AAA 100% Analogue This LP was Remastered using Pure Analogue Components Only from the Master Tapes through to the Cutting Head

Imperial LP9141 /  Pure Pleasure PPAN LP9141 - 180 gram Virgin Vinyl

Limited Edition - Pure Analogue Audiophile Mastering

Mastered by Seam Magee at Abbey Road  - Pressed  at Pallas Germany

Dave Bartholomew has often been quoted to the effect that Smiley Lewis was a »bad luck singer«, because he never sold more than 100,000 copies of his Imperial singles. In retrospect, Lewis was a lucky man in many respects - he enjoyed stellar support from New Orleans' ace sessioneers at Cosimo's, benefited from top-flight material and production (by Bartholomew), and left behind a legacy of marvelous Crescent City R&B. We're lucky he was there, that's for sure.

Born with the unwieldy handle of Overton Lemons, Lewis hit the Big Easy in his mid-teens, armed with a big, booming voice and some guitar skills. He played clubs in the French Quarter, often with pianist Tuts Washington (and sometimes billed as 'Smiling' Lewis).

As the New Orleans R&B sound developed rapidly during the early '50s, so did Lewis. He scored his first national hit in 1952 with "The Bells Are Ringing", but enjoyed his biggest sales in 1955 with the exultant "I Hear You Knocking" (its immortal piano solo courtesy of Huey Smith). Here's where that alleged bad luck rears its head - pop chanteuse Gale Storm swiped his thunder for any pop crossover possibilities with her ludicrous whitewashed cover of the plaintive ballad.

Overton Lemon (Smiley) Lewis is a blues singer/guitar player who subscribes to the old school of blues and sings in a rough, ragged, hollering voice.  He got his start early in clubs in the French Quarter and had his big hit in 1955 with “I Hear You Knocking” (later covered by Dave Edmunds).  The piano playing and upbeat sound of this tune is what no doubt propelled it to the top of the charts.  Most of the material on the record covers the typical man/woman topics present in a lot of the blues music and there are quite a few standout tracks.  “Blue Monday” starts with solid, punchy bass and then comes the horns—wow! 

This number will appeal to less hardcore listeners of more popular blues music.  “Lost Week End” is a perfect example of Lewis’ New Orleans influence while “Real Gone Lover” sounds very similar to “Shake, Rattle and Roll.”  This is one great blues record!

This disc was remastered at Abbey Road Studios by Sean Magee.  The recording is mono and some times it is hard to focus in on particular instruments within the soundstage due to the age of the recording.  Sound ranged from B- to A- depending on the track while Music is a solid A.   ***** - Audaud Review 

Musicians:

• Smiley Lewis (guitar, vocal)
•  Dave Bartholemew (trumpet), Lee Allen, Herb Hardesty, Alvin “Red” Tyler (tenor saxophones), Clarence Ford (baritone saxophone), Salvador Doucette, Edward Frank, Joe Robichaux, Huey Smith (piano), Justin Adams, Edgar Blanchard, Ernest McLean (guitar), Frank Fields (bass), George French (bass guitar), Robert French, Earl Palmer, Charles “Hungry” Williams (drums).
•  

Recording: At Cosimo's (New Orleans)
Production: Dave Bartholomew

Track Listing:
1. Bells Are Ringing 
2. Standing on the Corner 
3. Blue Monday 
4. Down the Road 
5. Lost Weekend 
6. Real Gone Lover 
7. Bumpity Bump 
8. I Hear You Knocking 
9. I Can't Believe It 
10. Hey Girl 
11. One Night 
12. Nothing But the Blues