Keep On Smilin'

Wet Willie | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: September 23, 1997
• Release Date: September 23, 1997
• Label: PCLC
• Copyright: (C) 1974 UMG Recordings, Inc. q
• Record Company Required Metadata: Music file contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
• Total Length: 37:59
• Genres:
• ASIN: B001NZZITY
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,416 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wet Willie "Keep On Smilin" = A Great Classic Southern Rock Album CD!!!!!, June 8, 2010

By 

Gary Covington "Southern Rocker" (Louisiana, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Keep on Smilin (Audio CD)

This is a great Wet Willie (originally from Mobile, Alabama) Southern Rock, studio album. Wet Willie recorded records back in the 1970's along with the Allman Brothers & others, for Capricorn Records, in Macon, Georgia. This is one of my favorite Wet Willie CD's. I like the cover art. It shows a southern, street, Black Bluesman, playing his guitar, with a hormonica stand, stretched around his neck. Also, there is a sign, hanging from his neck. It's hard to read, but it says: "God Loves A Cheerful Giver". I had version of this back in the 1970's, and you could read the sign. It's just like the Black Bluesman, street musicians, you still see in some Southern Cities, and probably in other cities across the U.S.A. Anyway, this album cover was included in a book of the 500 Greatest Album covers of all time.

I saw this band perform live, back in the 1970's along with the Charlie Daniels Band.

This album was originally released on vinyl in 1974.

The musicians:
1.Jimmy Hall - lead vocals, alto sax, harmonica, percussion
2.Rick Hirsh - lead guitar/background vocals
3.Jack Hall (Jimmy's Brother) -Bass, banjo, background vocals
4.John Anthony - keyboards, percusion/background vocals
5.Lewis Ross - drums, percussion
6.The Williettes - background vocals (Donna Hall, Ella Avery)
7.Additional background vocals - Joyce Knight
8.Electric Trombone on "Country Side of Life".

The songs:
1.Country Side of Live
2.Keep on Smilin'
3.Trust in the Lord
4.Soul Sister
5.Alabama
6.Lucy was in Trouble
7.Soul Jones
8.Don't Wait Too Long
9.Spanish Moss
10.In Our Hearts.

Thanks!!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Funky southern rock and soul from 1974, April 20, 2009

By 

hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Keep On Smilin' (MP3 Download)

Wet Willie hit simultaneous commercial and artistic high points on this 1974 album, their fourth of seven for the Capricorn label. The Mobile, Alabama band cuts a funkier, more gospel-inspired groove than its label mates, which included Southern rock standard bearers like the Allman Brothers and Marshall Tucker Band, and their songs re more lyrically focused and concise. Singer Jimmy Hall has a rich, punchy delivery that often soars in a preacher's shout, and the backing vocals of the Williettes give the group the Southern edge of Stax and Muscle Shoals. The album's single, "Keep on Smiling," offers a lasting message of optimism with a memorable rhythm guitar riff, sweet harmonica solo and a backing choir that lifts the song to the heavens. Though it was the group's only trip to the pop top ten, it was far from the album's only jewel, as the opener provides a warm celebration of country life, and the James Brown horn funk "Soul Sister" gives the Williettes a chance to step up front. Hall also sings blue-eyed soul, such as the homespun ballad "Alabama," and digs deep on the mid-tempo "Lucy Was in Trouble." The group's follow-up, Dixie Rock, continued in the same vein, and the pair of albums were issued as a two-fer. If you dig the studio works, you should also check out the group's live album Drippin' Wet for a taste of their jams. [©2009 hyperbolium dot com]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ten Great Songs, January 4, 2009

By 

Rick Truelove "Swingin' Richard" (Kansas City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keep on Smilin (Audio CD)

Strange how songs of the past can find their way back into our lives, in a significant way, after thirty years. Although the chart topper on this album (ok, CD) is Keep On Smilin' there are two others that could carry an album to platinum: Country Side Of Life and Lucy Was In Trouble.

Country Side speaks to the times of city congestion, crime and stress while offering the author's alternative, in a rock n roll format. Lucy is a love song every man can relate to while it touches our passions and stirs our instinctive desire to help a woman down on her luck.

Alabama, which went platinum on its own, is a wonderful ballad which refrains "I love you". It should be noted here that the author, Ricky Hirsch was born and raised in Alabama.

Keep On Smilin' is still the number-one feel-good song of all time. This song has the uncanny ability to "pump up" your mojo and carry you through the most difficult times. Whether rooted in love, feelings of failure or physical disability, your "hard-times" aint so bad after hearing this Wet Willie mantra. In fact many success and motivational speakers use this axiom to help people get pumped-up and "keep on" thinking positive.

Although technology has allowed us to get this music in clear and crisp audio quality, it is the songs themselves that make it worth effort and expense of re-mastering and distribution. This music truly stands the test of time and maintains significant applicability, decade after decade.

I recommend just getting the MP3 album for $6.99 vice the $27 to $40 you'll pay for the hard copy CD. Enjoy!