Up on the Lowdown

Chris Smither | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 21, 1995)
• Original Release Date: March 28, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Shout Factory
• ASIN: B0000005R2
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #128,735 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chris's best studio album!, April 30, 2000

By 

R. Hutchinson "autonomeus" (a world ruled by fossil fuels and fossil minds) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Up on the Lowdown (Audio CD)

It has some strong competition, but UP ON THE LOWDOWN is the best of Chris Smither's many fine albums. (In fact, only one of his 1990s releases is subpar -- HAPPIER BLUE, which is overproduced with synthesizers. On the upside it has two great covers -- John Hiatt's "Memphis In the Meantime" and Lowell George's "Rock and Roll Doctor.")

I saw Chris live last fall (2000 -- at USU in Logan, Utah), and it was a great show -- he is a great guitarist, and he is really funny in between songs. I've laughed at some of his songs since the concert after hearing the spin he put on them. His one-man two-foot rhythm section (with a board!) is priceless. But he's not just funny, he has a serious message as well. The lyrics to songs like "I Am the Ride" are Buddhist gems. If you take them to heart they can change your life. "Can't Shake These Blues" is just awesome. Check out not only the Dylan cover here ("What Was It You Wanted," from OH MERCY), but the back cover of HAPPIER BLUE, with Chris sitting on a porch with big sneakers, just like Bob on the back of UNDER THE RED SKY. He's just cracking up.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deep Blues, August 1, 2001

By 

Huck Flynn "huckleberry" (northern ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Up on the Lowdown (Audio CD)

Smither is one of the most eloquent and intelligent performers on the solo circuit. With only guitar, voice and foot tapping rhythm section he squeezes more emotion and wisdom and world weary irony out of a song than anyone I know. He is a great interpreter but his originals are the best tracks here - Link of Chain, 'Deed I Do, Can't Shake these Blues and the fantastic The Ride. No other contemporary songwriter pens a better, cleverer lyric and very few engage the listener so well. Best seen live but this CD and "Small Revelations" are priceless souvenirs.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smither - the wittiest bluesman around !, August 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Up on the Lowdown (Audio CD)

Heard Chris Smither live at Downpatrick Folk Club - one of the best live concerts i've ever been to. The man is a genius with lyrics, subtle, sophisticated, clever, funny, honest, and a world weary voice that is perfect for the material. Brilliant guitar picking style. This album is full of classics - the original "Link of Chain", "Deed I Do", "Can't Shake These Blues" and utterly fantastic "I Am The Ride" plus lovely cover of Dylan's "What Was It You Wanted". He creates a wonderful mood (any time of the day). Accept no substitutes!