Big Bad Smitty - Disccography 3 Alben (1997-2000)

Big Bad Smitty, whose real name is John Henry Smith, is a Mississippi guitarist in the style of Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters. During his youth, Smitty played in the region of Greenville with Roosevelt "Booba" Barnes, a friend from school. The pair established a band and also played gigs in Arkansas. Smitty settled in Jackson, MS, and drove a truck for a living when he was in his twenties. The local blues scene afforded him the opportunity to play with musicians such as King Mose, Sam Myers, King Edward, and John Littlejohn. He recorded for Ace Records' Johnny Vincent, whose stable of talent included Huey "Piano" Smith and Frankie "Sea Cruise" Ford. Some of Smitty's recordings can be found on a reissue of Ace's Genuine Mississippi Blues, which was originally released in 1970. The guitarist relocated to St. Louis, where he hooked up with Big George Brock, Little Weaver & the Dynamite, and Bennie Smith. After heading home to Mississippi, he formed Big Bad Smitty & the Upsetters. JCE released his St. Louis on a High Hill album during the '80s. During the early '90s, Black Magic put out Mean Disposition in Europe. Aim Records released it in Australia, while Genes put it on the market in the U.S. An appearance at the Holland festival known as Blues Estafette followed, with Smitty touring Italy and Switzerland in 1992. The following year, Smitty again toured Italy and Switzerland, throwing in stops in Germany. He also played England's Burnley National Blues Festival, Belgium's Handzame Blues Festival, Arkansas' King Biscuit Blues Festival, and the Chicago Blues Festival. Also in 1993, the guitarist performed at Iowa's Mississippi Valley Blues Festival and Australia's East Coast Blues Festival. Upon returning home, the guitarist was waylaid by a stroke.

The liner on this compact disc says it was recorded at Sheldon Hall in January of 2004. When I closed my eyes and started listening, I was not in Sheldon Hall. I was someplace down Chouteau Avenue, sitting in a discarded kitchen chair, eating chicken and ribs from the Servian Tomboy. Or maybe I was across the street under the shade tree by Atlas Hardware passing time and a bottle in a bag! This is the Blues I was hearing. With Smitty weaving the tales and Arthur and Tom providing the ride, they were headed for the East Side.
Smitty takes the somewhat familiar stories in recognizable places and brings them to a personal intimacy. Whether he is singing "bout some dang woman", a place to be go to or to "get the hell out of", or "just the way it is!", you know he is speaking first person. Mirroring personal struggles in his own life, he is able to convince you that he has been there! Raw or down to earth, you choose! His vocals reflect it all.
Arthur Williams has been playing the harp and Saint Louis for many years. He brings Delta and Urban Blues styles together and then separates them at will. Equally skillful at either, he heats it up for the highs and gives you "like a lowdown shaky chill" on the lows! Wow! Very accomplished musician with a soulful interpretation of his instrument!
Tom Hall is described by some an American troubadour. I think Neil Diamond is a troubadour but he's no Tom Hall. I think of Tom Hall more as a traveling Blues Minstrel. Some people may think it's a crock, but I knew Tom Hall when he ran away from the Orphanage to join the Circus. I don't think troubadours even go to the Circus. Never mind, that was along time ago. Tom Hall has been honing his craft here in Saint Louis since the mid-1970s. Possessing the ability to be accomplished in many styles, his heart is in the Delta. This CD is a good example of what is in the man!
The combination of these three old Blues Dogs on stage and somebody having it together enough to record on something.