Akilah!
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album|
| name = Akilah!
| type = Album
| artist = Melvin Sparks
| cover = Akilah!.jpg
| alt =
| released = 1972
| recorded = February 14 & 21, 1972
| venue =
| studio = Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs
| genre = Jazz
| length =
| label = Prestige
PR 10039
| producer = Ozzie Cadena
| chronology = Melvin Sparks
| prev_title = Spark Plug
| prev_year = 1971
| next_title = Texas Twister
| next_year = 1973
}}
Akilah! is the third album by soul jazz guitarist Melvin Sparks recorded for the Prestige label in 1972.[http://www.jazzdisco.org/prestige-records/catalog-10000-series/#pr-10039 Prestige Records discography] accessed May 22, 2013
Reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = Allmusic
}}
Allmusic awarded the album 3 stars.[http://www.allmusic.com/album/akilah-mw0000872816 Allmusic listing] accessed May 22, 2013.
Track listing
All compositions by Melvin Sparks except where noted.
- "Love the Life You Live" (Gene Redd, Kool & the Gang) – 5:39
- "On the Up" – 6:00
- "All Wrapped Up" – 4:45
- "Akilah" – 4:42
- "Blues for J.B." – 7:09
- "The Image of Love" (Leon Spencer) – 6:49
Personnel
- Melvin Sparks – guitar
- Virgil Jones (tracks 1, 2 & 4), Ernie Royal (track 4) – trumpet
- Sonny Fortune (tracks 1, 2, 4 & 5), George Coleman (track 4) – alto saxophone
- Frank Wess – tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 2 & 4)
- Dave Hubbard – tenor saxophone (track 6), flute (tracks 3)
- Hubert Laws – flute (track 3)
- Leon Spencer – organ, piano
- Idris Muhammad – drums
- Buddy Caldwell – congas
- Billy Ver Planck – arranger (tracks 1 & 2)