Rare Silk – American Eyes
Rare Silk was an 80’s vocal jazz group, a genre that at the time was defined by it’s multi-part vocal harmonies, pop sensibilities and mix of swing and jazz fusion. Like theater kids making jazz, their music is theatrical, pretentious and filled with over-the-top accents. The arrangements here are difficult and sophisticated, with fusion breaks tinged with Brazilian and Latin sounds. Some new age headiness peaks out here and there. But, most of all, their layered three-part vocal harmonies are captivating.
Interestingly, American Eyes has in the last few years experienced a bit of a resurgence due to the YouTube music algorithm, which has pushed the album’s staple track “Storm” to almost one million views. One user comments “I’m on that good side of youtube again thank God!” It’s a bit strange to us how this all works but YouTube definitely got it right with this one – “Storm” is a song so transportive, sensuous and enchanting that it was destined to be resurrected from obscurity to be cherished by many.
– DM
A1 Oops!
A2 Watch What Happens
A3 ‘Round Midnight
A4 Hello
B1 American Eyes
B2 Storm
B3 Up From The Skies
B4 Burn It!
Arranged By (Vocal Arrangements) – Todd Buffa (tracks: A1, A3 to B2, B4)
Artwork By – Griff Advertising
Bass – Kip Kuepper
Drums – Michael Berry
Engineer – Tim Geelan
Engineer (Additional) – Howard Johnston, Phil Edwards
Engineer (Assisted By) – Andrew Spigelman, David Harrington, Kim Foscato, Roddy Hui
Engineer (Most Ably Assisted By) – Rich Markowitz
Keyboards – Eric Gunnison
Mastered By – Vladimir Miller
Other (Direction By) – Patrick Cullie, Scott Roche
Percussion – Manolo Badrena (tracks: A4, B2, B4)
Performers – Barbara Reeves, Gaile Gillaspie, Marylynn Gillaspie, Todd Buffa
Photography (Back Cover) – Jerry Downes
Photography (Front Cover) – Tom Roche
Producer – Rare Silk
Written By – Todd Buffa (tracks: A1, A4, B1, B4)