Byrne & Barnes: An Eye For An Eye Vinyl LP Byrne & Barnes

Sought-after West Coast AOR gem reissued! All praise and gratitude due to the good folks at Favorite Recordings for bringing this one back on wax. I first heard of Byrne & Barnes on Dam-Funk’s Boiler Room Collections mix and immediately added it to the want list. The track “Love You Out Of Your Mind” was all I needed to hear. I knew it was going to be rare, but had no idea it was THAT rare. Perhaps the B&B sound didn’t really make much of an impression stateside (despite the group being from the U.S.) as the record was originally released only on the Japanese Climax label in 1981. In Japan, the record has reached cult status, fetching $100’s when it ever surfaces. Fast forward over 3 decades and France’s Favorite label has brought their unique brand of jazzy AOR fusion back to the surface with the first official vinyl repress. From the label: “In 1981, Robert Byrne followed up to his 1979 album, Blame It On The Night, by teaming-up with multi-instrumentalist Brendan Barnes to record this rare West Coast classic. If they never recorded any other music together, both display incredible music career and went on to produce for many famous artists such as Pointer Sisters, Patti Austin, Earth Wind & Fire, Phil Collins, Brian McKnight, or Boyz II Men to name just a few. An Eye For An Eye features amazing and sophisticated songs, and parades all the elements of the AOR style: a jazzy sometimes fusion approach, with modern soul and groove flavors. If it’s almost unknown in Byrne & Barnes’ country of origins and in most part of the world, it’s become hugely popular and sought-after in Japan and for all West Coast music lovers. After Charles Maurice recently selected the song “Love You Out Of Your Mind” in the AOR Global Sounds 1975-1983 Vol.2 compilation, it quickly felt obvious for Favorite Recordings to arrange a proper reissue of the full album. Fully restored and remastered with great attention to sound quality.” Almost worth it just for that cover art of an alien dry humping a girl’s nose. What?! Recommended.

• remastered sound
• deluxe tip-on replica jacket w/ liner note insert
• music label: Favorite Recordings 2016

reviewed by Luxuriate Wind 07/2016