The Backporch Blues

This collection should be the compass or template for any budding blues band. Smothers & crew provide a text book lesson in 'lean & mean'. In other words there's not a wasted note to be found. Simply put, like many of their Chi Town peers this music shows great ensemble work by all involved.I had to see for myself by tuning my axe to E flat. The minute you start to 'hot rod' or 'show boat' it just feels WRONG. I believe this collection marks the debut of the great Freddy King. Even King plays it 'tight to to the vest' on Back Porch Blues. King's highly influential picking style is in full evidence here but he never over plays on any of the tracks. Also, per the liner notes, he came into the sessions with little to no practice with Smokeys group but plays impeccably. After the sessions were completed 8/25/60, he then cut the legendary "Hideaway" on 8/26/60 for King/federal & the rest is history. If you like your blues on the raw & down home (think Jimmy Reed or Frank Frost) you'll find this an essential hidden gem to add to your blues collection.

There are two songs by Smokey Smothers that I adore - "I Ain't Gonna Be Your Monkey Man No More" and "I Got My Eyes on You." These two songs were the reason I bought this CD - because I thought there'd be a bunch more good ones, like when you buy any album by Muddy Waters or Howlin' Wolf. But one of those two songs isn't even on here ("I Got My Eyes on You"), and the rest are pretty good - but not outstanding like those two. I need to listen to the whole CD a few more times to see if any of the other songs really start to grow on me, but so far this is a CD that I just put on if I'm in the mood for blues and listen to the whole thing once while I'm working on something, but don't listen to over and over. Both of those two songs I mentioned grabbed me by the throat the very first time I heard them... and wouldn't let go. They are magnificent. The overall feeling from this CD is one of raw, gutbucket blues, which I love. The liner notes by Bill Dahl are excellent - full of wonderful history about Smokey as well as Freddy King and other musicians he played with.I'm glad I bought this CD, as I honor the blues. I hope the royalties are going to Smokey's family.

Another outstanding release from Ace , in the pocket no nonsense blues from the unfortunately little known Smothers with super tasty backing from Freddy King. No label does a better job of compiling reissues than Ace!

I know this is not a Freddie King album but he does play lead guitar and it sounds great. This is an early and rare King album label release and has the tremelo blues sound of Slim Harpo. Smokey Smothers is a great blues singer and has one of the great guitar players of all time backing him. This is a must have album for any blues fans. This album is only going to get harder and harder to find so do yourself a favor and buy it now.

Very satisfied. Ace is one of the best labels ever. They always add bonus tracks as they do here with cd clocking in at 25 songs.

Down home Chicago blues sound . Big Smokey and Freddy King leave a blueprint for future blues artists

Wow! Hear this and witness some real fine early 60's stuff. Generous list of tunes done by some unpretentious down and dirty blues players. Nice sound quality. Uncomplicated. Very easy to listen to and enjoy. Excellent liner notes.

Fantastic cd,lots of great rhythm work.Freddie King plays guitaron this.Has an almost Excello label feel to it.

Great blues record!!

Otis Smothers est un guitariste né dans le delta du Mississippi mais jouant dans le style chicago blues. Cet album est la réedition d'un LP quasi introuvable (sorti au début des années 60) et certainement le meilleur de ce bluesman au jeu lancinant,proche de Jimmy Reed,mais avec un son qui évoque sans coup férir le west side sound propre à Chicago. La lead guitar est tenu par un flamboyant Freddie King qui nous sort des solos de dérriere les fagots absolument fabuleux. Un des meilleurs albums de Chicago blues.

昔　スモーキー・スマザースのコンプリートセッション　と云うLPを持っていて　大変気に入っていたのですが、友達にあげてしまって･･･CD 化されていないか　探していました。あの頃の感動が　よみがえりました。しかも別テイク等　全25曲、大満足です。シカゴブルースが好きな人は　聞くべきです！