Michael B. Smith's CD to be on
Rockabilly Hall of Fame "Blues" Label
July 12, 2000 - The album features some of Nebraska's finest talents and was recorded in Lincoln, Nebraska and Completed in Asheboro, North Carolina. "Midwest Carolina Blues," (RBHOF 110) the second album from Upstate South Carolina performer Michael B. Smith, will be released on the Rockabilly Hall of Fame label in August, as the pilot project of their new "Blues" division. The band is billed as Michael B. Smith & The Rockabilly Hall of Fame Blues Band. A nice, short, easy to remember name.The album was inspired by, and is dedicated to, Nebraska rock and blues legend Bobby Lowell, best known for his 1956 hit, "Um Baby Baby," on Roto Records. Lowell and Smith struck up a friendship while Smith was writing an article for Goldmine Magazine on the death of Boxcar Willie,who had been on the roster at Lowell's Roto Records early in his career.Shortly after a visit to Lincoln to meet Lowell in person and an ensuing jam session with members of the Nebraska Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and many others, including the legendary Johnny Olen ("The Girl Can't Help It"), Smith learned that Lowell had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Smith decided to record his next album in tribute to his friend,and all of the Nebraska rockers from the earlier jam session, all friends of Bobby's, agreed to play on the project. Cowboy Bob Davis,proprietor of Jam Palace Studio, offered use of his studio and his engineering skills.
The recording session took place on March 3 - 5, 2000. The Lincoln sessions were produced by Mike "Pinky" Semrad and Sean Benjamin, and engineered by Cowboy Bob Davis. Musicians include Semrad on bass;Benjamin on piano and guitar; Dave Robel on drums; Bob Timmers on guitar; Jim Cidlik on Hammond B-3 organ; Jim Jenkins on saxophone; and Toni Bastian on vocals, along with Michael B. on lead vocals and lead and rhythm guitars. Oddly enough, Michael lost his voice after singing onstage with The Heart Murmers at the Zoo Bar upon his arrival in Lincoln on Friday. He was forced to return to S.C. with one component conspicuously missing from his master tapes - his lead vocals.
Enter Wes Nance and Subtle Chaos Music near Asheboro, North Carolina.In July, Smith took a road trip to Studio 5 in Trinity, N.C., where he added the lead vocals, and had the project mixed and mastered under the capable hands and ears of Studio 5's Kevin "Caveman" Davis and Wesley Nance, who are credited as co-producers for the North Carolina sessions.
"Midwest Carolina Blues" features contributions from many of his Nebraska friends, as well as one of Smith's original compositions, and some blues classics. Guitarist Bob Timmers, who is also the curator of The Rockabilly Hall of Fame, wrote the excellent "Rockabilly Blue,"which features Toni Baustian of Omaha on lead vocals, and some fine saxwork from Jim Jenkins. Sean Benjamin sings "It's Been So Long," a love song written by Bobby Lowell himself, and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame Blues Band rocks through the instrumental "Redeye," featuring Timmers onguitar, a tune penned by Johnny Meeks, an original member of GeneVincent and The Blue Caps. Smith turns in, "She's Got a Hold On Me," and he and Toni share lead vocals on a blues medley that includes "Stormy Monday Blues" and "Redhouse." There is also an up-tempo blues arrangement of Steve Young's "Lonesome, On'ry and Mean," a retelling of"Jelly Jelly Blues," and a cover of the Edgar Winter's White Trash classic, "Fly Away," complete with a studio choir.
Michael's debut release, "Happy to Be Here," an all-original album, was released on Dreaming Buffalo in 1997. He is currently performing an all-acoustic, solo act, and preparing to tour with a full blues band.
"Midwest Carolina Blues" will be distributed by and available from The Rockabilly Hall of Fame, Subtle Chaos, Gritz (http://www.gritz.net) ,Amazon.com and from Michael's website (http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/9611/)
Check out Michael's "Midwest Carolina Blues" Page, with photos from the recording session!
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