I played this song early in the night at Steel City Blues Festival 2017 before the Cash Box Kings took the stage. Joe Nosek of the Cash Box Kings heard the song, and came over all excited because I'd played a Smokey Smothers song. He was promptly disappointed that I didn't know more about this artist, and proceeded to provide a wonderful recommendation for more Smokey Smothers and his album Smokey Smothers Sings the Backporch Blues. I also highly recommend everyone give this a listen.
Fun Fact: the original LP of this album is rare, so if it's hiding somewhere in a relative's or your own collection you have a several hundred dollar vinyl on your hands.
I appreciate how much this whole album lags, and this song specifically. The voice is always just behind the beat, in danger of sliding to the next one. Freddie King is playing guitar on this album. In trying to describe this song the phrase "in the pocket" seems the most appropriate.
Otis "Big Smokey" Smothers was born in Mississippi and relocated to Chicago in 1946. He was a member of Howlin' Wolf's backing band and worked with powerhouse musicians like Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Ike Turner, and Willie Dixon. He had a younger brother called Little Smokey Smothers, which if course causes no confusion.
Smokey in the 50s formed a Muddy Waters tribute band, which would play in Chicago when Muddy Waters was on the road. His most famous album is Smokey Smothers Sings the Backporch Blues, which he released in 1962. He didn't record a full album again until the 1980s that saw the release of Got My Eye on You. He died in July of 1993.
Joe of the Cash Box Kings mentioned that they might be putting together a tribute concert in September of this year for Smokey Smothers. I'm looking for some information on that, hoping it to be true.
Other Versions:
Come on Rock Little Girl - The Mannish Boys
Sources:
http://www.allmusic.com/album/sings-the-backporch-blues-mw0000225986
https://www.last.fm/music/Smokey+Smothers/+wiki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otis_%22Big_Smokey%22_Smothers
https://secondhandsongs.com/work/123196/all
