Back at the Chicken Shack

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This is the kind of nasty, back-alley music that makes you wince in ecstasy. With Stanley Turrentine's tenor and Kenny Burrell's guitar sharing solo space, the Hammond master digs in with a blues-drenched shovel. While certainly fluent in the bop idiom, Smith's organ work maintains a direct emotional peg that reflects the swing and jump blues of a previous generation. Turrentine, a relative newcomer at this point (1960), proves a perfect foil for Smith's funky ideas, forgoing flashy bop runs in favor of soulful, expressive passages. Even on chestnuts such as "When I Grow Too Old to Dream" and "On the Sunny Side of the Street," the foursome boils the melodies down to their barest bluesy core. Back at the Chicken Shack is the prototypical soul-jazz recording. --Marc Greilsamer

Back at the Chicken Shack,Jimmy Smith,Blue Note Records,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop
Back at the Chicken Shack
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Down home jazz
  • What a great sounding CD
  • 84117
  • Awesome!
  • Jimmy You were the Greatest!!! RIP
Back at the Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Midnight Special
  2. The Sermon!
  3. Root Down
  4. Midnight Blue
  5. Jimmy & Wes: The Dynamic Duo

ASIN: B000005H4M
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Back At The Chicken Shack
  2. When I Grow Too Old To Dream
  3. Minor Chant
  4. Messy Bessie
  5. On The Sunny Side Of The Street

Amazon.com

This is the kind of nasty, back-alley music that makes you wince in ecstasy. With Stanley Turrentine's tenor and Kenny Burrell's guitar sharing solo space, the Hammond master digs in with a blues-drenched shovel. While certainly fluent in the bop idiom, Smith's organ work maintains a direct emotional peg that reflects the swing and jump blues of a previous generation. Turrentine, a relative newcomer at this point (1960), proves a perfect foil for Smith's funky ideas, forgoing flashy bop runs in favor of soulful, expressive passages. Even on chestnuts such as "When I Grow Too Old to Dream" and "On the Sunny Side of the Street," the foursome boils the melodies down to their barest bluesy core. Back at the Chicken Shack is the prototypical soul-jazz recording. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Down home jazz.......2007-02-07

Jimmy Smith (1925-2005) recorded this classic for Blue Note on April 25, 1960, popularizing the Hammond B-3 electric organ in the process. This is soul-jazz funk music, with its strong relationship to the blues and gospel music. The sidemen on this recording are: Stanley Turrentine (tenor sax), Kenny Burrell (guitar) and Donald Bailey (drums).

"Back at the Chicken Shack" was recorded during the same session that the famous "Midnight Special" came out of. The title track on this release is immersed heavily in the blues, made clear by the accent on Jimmy's organ. Track two, "When I Grow Too Old to Dream", showcases Stanley Turrentine reworking a classic Romberg and Hammerstein II title.

Track three, "Minor Chant", is an original composition by Turrentine that swings really hard. The track first appeared on Turrentine's album "Look Out" recorded earlier for Blue Note. Smith gets plenty of solo time to share with Stanley's heated solos. Track four, "Messy Bessie", is another heavily blues influenced excursion, this one showcasing Turrentine, Smith and Burrell with respective solos. And track five, the standard "On the Sunny Side of the Street", Smith & Co. execute this one with precision and finesse.

This is a well produced, well executed, incredibly enjoyable album from Smith's extensive career. Not owning this album leaves a giant whole in your jazz collections. Digitally transferred by Ron McMaster, this session is crisp and alive. Jimmy Smith's ""Back at the Chicken Shack" easily earns itself five stars in my opinion.

5 out of 5 stars What a great sounding CD.......2005-09-26

If you like jazz organ you will love Jimmy Smith's playing. I highly recommend this CD - ruggedthug.com

5 out of 5 stars 84117.......2005-05-22

i bought this for a friend a long time ago, and then bought myself a copy some time after that. it has an awsum cover and is just really enjoyable to listen to, especially in the summer months. a long time ago i thought it was a sequel or something, but it's not.

