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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This is the kind of nasty, back-alley music that makes you wince in ecstasy. With Stanley Turrentine's tenor and Kenny Burrell's guitar sharing solo space, the Hammond master digs in with a blues-drenched shovel. While certainly fluent in the bop idiom, Smith's organ work maintains a direct emotional peg that reflects the swing and jump blues of a previous generation. Turrentine, a relative newcomer at this point (1960), proves a perfect foil for Smith's funky ideas, forgoing flashy bop runs in favor of soulful, expressive passages. Even on chestnuts such as "When I Grow Too Old to Dream" and "On the Sunny Side of the Street," the foursome boils the melodies down to their barest bluesy core. Back at the Chicken Shack is the prototypical soul-jazz recording. --Marc Greilsamer
Product Description
Import-only four CD set from the Jazz great. Doc. 2011.
--This text refers to an alternate
Audio CD
edition.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
58 of 60 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
First things first: ignore the low average rating for this album -- this is one of Jimmy Smith's best (maybe THE best) albums and a major jewel in the crown of Blue Note records. It's not funky in the James Brown sense, it's funky in the heaps-and-heaps-of-soul, a-groove-six-feet-deep, "What the hell is happening back at that chicken shack?" sense.
As far as groovin', bluesy B3 jazz, you really can't do better than this album. Donald Bailey has a heavy, booting swing and Jimmy Smith's chunky basslines propel the music along. Kenny Burrell's playing is beautiful here -- very subtle and tasteful, the yin to Jimmy Smith's powerful organ yang. And as far as I'm concerned, tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine is lifted to deity status by his playing on this session. Saxophone playing doesn't get any more soulful and meaty than this.
The title track is just a blues, but what a blues it is. Jimmy digs in with the riff, Kenny plays one of his marvelous, low-key solos, and then Turrentine makes history with an absolutely mind-boggling huffin' and puffin' solo. Even the standards on this CD (classic interpretations of "When I Grow too Old to Dream" and "On the Sunny Side of the Street") sound bluesy. And despite the fact that the title track is the most famous piece here, I think "Messy Bessie" is the best here. Judging by the song, she must be a fun girl to hang around.
If you like this album, get its twin (recorded the same day), Midnight Special. Other great Jimmy Smith albums are Crazy! Baby, the Sermon, and Cool Blues. But I don't think any of them are as awesome as whatever the hell is going on Back at the Chicken Shack.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I agree 100% with Guy from New Haven. And even though I don't possess all of Jimmy's albums, this has to be his best... Maybe the the best jazz album ever!!! Never heard anything so groovy; it's B3 organ, Tenor Sax and good rhythm galore!!!
I don't know which track is best because they're all stunning but to name a few, maybe "Minor Chant" by Stanley Turrentine (who brilliantly plays the sax throughout the album), stands out a little... not by much though. "When I grow too old to dream": what a sweet melody!... Messy Bessie (by Jimmy) is so good, I would have appreciated a finale instead of the fade-out we got (but that's okay). And technically, the 1960's Blue Note pure, clear, and no-fuss analog recording sounds flawless.
If you're jaded with the traditional organ-drums-guitar formation, check this out because tenor saxophone truly adds a uniquely elegant and amazingly powerful dimension to Jimmy's already great sound! This will put a smile on your face and make your head bounce!
I don't know which track is best because they're all stunning but to name a few, maybe "Minor Chant" by Stanley Turrentine (who brilliantly plays the sax throughout the album), stands out a little... not by much though. "When I grow too old to dream": what a sweet melody!... Messy Bessie (by Jimmy) is so good, I would have appreciated a finale instead of the fade-out we got (but that's okay). And technically, the 1960's Blue Note pure, clear, and no-fuss analog recording sounds flawless.
If you're jaded with the traditional organ-drums-guitar formation, check this out because tenor saxophone truly adds a uniquely elegant and amazingly powerful dimension to Jimmy's already great sound! This will put a smile on your face and make your head bounce!
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
What's there to say about Jimmy Smith that has not already been written? He's a true jazz pioneer, the "Miles Davis" of the Hammond (electric) organ, one might say. Like Davis, Smith has changed his sound drastically over the years, from Hard-Bop of early "Sermon" years, to Soul and eventually even Big Band style. But unlike Miles Davis or John Coltrane, Jimmy Smith is virtually unknown outside of jazz circles. This is truly unfortunate (and surprising), given the fact that so many rock and roll bands have used the Hammond B-3 organ in their songs over the past three decades. If it wasn't for Smith, the instrument would arguably not have as widespread appeal among musicians. On this album, widely regarded as his strongest, Smith's playing is groovy and laid back, but not in a lazy way. Continuing with the Miles Davis analogy (because everyone, even non jazz-enthusiasts, are familiar with Davis' work), consider this Smith's version of "Kind of Blue." It's cool, calm, and collected. But at the same time, Smith accents the entire thing with a heavy dose of straight-up soul. Smith, who has had one of the most prolific careers of anyone, deserves more recognition and credit for his work in the genre. But until that happens, there will be plenty of jazz fans grooving to this album, waiting to say, "See, we told you so" to the rest of the music world.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
EVERY JAZZ COLLECTION SHOULD HAVE THIS
I was born in Jimmy's hometown, and influenced by the "Philly" sound. I have listened to him for more years than I care to remember. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Edd Anderson
One of Smith's strongest recordings
Back in the Chicken Shack is definitely on my top 5 Jimmy Smith albums of all time, it's up there with the Sermon, the Cat, and Bashin'. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Jason Weber
The Album that Inspired Everyone... !
BACK AT THE CHICKEN SHACK is one of those anthems that if you play organ you're expected to know...
Prior to that it was Bill Dogget's Honky Tonk... Read more
Prior to that it was Bill Dogget's Honky Tonk... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Eddie Landsberg
Classic
There are other aspects to the great Jimmy Smith besides Back At The Chicken Shack, for the full sphere of Smith's work, check out the big band volumesBashin': The Unpredictable... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Bill Your 'Free Form FM Print DJ
Jimmy's classic sounds great
Whats with the dork who doesnt like the recording? It has the presence you need for such a powerful instrument as the B-3 organ. Ever play one?
Published on February 23, 2010 by harrythompson
Does your ruffed grouse like donkeys?
I made the mistake of taking this album along to a cockfight at Vato's last weekend. No, not that kind of cockfight, not that there's anything wrong with that. Read more
Published on December 24, 2009 by Automated Message
Classic
This is one of the first and still one of the most quinteseential soul jazz albums.
With his happy-go-lucky organ and bouncing melodies, Jimmy Smith is as important to... Read more
With his happy-go-lucky organ and bouncing melodies, Jimmy Smith is as important to... Read more
Published on December 21, 2009 by Bill Your 'Free Form FM Print DJ
Magnificent
Nice, groovy and warm collection of music. It goes with almost every occasion. I've heard this album a few years ago and liked instantly, I really don't know why I haven't bought... Read more
Published on April 29, 2009 by M. M. Slagter
Great performance and recording but why such a poor transfer?
This is the remaster by RVG, 24 bit transfer reissue produced by Michael Cuscuna I have been comparing to my friend's 1987 transfer by Ron McMaster also produced by Michael... Read more
Published on November 2, 2008 by JJ
Remastered classic
This session is a classic. Period. Your question is: do I buy the improved version? I vote yes! Look, the sound IS better, it's cheap - if you loved it before you'll be happy with... Read more
Published on October 14, 2008 by Standard Poodle
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