Customer Reviews

A Group Called Smith

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This CD is actually a compilation with cuts off of "A Group Called Smith" and "Minus-Plus" as well as several of Gayle McCormick's solo cuts. Great cover of Shirelles song "Baby Its You", Stones "Let's Spend the Night Together," and The Band's "The Weight." Gayle McCormick had one of the best voices of the late 60s early 70s but the group faded as quickly as it came. This CD is missing my favorite cut, "Since You've Been Gone" off the Minus-Plus album. All in all, this group had a solid late 60s sound and the CD is well worth the money, if you can still find it.

One of my faves since I was about 12, Gayle McCormick had one of the best voices and produced great music in late 60's to mid-70's. This CD is far from her "Best of" and Smith's sophomore effort, "Minus-Plus" has even better songs, but this one sounds great on CD. Particularly "Who Do You Love?" and "Mojalesky Bridge" which are flat-out roots rockers that you should blast. Fun band, great image by Gayle, why weren't they bigger? Maybe there were too many bands out there at this period and Dunhill didn't promote them enough. Gayle recorded some great solo LP's which aren't available on CD.

Bought one of these Italian remakes on an auction site for $30, shouldn't have paid more than $3 for it. It is not remastered and the quality of the audio is the worst I've ever heard on a CD. To sum it up, TERRIBLE. I've learned there is another version of this CD which IS digitally remastered and includes five bonus tracks. It's a bit hard to find but worth the hunt.

I agree with everyone else who said Gail is great. I also love this drummer! Bob Evans. I'd love to hear more by him. Great band, great record. By the way, Del Shannon was heavily involved in the development and preproduction of this group.

This is a rare, and very interesting CD. It is pricy, but worth the money. The rendition of "Baby, Its You" is one of the few perfect pieces of music where everything comes together to achieve absolute perfection. Its like Beethoven. Gayle McKenzie's vocal is incredible, and this song alone is worth the price of this rare cd. The band plays the song slow, which intensifies its emotional impact, and Gale McKenzie's vocal is incredibly rich with emotion, sad at the implicit fact that the relationship is not where the singer wants it to be, but still reaching out intensely to make the relationship more. I have never heard a vocal with such perfect emotional and vocal range. This is one of those rare pieces of music that, when you hear it, it never leaves you, and nothing compares to it.

After not hearing these songs since the Viet Nam Era I was very happy to find this album. It is not an easy one to locate.

I saw the other reviews taking issue with the sound quality. I just listened to mine with headphones, and I certainly found no problem with the sound quality. I did find that the track listing on the back was incorrect. The songs are correct, but in the wrong order.
My CD has:
1. Let's Get Together [Same song as 'Get Together' by the Youngbloods]
2. I Don't Believe (I Believe)
3. Tell Him No [Same song as 'Tell Her No' by the Zombies]
4. Who Do You Love
5. Baby, It's You
6. Last Time [Cover of the Rolling Stones' hit]
7. I Just Wanna Make Love to You
8. Mojaleskey Judge
9. Let's Spend the Night Together [Another Stones hit]
10. I'll Hold Out My Hand

Good Horn section. Baby its you is THE best cut. Shades of Genya Ravan. This group deserved better than the record company gave them. If you get a chance, give them a listen. I have it on Vinyl!

All tunes on this cd are great songs and well worth your money, when the band was around there was all the female rock vocalist that were praised and talked about. I feel that Gayle never really got her due praise and she actually blew away most of the other female voices that rocked our times. Her and Lydia Pense of Cold Blood fame and also Genya Ravan set standards for very many female voices to later come. Buy "this" and "anything" else that you can find on Gayle.

My favourite album from the 60's. I bought my copy for 99 cents in a 2nd hand record store 30 years ago. The price is somewhat different now. Get it if you can afford it!