5 out of 5 stars Awesome!.......2005-02-21

I agree 100% with Guy from New Haven. And even though I don't possess all of Jimmy's albums, this has to be his best... Maybe the the best jazz album ever!!! Never heard anything so groovy; it's B3 organ, Tenor Sax and good rhythm galore!!!

I don't know which track is best because they're all stunning but to name a few, maybe "Minor Chant" by Stanley Turrentine (who brilliantly plays the sax throughout the album), stands out a little... not by much though. "When I grow too old to dream": what a sweet melody!... Messy Bessie (by Jimmy) is so good, I would have appreciated a finale instead of the fade-out we got (but that's okay). And technically, the 1960's Blue Note pure, clear, and no-fuss analog recording sounds flawless.

If you're jaded with the traditional organ-drums-guitar formation, check this out because tenor saxophone truly adds a uniquely elegant and amazingly powerful dimension to Jimmy's already great sound! This will put a smile on your face and make your head bounce!

5 out of 5 stars Jimmy You were the Greatest!!! RIP.......2005-02-11

It's a sad day for me today because I just heard that the great Jimmy Smith passed away 2 days ago at his home near Phoenix. He was far and away THE GREATEST HAMMOND B3 PLAYER WHO EVER LIVED!!!
I can't think of anyone else who had such an impact and defined the classic jazz blues sounds of the 50's and 60's like he did!
As for this album, Back at the Chicken Shack, I agree with previous reviewers who consider this and Midnight Special as his two best! I like them both equally!
And one final note, I was lucky to see Jimmy three times, most recently three years ago at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Southern California, and he graciously signed my vinyl album cover of "Chicken Shack" which also has the autographs of the late great saxaphonist Stanley Turrentine and guitarist Kenny Burrell! I am very proud to own this album and hope to be able to perhaps donate it to a Jazz museum for future generations to see. Jimmy, thanks for all the incredible music! Rest in Peace.
Back at the Chicken Shack
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • The REAL DEAL!!!
Back at the Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
Manufacturer: Blue Note Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop GeneralBebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
Hard BopHard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Soul-Jazz & BoogalooSoul-Jazz & Boogaloo | Jazz | Styles | Music
Electric Blues GuitarElectric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music
Blue Note RecordsBlue Note Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
JazzJazz | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000056FOZ
Release Date: 2000-11-22

Tracks:

  1. Back at the Chicken Shack
  2. When I Grow Too Old to Dream
  3. Minor Chant
  4. Messy Bessie
  5. On the Sunny Side of the Street [*]

Album Description

Japanese reissue of the classic jazz album originally released on Blue Note in 1960. Part of the 'Soul Jazz' series that features 24 bit remastering by RVG and a miniature LP sleeve. 2000 release.

Album Details

Japanese limited edition in an LP style slipcase, 24bit digitally remastered.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The REAL DEAL!!!.......2004-12-08



AWESOME people....simply AWESOME!!!!

Buy it, you wont regret it!!!
Back at the Chicken Shack
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Back at the Chicken Shack

    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
    JazzJazz | Imports | Stores | Music
    ASIN: B000CBO0RQ
    Release Date: 2006-01-31
    Back at the Chicken Shack
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Back at the Chicken Shack
      Jimmy Smith
      Manufacturer: EMI/Blue Note
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      Bebop GeneralBebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
      Hard BopHard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
      Soul-Jazz & BoogalooSoul-Jazz & Boogaloo | Jazz | Styles | Music
      Electric Blues GuitarElectric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music
      Blue Note RecordsBlue Note Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
      JazzJazz | Imports | Stores | Music
      ASIN: B00005GKAO
      Release Date: 1994-05-25

      Tracks:

      1. Back at the Chicken Shack
      2. When I Grow Too Old to Dream
      3. Minor Chant
      4. Messy Bessie
      5. On the Sunny Side of the Street [*]
      Back at the Chicken Shack
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Back at the Chicken Shack
        Jimmy Smith
        Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Vision
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
        ASIN: B000BRHTA6
        Release Date: 2000-12-01

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