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Topic: Nice article on the great jazz guitarist, Johnny Smith |
Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Scott Shewbridge
From:
Bay Area, N. California
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Posted 29 Aug 2010 8:52 am |
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| As they say in Facebook land - Like! |
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Richard Damron
From:
Gallatin, Tennessee, USA (deceased)
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Posted 29 Aug 2010 4:22 pm
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In late 1953 I bought the "Moonlight In Vermont" LP. It, alone, was the impetus to the learning of the guitar.
I still have that same album - some 57 years later.
I still haven't caught up to him as a guitarist.
Never will.
No nevermind - he was someone very special. At least a few of us recognized that fact.
Thank God for recordings and the remastered things on CD. I can still listen to his renderings 'til my days are up.
Life is good. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 29 Aug 2010 5:14 pm
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It always makes me happy to know that Johnny is still here with us.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Ethan Shaw
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2010 6:01 pm
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| Some of Johnny Smith's voicings almost sound like Noel Boggs' small group playing. Those tight voicings are what made me want to play steel...but it's amazing when you hear a master do it on guitar. |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 29 Aug 2010 6:17 pm
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Johnny's close voiced chord voicings while common for the piano were revolutionary on guitar but it's his overall sound that's so beautiful and that his virtuosity is always in service of the music with the instrument just a tool. Yeah Ethan, Smith's spread voicing of say, C6th on the guitar is identical (or nearly so) to that of a 6th-tuned steel.
This is Johnny's classic arrangement of Shenandoah. So simple yet so profound and pretty.
http://www.yourchords.com/152958/Johnny-Smith/Shenandoah-Tab/
My pale imitation on lap steel was based on Smith's sound and concepts:
http://www.reso-nation.org/audio/andy-volk/shenandoah-lap-steel |
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Bill Cunningham
From:
Atlanta, Ga. USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2010 7:02 pm
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Thanks for the article Andy.
I've had the Johnny Smith Verve album since high school in the early 1970's and it is still a favorite.
I have heard that Chet used Johnny on some of the Don Gibson sessions. Can anyone confirm that? If so, what are the particular recordings?
_________________
Bill Cunningham
Atlanta, GA |
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Mitch Drumm
From:
Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake
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Posted 29 Aug 2010 9:24 pm
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That is true, Bill--Smith was on several Gibson sessions.
Gibson's version of Camptown Races is a favorite, as is the entire February 1963 version where Don remakes some of his earlier hits---the remakes are arguably superior to the originals. "Don't Tell Me Your Troubles" is a minor classic. That LP (RCA 2702) had something of a pop feel and was always difficult to find--so I guess sales were not good.
Joe Tanner was another knocked out guitar player--what ever became of him? Out of North Carolina, I think.
1 May 1961 RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St., Nashville, TN - Don Gibson (Johnny Smith, Hank Garland, Harold Bradley, Bob Moore, Buddy Harman, Floyd Cramer + Anita Kerr Singers. Producer: Chet Atkins)
127 M2-WW-0636 NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW LSP 2361 BCD-15664
128 M2-WW-0637 BORN TO LOSE LSP 2361 LSP-2668 [va] BCD-15664
129 M2-WW-0638 BEAUTIFUL DREAMER LSP 2361 BCD-15664
130 M2-WW-0639 CAMPTOWN RACES LSP 2361 BFX-15193 BCD-15664 99791-2
131 M2-WW-0640 FIREBALL MAIL 47-8367/LSP 2361 CAS-2392 BFX-15193 BCD-15664
