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."
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[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
