Night Birds, released in 1982 on the Polydor label, is the second album by English jazz-funk band Shakatak. Night Birds established Shakatak's trademark jazz-funk sound, and contains two of the band's biggest hits, "Easier Said than Done" and "Night Birds", the former reaching the No. 12 spot in 1981, the latter climbing to No. 9 in the following year.

Night Birds
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 1982
StudioJacobs Studios (Surrey)
Pye Studio II (London)
GenreJazz-Funk, crossover
Length43:32
LabelPolydor
ProducerNigel Wright
Shakatak chronology
Drivin' Hard
(1981)
Night Birds
(1982)
Invitations
(1982)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [1]

Track listing

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Side 1:

  1. "Night Birds" – 6:25
  2. "Streetwalkin'" – 5:30
  3. "Rio Nights" – 5:18
  4. "Fly the Wind" – 4:20

Side 2:

  1. "Easier Said Than Done" – 6:10
  2. "Bitch to the Boys" – 6:28
  3. "Light on My Life" – 4:48
  4. "Takin' Off" (William "Bill" Sharpe) – 5:08

Charts

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Chart (1982/83) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[2] 52
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[3] 35
United Kingdom (Official Charts Company)[4] 4

Personnel

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Additional personnel
  • Vocals by Lorna Bannon; lead vocal on "Light on My Life"
  • Percussion, Portuguese translation and vocal on "Rio Nights" by Simon Morton
  • Trumpet by Stuart Brooks
  • Saxophone solos on "Streetwalkin'" and "Light on My Life" by Dick Morrissey (courtesy of Beggars Banquet)

References

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  1. ^ Shakatak - Night Birds (1982) album review by Sharon Mawer, credits & releases at AllMusic
  2. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 269. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  3. ^ "Top 40 New Zealand Albums Chart" (PDF). Official NZ Music Chart. 31 October 1982. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  4. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 492. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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