Do It, Fluid

Recorded during sessions in October 1973 and March 1974 at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California, with producer Larry Mizell and recording engineer Jim Stern. Written by Donald Byrd, the recording featured Kevin Toney on keyboards, Keith Killgo on drums, Barney Perry on guitar, David Williams on bass, Allan Barnes on saxophone, Oscar Brashear on trumpet and Ray Armando on percussion, alongside the group's collective vocals. Released in 1974 as the opening track of the Blackbyrds' self-titled debut album and their first single, 'Do It, Fluid' reached number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 23 on the R&B singles chart. Its success introduced the group, formed under Donald Byrd's mentorship at Howard University, to a national audience and established their recording career on Fantasy Records. The recording remains an important early example of the Blackbyrds' ensemble sound, characterised by tightly coordinated instrumentation, rhythmic interplay and call-and-response vocals. Its continued popularity among specialist DJs and collectors has helped preserve the group's reputation as an influential act of the 1970s.