-Producer - J. Mtume, Composer - George Butler, Executive Producer - Julian Robertson, Mixing Engineer - Jay Vacari, Engineer
(P) 1985 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Roy Ayers, Associated Performer, Main Artist - George Butler, Executive Producer - D. Perdue, Composer - Emil Sam Valazques, Engineer - A. Ayers, Composer - Ron Banks, Engineer - D. Metcen, Composer - Tom Roberts, Mixing Engineer
(P) 1985 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Roy Ayers, Arranger, Associated Performer, Main Artist - George Butler, Executive Producer - D. ROBBINS, Composer - Emil Sam Valazques, Engineer - Ron Banks, Engineer - Dave Robbins, Arranger - Tom Roberts, Mixing Engineer - ANDY WALLACE, Re-Mixer
(P) 1985 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Roy Ayers, Associated Performer, Main Artist - James Mtume, Producer - B.J. Nelson - E. Sainsbury, Composer - Philip Field, Co-Producer - J. Mtume, Composer - George Butler, Executive Producer - Julian Robertson, Mixing Engineer - V. Henry, Composer - Jay Vacari, Engineer
(P) 1985 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Roy Ayers, Associated Performer, Main Artist - D. Frank, Composer - D.Pearson, Composer - James Mtume, Producer - Philip Field, Co-Producer - George Butler, Executive Producer - Jay Vacari, Engineer - Julian Robertson, Mixing Engineer - ANDY WALLACE, Re-Mixer
(P) 1985 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Roy Ayers, Associated Performer, Main Artist - D. Frank, Composer - D.Pearson, Composer - James Mtume, Producer - Philip Field, Co-Producer - George Butler, Executive Producer - Jay Vacari, Engineer - Julian Robertson, Mixing Engineer - ANDY WALLACE, Re-Mixer
(P) 1985 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Roy Ayers, Associated Performer, Main Artist - D. Frank, Composer - D.Pearson, Composer - James Mtume, Producer - Philip Field, Co-Producer - George Butler, Executive Producer - Jay Vacari, Engineer - Julian Robertson, Mixing Engineer - ANDY WALLACE, Re-Mixer
(P) 1985 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Roy Ayers, Associated Performer, Main Artist - B. Brice, Composer - James Mtume, Producer - P. Field, Composer - J. Mtume, Composer - Philip Field, Co-Producer - George Butler, Executive Producer - ANDY WALLACE, Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Jay Vacari, Engineer - Julian Robertson, Mixing Engineer
(P) 1985 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Roy Ayers, Associated Performer, Main Artist - B. Brice, Composer - James Mtume, Producer - P. Field, Composer - J. Mtume, Composer - Philip Field, Co-Producer - George Butler, Executive Producer - ANDY WALLACE, Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Jay Vacari, Engineer - Julian Robertson, Mixing Engineer
(P) 1985 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Roy Ayers, Associated Performer, Main Artist - B.J. Nelson - E. Sainsbury, Composer - J. Mtume, Composer - V. Henry, Composer - James Mtume, Producer - Philip Field, Co-Producer - George Butler, Executive Producer - Jay Vacari, Engineer - Julian Robertson, Mixing Engineer
(P) 1985 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Albumbeschreibung
When You Might Be Surprised came out in 1985, Roy Ayers wasn't having as many hits as he had enjoyed in the late '70s. The R&B landscape had changed a lot since the days of Vibrations (1976) and You Send Me (1978). Ayers knew that if he didn't want to be accused of sounding dated, he needed to appeal to the urban contemporary tastes of 1985, so on this album he manages to update his approach without being untrue to himself. The production (some of it by James Mtume, some of it by Ayers himself) is high-tech and hip-hop-influenced -- synthesizers and drum machines are prominent, and there are few horns and no strings. But Ayers still sounds distinctive on material that ranges from the clever single "Programmed for Love," and the funky "Can I See You," to the playful title song (a duet with singer Jean Carn). The opener "Hot" has some Prince/Jesse Johnson/Morris Day influence, but without obscuring Ayers' own identity. This time, there are a few likable, if unremarkable, jazz/R&B/pop instrumentals, which include "Night Flyte" and "Virgo" (a tune that employs Branford Marsalis on tenor sax). You Might Be Surprised isn't among Ayers' essential albums, but all things considered, it was a respectable addition to his catalogue.
© Alex Henderson /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 01:09:04
- Main artists: Roy Ayers
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia - Legacy
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
(P) 1985 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
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