Friday, August 27, 2010

Jimmy Smith- Black Smith (1974)



Greetings all. Today brings with it another album loathed by genre purists: Jimmy Smith's excellent "Black Smith," which, despite my label, is very little like a jazz record at all. Released in 1974 by MGM's music subsidiary, Pride Records, "Black Smith" is a heavily-produced funk/soul excursion built on surf-rock, R&B, funk, pop and soundtrack covers, with a very tasty version of Bach's "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring" thrown in for good measure. Jimmy sings on two tracks (which is either good news or bad news, depending on your tastes), though, with the exception of female background singers, the album, like most of Smith's work, is mostly instrumental.

The track selection here reflects the taste of producer Michael Viner, the founder and mastermind behind the Incredible Bongo Band, forever immortalized by their cover of "Apache", the mothertrack to countless hip hop standards and the song you hear in your head when you picture someone breakdancing. Hope you like it, and sorry I had to break it into 2 pieces for download. Enjoy!

Side A
Side B


P.S. The cover is the artwork of the bassist Klaus Voorman, who also did the spidery drawing/collage cover of the Beatles' "Revolver."


=========================================================


[Original Liner Notes]

Side A
1. HANG 'EM HIGH
(By Dominique Frontiere. Time 6:17)
2. I'M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABE
(By Barry White. Time 4:31)
3. JOY
(By Johann Sebastian Bach. Time 3:30)
4. OOH POO PAH DOO
(By Jessie Hill. Time 3:11)
5. WHY CAN'T WE LIVE TOGETHER
(By Timmy Thomas. Time 5:26)

Side B
1. GROOVIN'
(By Felix Cavaliere & Eddie Brigati. Time 3:03)
2. PIPELINE
(By Bob Spickard & Brian Carman. Time 7:58)
3. WILDFLOWER
(By David Richardson & Doug Edwards. Time 6:05)
4. SOMETHING YOU GOT
(By Chris Kenner. Time 4:00)

Cover art: Klaus Voorman
PRODUCED BY MICHAEL VINER & JERRY PETERS

10 comments:

ish said...

Jimmy Smith covers Barry White? Downloading that right now!

Hey you have realy interesting taste here. I'm gonna link you up at my blog if that's ok.

peace
http://ileoxumare.blogspot.com/

Botched Surgery said...

Hey no kidding man- thanks a lot :). I really dig the stuff you're doing with the strata-east fan club too- almost ordered a t-shirt a few weeks back.

Take care and see you on the flip,
Botched

Anonymous said...

I love Root Down which I think was also from '74.Love the blog.Thanx 4 keepin it funky!
chronwell

Botched Surgery said...

Yo Chronwell!
Thank YOU for keeping it funky.

Peace from Acadia National Park, Maine.
Botched Surgery AKA Mike

avocado kid said...

very cool! never seen this one.

rubes said...

my pops has this record and i always loved it; couldn't understand why it was always hated on so. i'm getting ready to play "jesu" on my christmas eve radio gig tonight (wtju.net) - glad to see someone else out there is down with this record - and thanks for the voorman tip! i had no idea...

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing Black Smith!

This one was missing in my J.O.S. collection and I didn't expect to find it.

I like him the best in an organ, guitar, drum setting, e.g. the classic Organ Grinder Swing (1965) or the quite frenzy Live at the Village Gate (1963), but still, it's always interesting to check him out in other setting too. The first track was the highlight here: Hang 'em High.

/Jazz Organ Fan

rubes said...

so pleased to see this album get some love. it's worth noting that the beasties sampled "i'm gonna love you" for "professor booty."

Anonymous said...

Thanks much for posting on this. I know this is all from a while back but I am trying to download Blacksmith in full (all 9 tracks) and I can't seem to find it active anywhere. If you, or anyone, can be of any help I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

+1 can't find the Blacksmith anywhere :-(
If somebody could repost it it would be funking nice :-)