Customer Reviews

The Best of Huey Piano Smith

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Huey Piano Smith has been one of my favorite artists since I was a boy and bought 45 RPM records with his hits current on the charts. That of course was in the mid fifties but time has been good for his music. It stays as good as ever, in my opinion. This collection is very comprehensive and includes many recordings I had never heard before, including his version of "Sea Cruise". I highly recommend this collection as it is a real buy.

Dated but timeless in its N'Awlinz good-time party music appeal. More people should be hip to this! Although typecast as a so-called "novelty tune" artist, Huey had bouncy, easy to singalong music with a solid backing band - especially on the early charts, including Lee Allen on tenor sax, Red Tyler on baritone sax, and Charles 'Hungry' Williams on drums. And Huey is a monster piano player, despite the sparse licks heard on these studio recordings.

This collection has most of the best. Even if the title track was done up slicker by Johnny Rivers (but without the funk), and even if Frankie Ford sang better on 'Sea Cruise,' it's cool to hear the originals.

Often back then, recordings were re-issued with the same backing tracks but with new vocals. Case in point: 'Sea Cruise.' Or new lyrics: 'Having a Good Time' was re-released as 'At the Mardi Gras,' BTW, a version with better lyrics.

The only down side, as in so many compilations, is the inconsistency in EQ at the various recording sessions (some bassy, some tinny) that makes it hard to listen to without adjusting, but it's worth it.

Thanks to all the 'Clowns' who made this fun music!

P.S. It's a crying shame that Huey's Christmas LP was censored after release and remains an expensive collector's item at present.