Jimmy Smith - Bluesmith - Ever On A Legitimate CD?

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I was reading a somewhat positive review of Jimmy Smith's "Bluesmith" & saw that it has Teddy Edwards on it. I have never heard this session. Is it worth finding? Has this material ever been out on a legitimate CD release?

Edited May 21 by Kevin Bresnahan

[Dan Gould]

I am glad to own it; is it as great as the Turrentine collaborations on BN? Probably not.

 

[mikeweil]

Some of it can be listened to on Youtube:

 

Edited April 26 by mikeweil

[JSngry]

I seen to recall having an enjoyable response to it!

Also aks your friendly neighborhood record dealer to hook you up with this jam as weel:

 

[Aggie87]

The only CD issue on Discogs is from Russia.

https://www.discogs.com/release/3955513-Jimmy-Smith-Bluesmith

I'm going to guess it's not legit, but it says licensed from Universal to Lilith Ltd.

There's one copy on discogs available, from Italy, but with shipping it goes for $44.

[JSngry]

Remember blogs?

[jlhoots]

I have it somewhere. I'll try to find it.

[mhatta]

Bought a long time ago (I think in 2006, when it came out). I didn't think it was a bootleg as it was in proper paper packaging and I bought it from a regular CD shop. I think it's called so-called half official or gray market stuff. There are English liner notes and (presumably) Russian translations. It says 'Manufactured in EU / Under license from Universal Music Plc., Russia', so at least they had a contract in Russia, I guess.

Musically, the atmosphere is a bit different as Leroy Vinegar plays bass instead of Smith's feet. I quite like it.

[Spontooneous]

I have the Russian reissue that mhatta speaks of. It was a Half Price Books purchase. Greatly enjoy this album. Teddy Edwards is indeed an asset, but so is Ray Crawford.

[Dub Modal]

On 4/27/2024 at 12:22 AM, mhatta said:

Musically, the atmosphere is a bit different as Leroy Vinegar plays bass instead of Smith's feet. I quite like it.

Wow. I'm shocked about that. The first and only time in Smith's recorded discography? 

[Milestones]

Christian McBride was in the band on a couple of Jimmy's records for Verve in the 1990s.  Also, I believe the Christmas album features bass.

 

 

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Someone sent me a needle-drop of this LP. I'm digging it. The tune "Lolita" is my least favorite. It seem off from the rest of the tunes... not very bluesy. Also, it's too bad the recording engineer felt the need to add reverb to Edwards' sax. I wonder if there are tapes without it? The title track has some uncredited piano playing. If this is Jimmy, I'm glad he stuck to organ.