[78-L] Oliver Smith, Gennett, Elektra

[Cary Ginell]

I guess I was lucky to find my copy at Bagatelle Records for $4.99 some years ago. The Oliver Smith LP is wonderful. I'm glad you reminded me of it since I had not listened to it in a few years. Got it on the turntable now. 
I agree, Smith was kind of a reincarnated Riley Puckett. He was 55 when the album was recorded, probably around 1965 (it was released the following year). Smith was discovered by Peter Siegel at a time when Elektra had enough dough to do their own version of Chris Strachwitz. They were looking for Joseph Spence during this time when Siegel found Smith, a blind Georgia street singer who had been performing on the streets since he was 18. That would have been around 1928 when he started. Since he spent most of his time in the South, it's doubtful he ever made it up to Richmond to record for Gennett, so that must have been a different Oliver Smith.
In the notes, Smith told Siegel that he had never recorded before when he made the Elektra LP. They did one two-hour session that produced seventeen first take masters. Fourteen were issued on the LP. According to Siegel, Smith never played a wrong note during the session and there was absolutely no editing needed. His guitar playing resembles Doc Watson's more than it did Puckett. he plays a flat-picking instrumental called "Pickin' the Guitar" that almost sounds like Bill Carlisle. Great record. 
Cary Ginell

> From: kil at roadrunner.com
> To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
> Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2013 21:32:45 -0400
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Oliver Smith, Gennett, Elektra
> 
> There are a few copies available on Gemm in the $30-$50 range.
> http://www.gemm.com/c/search.pl?field=ARTIST&wild=oliver+smith&Go.x=0&Go.y=0
> RayK
> >
> >
> From: Dennis Flannigan
> Whoops, just googled "Oliver Smith & Elektra". There Smith LPs are listed
> on Amazon (used) and the cheapest lists at $147.00. Guess I'm not Mr.
> Smith's only fan. I used to buy copies at remainder stores and give them to
> friends. My investment success remains the same, whether it's stocks,
> property or Oliver Smith recordings.
> 
> I'm interested in whatever I can learn.
> 
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