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'Cornbread'By Cornbread

All Shook UpBennie Smith - Shook Up

{2001 | Fedora Records} Recorded 9/11/00

 On Shook Up Smith gives us eleven songs, of which five are originals.  It seems Bennie has been around the blues scene forever, and he has, always as the sideman.  Many fans, including yours truly welcome this solo album with much mouth watering anticipation.  Smith's last album was The Urban Soul of Bennie Smith released in the early 1990's.

Smith credits his style from the likes of Gatemouth Brown, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Ace Wallace and B.B. King (who he played with 1959 or 1960).

  1. Wish Me Well - is a blues song, electric guitar, steady bass line, and vocals with feeling.
  2. Buddah-Ba - is a swing blues instrumental.
  3. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl - acoustic guitar, harmonica fills 
  4. Listen To My Heart Sing - I really liked this track, not a lot of instrument but the vocals reaped of feeling.  chicka chicka boom boom boom.
  5. Mystery Train - yea you know the song, but you never heard a guitar solo like before.
  6. Fancy - another swingin' blues instrumental head bobbin tune with lots of electric guitar (note that this a Bennie Smith original, and it's great). 
  7. Drown In My Own Tears - At the beginning of this song I thought I was hearing "Oh Say Can You See" which then turned bluesy, there was a tasteful small amount of horn accompaniment, then after a huge musical intro the vocals were added and brought it home.  This song goes over eight minutes.  Can I have an Amen.
  8. Shook Up - I am at a bit of a shortage of words to describe this song.  Let me start by saying I loved it, this song was different than the others, the vocals were the main attraction, it had a little harmonica.  Buy the CD see if you can describe it better.
  9. I'm Tore Up -  an Ike Turner song, and a darn good cover, the guitar solo was better than original.
  10. Okie Dokie Stomp -  a fast paced electric guitar blues inspired instrumental.
  11. I'm Wondering -  a Smith original, slower than the other tracks, just guitar and vocal.

 I really enjoyed this CD a lot!  Add this to your collection, you will not be disappointed.  Bennie, how about a follow-up to this soon, please?

 Ciao' for now, peace.

 Cornbread

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