Raydio
Raydio was an American funk and R&B band formed in 1977 in Detroit, Michigan, by Ray Erskine Parker Jr. (composer, guitarist, vocalist), Jerry Ernest Knight (vocalist, bassist), Vincent Bohnam (pianist, guitarist, drummer), and Arnell Derek Carmichael (lead vocalist, guitarist, lyricist). Ray Parker Jr., born May 1, 1954, in Detroit, started playing clarinet at age six and later attended Northwestern High School. The other members included Knight (born April 17, 1952, Los Angeles), Bohnam (born May 12, 1952, Los Angeles), and Carmichael (born October 29, 1952, Detroit), who had earlier formed a jazz vocal group.
The band's first album, Raydio (1978) on Arista Records, featured the gold single "Jack and Jill," peaking at No. 5 on Billboard's R&B chart, No. 8 on Hot 100, and No. 11 in the UK. Follow-up "Is This a Love Thing" hit No. 27 in the UK.
You Can't Change That (1979) became their biggest hit, selling over one million copies and peaking at No. 25 on R&B; it debuted at Madison Square Garden. Singles like "More Than One Way to Love a Woman" reached No. 25 R&B. By 1980-1981, as Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio, they released tracks including "Two Places at the Same Time" (No. 34 R&B), "That Old Song" (No. 7 R&B), and gold single "A Woman Needs Love" (No. 11 R&B).
Raydio disbanded in 1981, with members pursuing solo careers; Ray Parker Jr. achieved fame with "Ghostbusters" in 1984. Jerry Knight passed away from cancer in 1996 at age 44. The band reformed in 2014 by Carmichael and Bohnam for tours.
Raydio
Written-By – Ray Parker Jr.
6:16
A2 You Need This (To Satisfy That)
Written-By – Ray Parker Jr.
4:34
A3 Betcha You Can't Love Me Just Once
Written-By – Ray Parker Jr.
4:38
A4 Honey I'm Rich
Written-By – Ray Parker Jr., Thurlene Johnson
3:10
B1 Jack & Jill
Written-By – Ray Parker Jr.
4:33
B2 Me
Written-By – Ray Parker Jr.
4:58
B3 Let's Go All The Way
Written-By – Ray Parker Jr.
3:27
B4 Get Down
Written-By – Ray Parker Jr.
4:20
Label: Arista – AB 4163
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Funk, Disco
The 1978 self-titled debut album by Raydio, led by session guitarist Ray Parker Jr., is widely regarded as a significant funk and soul record that bridged the gap between the styles of Stevie Wonder and Prince.
Robert Christgau (The Village Voice) Gave the album an A-, praising it as a "flair"-filled collection of pop-soul at a time when such high-quality "black pop music" was becoming rare.
Modern critics highlight the album's "Detroit-minded sound" despite being recorded in L.A., noting its skilled use of synthesizers in place of traditional horns—an innovation that anticipated future R&B trends.
Listeners on platforms like Discogs consistently rate the album highly (averaging 4.1/5), frequently citing its "sophistifunk" production and smooth grooves.
Key Tracks and Highlights:-
"Jack and Jill": The album’s breakout hit (No. 8 on Billboard Hot 100), noted for its layers of Moog synthesizer and its "clever" use of nursery rhyme imagery to tell a story of relationship neglect.
"Is This a Love Thing": Cited by critics as one of the standout tracks that surpassed the lead single in quality.
"Honey I’m Rich" & "Get Down": "Honey I'm Rich" is praised for its Smokey Robinson-style wordplay, while "Get Down" is considered a top-tier instrumental funk groove.
"When You're In Need Of Love": Highlighted by fans for its rapid-fire, impressive bass play.
The album reached No. 8 on Billboard's R&B albums chart and was certified Gold in the U.S.. It established Ray Parker Jr. as a bandleader and hitmaker, laying the groundwork for his later solo success and iconic 80s hits.
In essence, the Raydio album was a well-crafted, commercially successful debut that delivered danceable, funky pop-soul, perfectly capturing the late '70s musical vibe.