Search - Smoke :: My Friend Jack

Classic '60s UK Mod-psych madness

Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 01/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Delectable pro-drug Mod kitsch from the Swinging London of the Summer of Love... These Who-derived longhaired lads gained their greatest notoriety from the fact that the BBC banned a reverb-filled 1967 single ("My Friend Jack") on the grounds that it promoted drug use... And did it? Hell, no -- it GLORIFIED drug use... as did most of their songs, which routinely employed the broadest, most gleefully obvious of psychedelic metaphors, recounting the exploits of various legendary acid heads, pot growers and party animals who may or may not have been around at the time. It was heartening, though, to see their thematic obsessions gradually shift from tripping to getting laid, but throughout it all, these lads sounded like they were having lots of fun. NERD NOTE: there are earlier, more bootleggy discs out there which include a lot of this same material. It must be said that some of those collections seemed to have louder, more powerful mixes than this CD; this however also has several live tracks and outtakes that may tilt collectors in its direction. Regardless, this is pretty fun, campy stuff."

This could have only happened in the sixties

thedevilscoachman | 08/24/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This record has some fantastic moments, including the (German) hit single "My Friend Jack", "Have Some More Tea", and "You Can't Catch Me". That said, you shouldn't buy this record unless you have more than a passing interest in garage and psychedelic music. The lyrics are a GOOF "My friend Jack eats sugarlumps. . .", the music is dated, but it definitely has its merits. EXCELLENT liner notes, including a great Chris Blackwell story!"

The Smoke - 'My Friend Jack' ( Sin-Drome/Retroactive) 4 1/2

Mike Reed | USA | 09/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Smoke was apparently a short lived British psych/garage band that existed between 1965-67.Although their music may sound a bit dated,it's more than a worthy choice.That is if you dig the genre.Total of 23 tracks,this CD turned out to be much better than I had expected.If this summer hadn't been so busy,I would have listened to this disc more often.But,hey a patron simply cannot hear every CD in his/her collection ALL the time.Cuts I remember being impressed with include the title track,"My Friend Jack"(something about Jack eating sugar lumps),"We Can Take It","Have Some More Tea","Sydney Gill","Don't Lead Me On","It's Just Your Way Of Lovin'" and there's those last three live performed numbers,which is actually pretty good "She Put The Hurt On Me","High In A Room" along with "My Friend Jack"(again,but welcome).Line-up:Mick Rowley-vocals,Mal Luker-guitar,Phil Peacock-rhythm guitar,John 'Zeke' Lund-bass and Geoff Gill-drums.Comes with an informative 12-page full color booklet.Recommended.Should appeal to fans of The Creation,Pretty Things,John's Children,early Who and Small Faces."