Smackwater Jack [Extra tracks, Import]

Quincy Jones | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 6, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import
• Label: Universal Import
• ASIN: B000026CN7
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,612 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Japanese reissue of 1971 album, that's unavailable domestically, packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. Mercury. 2003.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quincy's Best Album From The 70's !, October 11, 2000

By 

C. Law "Charlie Law" (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Smackwater Jack (Audio CD)

It's pretty hard to put a "category label" on this, like the record companies try to do....let's just call it GREAT MUSIC! Judging from the scope of Quincy Jones' work, he doesn't think of himself as strictly a jazz musician. The music included for consideration here runs the gamut: Carole King's "Smackwater Jack;" Vince Guaraldi's "Cast Your Fate To The Wind;" themes from "Ironside," "The Anderson Tapes" and Bill Cosby's TV-Show theme, "Hikky-Burr" (on which he does the vocal); Ray Brown's lovely "Brown Ballad;" Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?" and Quincy's "Guitar Blues Odyssey: From Roots To Fruits." This last deserves some explanation. It's an sampler of the history of the guitar from Robert Johnson through Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass and Eric Clapton to Jimi Hendrix. QUITE AN ODYSSEY!

The list of musicians on the recording looks like everybody's "Poll Winners" from the period: woodwinds Jerome Richardson, Hubert Laws and Pete Christlieb; trumpets Freddie Hubbard, Marv Stamm, Buddy Childers, Snooky Young, Joe Newman and Ernie Royal; trombones Wayne Andre and Garnet Brown; guitars Eric Gayle, Jim Hall, Joe Beck, Toots Thielmans, Arthur Adams and Freddie Robinson...if that's not enough, the REST of the rhythm section includes Grady Tate,Paul Humphries, Bob James, Jakie Byard, Monty Alexander, Joe Sample, Jimmy Smith, Dick Hyman, Ray Brown, Chuck Rainey, Bob Crenshaw, Carole Kaye and Milt Jackson! (NO SLOUCHES HERE ! )

The arrangements are all Quincy's (with an assist from Marty Paich on "The Anderson Tapes") and all sound TERRIFIC under the producing hands of Quincy, Ray Brown and Phil Ramone. This is just a SUPERB ALBUM ! I like it better than the Grammy-Winner it followed, "Walking In Space," just because of the variety of music here, but BOTH are worth collecting !

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars all time favorite, August 5, 2008

By 

sallie conn (carmel,ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Smackwater Jack (Audio CD)

what a great album!every track is winner-but i especially like WHAT'S GOING ON,BROWN BALLAD,and IRONSIDE.reminds of early 70's-mom brought this album home one night.gone nearly a year now,i consider her wide appreciation of music to be the most important thing she left me with.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best album of all time, June 10, 2008

By 

Rob Constantine (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smackwater Jack (Audio CD)

I have fond memories as a seven year old wearing out my uncle's promo copy of this album, that a radio station threw away,on my dinky kiddie record player. Now I'm 44 and the album still moves me. Almost every style of music is presented here and the pacing of the record is masterful,with upbeat jazzy songs followed by mellow,peaceful ones. For example the relaxed "Cast your fate to the wind" is followed by the exciting,brassy theme from "ironside" The wonderful guitarist and harmonica virtuoso Toots Theilmans is featured throughout and takes his instruments to new heights. Marvin Gaye's "What's going on" is the album's nine minute tour de force with wonderful solos throughout. Bill Cosby sings the theme to his 1969 TV show and the album closes with "From roots to froots" a wonderful history of blues guitar from leadbelly to Hendrix..Whew! This album should be in everyone's collection. A rich and rewarding listen.