Proper 180g reissue of this heavily sweated Roy Ayers' joint. Come Into Knowledge is a digger's staple and one of the rarest Roy Ayers' albums, fetching a c-note plus for original pressings. But before you go droppin your hard earned equity, drop 13 on this reissue and see what it's all about. Some might be expecting a banging funk record, but RAMP is more smoothed out jazz-funk, the specific soul sound of 1977. The songs feature the vocals of Sharon Matthews and Sibel Thrasher with arrangements by Ayers. The track of note here is "Daylight" the summer groover wholly sampled by ATCQ for "Bonita Applebum." The cover of the classic "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" feels just right with the female vocals and Lab heads agree that it outshines the original. And you can't front on that album art! Heavyweight pressing, full gloss cover.

• music label: ABC Records 1977 / Universal Music 2008

reviewed by the mgmnt 05/2009