132 M2-WW-0641 THE LAST LETTER LSP 2361 BCD-15664
133 M2-WW-0642 WHITE SILVER SANDS LSP 2361 BCD-15664
134 M2-WW-0643 DRIFTWOOD ON THE RIVER LSP 2361/CAS-2246 BCD-15664
2 May 1961 RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St., Nashville, TN - Don Gibson (Johnny Smith, Hank Garland, Harold Bradley, Bob Moore, Buddy Harman, Floyd Cramer + Anita Kerr Singers. Producer: Chet Atkins)
135 M2-WW-0644 LONESOME ROAD LSP 2361 CAS 2392 BCD-15664
136 M2-WW-0645 ABOVE AND BEYOND LSP 2361 BFX-15193 BCD-15664
137 M2-WW-0646 CUTE LITTLE GIRLS LSP 2361 CAS 2392 BFX-15097 BCD-15664
12 March 1962 RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St., Nashville, TN - Don Gibson (Johnny Smith [gt], Grady Martin/Joseph Tanner [gt], Harold Bradley [gt], Velma Smith [gt], Bob Moore [bass], Buddy Harman [drums], Floyd Cramer [piano] + strings + Jordanaires. Producer: Chet Atkins)
148 N2-WW-0656 BLUE DREAM unissued
149 N2-WW-0657 WHERE IS YOUR HEART TONIGHT unissued
150 N2-WW-0658 THIS COLD WAR WITH YOU unissued
151 N2-WW-0659 I'M SORRY FOR YOU MY FRIEND unissued
152 N2-WW-0660 I LOVE YOU SO MUCH IT HURTS unissued
153 N2-WW-0661 IT'S A SIN unissued
154 N2-WW-0662 HOW'S THE WORLD TREATING YOU unissued
155 N2-WW-0663 MAY YOU NEVER BE ALONE unissued
13 March 1962 RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St., Nashville, TN - Don Gibson (Johnny Smith [gt], Joseph Tanner [gt], Harold Bradley [gt], Velma Smith [gt], Bob Moore [bass], Buddy Harman [drums], Floyd Cramer [piano] + Jordanaires. Producer: Chet Atkins)
156 N2-WW-0664 IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE NOW LSP 2448 CAS-2246 BCD-15664
157 N2-WW-0665 SETTIN' THE WOODS ON FIRE LSP 2448 CAS-2392 BCD-15664
158 N2-WW-0666 WE LIVE IN TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS unissued
159 N2-WW-0667 BABY WE'RE REALLY IN LOVE 47-8085/LSP 2448 BCD-15664
11 February 1963 RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St., Nashville, TN - Don Gibson (Johnny Smith [gt], Joseph Tanner [gt], Harold Bradley [gt], Junior Huskey [bass], Buddy Harman [drums], Floyd Cramer/Hargus Robbins [piano] + Jordanaires. Producer: Chet Atkins)
177 PPA4-0110 I CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU LSP 2702 BCD-15664
178 PPA4-0111 (I'D BE) A LEGEND IN MY TIME LSP 2702 BCD-15664
179 PPA4-0112 GIVE MYSELF A PARTY LSP 2702 BCD-15664
180 PPA4-0113 OH LONESOME ME LSP 2702 BCD-15664
181 PPA4-0114 DON'T TELL ME YOUR TROUBLES LSP 2702 BCD-15664
182 PPA4-0115 LOVE HAS COME MY WAY LSP 2702 BCD-15664
183 PPA4-0116 LONESOME NUMBER ONE LSP 2702 BCD-15664
184 PPA4-0117 BLUE BLUE DAY LSP 2702 BCD-15664
12 February 1963 RCA Victor Studio, 1611 Hawkins St., Nashville, TN - Don Gibson (Johnny Smith [gt], Joseph Tanner [gt], Harold Bradley [gt], Junior Huskey [bass], Buddy Harman [drums], Floyd Cramer [piano] + Jordanaires. Producer: Chet Atkins)
185 PPA4-0118 JUST ONE TIME LSP 2702 CAS-2392 ACL1-0758 BCD-15664
186 PPA4-0119 OH SUCH A STRANGER 47-8367/LSP 2702 CAS-2392 BCD-15664
187 PPA4-0120 AFTER THE HEARTACHE 47-8192/LSP 2702 CAS-2246 BCD-15664
188 PPA4-0121 ANYTHING NEW GETS OLD 47-8192/LSP 2702 BCD-15664 |
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Jussi Huhtakangas
From:
Helsinki, Finland
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Posted 29 Aug 2010 9:52 pm
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Mosaic Records has released a cd box set which includes Johnny's complete small group recordings for Roost. Which means it covers everything he recorded for the label except My Dear Little Sweetheart and Guitar And Strings LP's. I already had all the original vinyls but the recordings are incredibly well remastered on cd which made this box well worth having.
I have a "home recording" from the early 80's of Johnny playing a club gig somewhere in Colorado, I need to find someone to help me transfer it on a cd. Sound quality isn't the greatest but the music is oustanding and it's a very intimate performance. |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 30 Aug 2010 6:28 am
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A lesser known part of Smith's career is his skill at accompanying singers like Jeri Southern and Ruth Price. It must have been something for a standards singer to get to warble over those warm, lush Smith chord voicings.
