Search - Arthur Smith :: Here Comes the Boogie Man: The Original Recordings

Nice set of a little-remembered country hotshot

Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 05/03/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Groovy country guitar instrumentals from the late '40s and early '50s. A veteran radio performer before World War Two, hick picker Smith landed a sweet gig as one of the first artists signed to the fledgling MGM label, and enjoyed a fair amount of popularity over the decades. This disc collects the original versions of several songs that wound up getting re-recorded on a series of labels -- and it's worth it to check out the first recordings, which crackle with Smith's vitality and sense of playfulness. Kinda jazzy, like a hillbilly boogie crossover between Merle Travis and Django Rinehardt... fun stuff!"

Genre Guitar

D. S. Francis | 09/16/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"These recordings are an excellant example of genre mixing music.

Arthur Smith brings together Country-Western guitar playing with a strong Swing Jazz flavor. Aside from some obvious cliches and a little bit of corn these recordings are quite satisfying. Listen closely and you will hear a little bit of Django Reinhardt influence."