Tune Of The Week #13 - Floyd Smith

[Joe Goldmark]

Steeler: Floyd Smith
Artist: Andy Kirk & His Clouds Of Joy
LP Title: Rhythm, Blues & Boogie Woogie
Tune: Floyd's Guitar Blues
Label: Decca DL 4011
Year: LP released 1960, tune recorded 1940.



Floyd Smith was the guitarist with Andy Kirk & His Clouds Of Joy. He must have been fooling around with a lap steel and came up with this blues. I love how the horns play the intro, and then sit back and smoke reefer until the very end. Listen to how well it was all recorded back then with just one or two mikes (the hum was from my system). Also, listen to how he uses dynamics. Altogether a pretty amazing performance.

Krazy Kris (whoever that was) also had a version on King records, and Chuck Berry renamed it "Blues For Hawaiians." on Chess records.

Joe

http://www.vinylbeat.com/forum/01FloydsGuitarBlues.mp3

[Dave Ristrim]

Joe, I sure enjoy your Tune of the Week series. This one reminds me of Alvino Rey.
Keep up the good work.

[Joe Goldmark]

Hi Dave,

How are you doing? Hope all is well. Glad you like the tunes.

This one is definitely not country, but we all play the blues from time to time. Alvino Rey is probably not the first person who comes to mind for me, but you're probably relating to the big band arrangement. This is kind of the roots of electric slide guitar. I imagine that Floyd Smith also heard Bob Dunn, the first hot western swing steeler. I'll post something from him at some point.

Joe

[Brint Hannay]

Joe, Bob Dunn is who I thought of, too.

I love the aggressive attack and horn-like ideas. Intonation a little off here and there, but creative imagination totally trumps that. Great stuff!

Thanks for posting these gems that I'd probably never hear otherwise.

[Dave Ristrim]

Joe, you're right. The playing style, not so much Rey. I was thinking some of the tone reminds me of things Rey did.

[Cartwright Thompson]

Reminds me of Roy Smeck