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Ron Randall
From:
Dallas, Texas, USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2010 11:46 am
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Thanks Andy
I have "Moonlight in Vermont" on my set list from about 1966. I like to pretend I can sound like that.
Ron |
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Jussi Huhtakangas
From:
Helsinki, Finland
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Mitch Drumm
From:
Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake
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Posted 30 Aug 2010 1:00 pm
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He did a nice LP with Art Van Damme. I'm a sucker for jazzy accordion and guitar combinations. Originally Columbia 8813 from the 1960s and now on CD. If you like this type of sound, Jimmy Wyble's first LP is another good one--I think available on CD from Japan, earlier on a ten inch and a twelve inch LP in the USA.
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Bill Cunningham
From:
Atlanta, Ga. USA
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Posted 31 Aug 2010 5:27 pm
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Thank you for the Chet connection info Mitch. Your research skills and knowledge are always amazing. You are a tremendous asset to the SGF. Are you a retired librarian or something? 
_________________
Bill Cunningham
Atlanta, GA |
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Mitch Drumm
From:
Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake
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Posted 31 Aug 2010 6:25 pm
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Bill:
At one time, I could be found in the Yellow Pages under “Bar Fixtures”----I could ID a snuff queen through 75 feet of Pall Mall haze. 
Nowadays, I’ll definitely answer to “or something”. |
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Darryl Hattenhauer
From:
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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Posted 31 Aug 2010 9:36 pm
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Wonderful article. Johnny Smith used D tuning!
_________________
Steel crazy after all these years.
$100 reward for info leading to the purchase of a fender D8 white, yellow, or butterscotch. |
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Michael Lee Allen
From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
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Posted 2 Sep 2010 8:52 am
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Removed.
_________________
"Wisdom does not always come with age. Many times age arrives alone."
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 23 Feb 2011 7:36 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 2 Sep 2010 11:20 am
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Just to clarify, depending on the music he was playing, Smith tuned his standard, 6-string Spanish guitar in one of three ways (hi to low):
Standard: EBGDAE
Drop D: EBGDAD
Drop D, Drop G: EBGDGD |
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Darryl Hattenhauer
From:
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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Posted 2 Sep 2010 1:40 pm
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Michael,
Good to hear from you. I shouldn't have worded it the way I did.
Andy,
Thanks for saying what I should have said.
_________________
Steel crazy after all these years.
$100 reward for info leading to the purchase of a fender D8 white, yellow, or butterscotch. |
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Jussi Huhtakangas
From:
Helsinki, Finland
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Posted 2 Sep 2010 9:40 pm
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Those Emrads are super rare, one was on ebay not too long ago and that too was originally from Johnny's store. I'd really like to find one of the Ampeg Fountain Of Sound amps, one is for sale here but it's missing the legs, needs service and the seller wants 3K's for it 
http://www.gbase.com/gear/ampeg-johnny-smith-js20-1958 |
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Michael Lee Allen
From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
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Posted 3 Sep 2010 12:27 pm
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Removed.
_________________
"Wisdom does not always come with age. Many times age arrives alone."
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 23 Feb 2011 7:37 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Michael Lee Allen
From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
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Posted 3 Sep 2010 12:29 pm
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Removed.
_________________
"Wisdom does not always come with age. Many times age arrives alone."
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 23 Feb 2011 7:42 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Michael Lee Allen
From:
Portage Park / Irving Park, Chicago, Illinois
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Posted 3 Sep 2010 12:30 pm
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Removed.
_________________
"Wisdom does not always come with age. Many times age arrives alone."
Last edited by Michael Lee Allen on 23 Feb 2011 7:43 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 3 Sep 2010 2:13 pm
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| Thanks for posting those, Michael. I wonder what the Ampeg amp sounded like in a club? The ceiling-pointed speaker is unique. |
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Richard Damron
From:
Gallatin, Tennessee, USA (deceased)
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Posted 3 Sep 2010 2:40 pm
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Michael Lee Allen -
Why did you identify the 1st photo as a "Mid 1970s version of the Gibson "Johnny Smith" model..." when, in fact, the photo is of a Guild Artist Award Model?
You were in a hurry and your finger schlupped.
I forgive you.
Respectfully,
Richard |
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