Jimmy Smith's "The Boss"

[CJ Shearn]

Looking forward to this reissue, heard a couple cuts on Scott "Organfreak" Hawthorn's site a few years ago, and it smokes, especially with George Benson and Donald Bailey on board. Anyway, I seem to recall the feww tracks I heard as being edited, will the new Verve LPR reissue restore the track lengths like on "Root Down" or should I expect just a straight reissue of the original album?

[Jim Alfredson]

Hm, interesting question regarding the edits. I've always wished Columbia would release Dr. Lonnie Smith's first solo record without all the fade-outs. Just when the organ starts soloing they fade out the tune on the original release!

I have this on LP. It's a dandy.

[JSngry]

Yeah, I found an LP about a year or so ago, and it's MY-T-Fine indeed!

[CJ Shearn]

I wonder how Donald Bailey got the call for this gig, didn't Jimmy have another regular drummer around this time?

[DMP]

If I recall, the album is a good one, but what kept me from playing it much was there was a constant buzz from the crowd. I don't mean applause or clapping (like a live Cannonball album, for example, or that over-dubbed enthusiasm on a Jack McDuff LP), or a phone ringing (like every record made at the Blackhawk) - which often add to the record's ambience - but a constant din. Maybe the CD release will correct this.

[Brad]

Up, since it's out tomorrow.

[connoisseur series500]

I just ordered it from the bastards...

[Free For All]

Picked this up today along with the Evans and Jamal. The Smith didn't have a booklet, the others did. Did anyone get a booklet w/the Smith?

[connoisseur series500]

Picked this up today along with the Evans and Jamal. The Smith didn't have a booklet, the others did. Did anyone get a booklet w/the Smith?

depends on what the Bastards send me...

[CJ Shearn]

Free For All,

Are the tracks on "The Boss" restored to full length or are there still edits? my copy should be here from CDUniverse tommorrow.

[Free For All]

Some Of My Best Friends Are Blues......7:54

The Boss............................................8:48

This Guy's In Love With You.................5:52

Fingers..............................................10:30

Tuxedo Junction...................................9:29

I haven't listened yet, but it appears the cuts are as they were on the original LP- no restored cuts.

[CJ Shearn]

bummer......... I'm sure whats there is good anyway. Thanks for the info

[CJ Shearn]

Got my copy in the mail today. No booklet either, and I'm bummed about the edits, but the playing is great (Jimmy really gets off on the title track and "Fingers") its much better than some of the big band stuff he was putting out like "Livin it Up", and the sound is very good too. Just glad its on CD.

[CJ Shearn]

TTT. Anyone grab this?

[DMP]

Is anyone actually listening to this? The crowd noise (which I recalled above, from the LP) is still unbelievable! I understand that we sometime have to put up with sub-standard recording or other annoyances to listen to great music, but "The Boss" - recorded in an era when "live" recordings were fairly routine - has to be some kind of record. (And it's not like the audience noise has any relationship at all to what's being played - don't think anyone was evening listening to the good music that was being played.) With all the many fine "Verve" Jimmy Smith titles that are yet to be reissued, I don't get it . (Even Benson's "live" appearances with McDuff are better than this.)

[Soul Stream]

maybe jimmy's greatest recorded achievement imho. you could argue "organ grinder swing" and "the sermon" and i wouldn't disagree.... just my 2 cents.