Born James Oscar Smith on 8th December 1925 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. Smith was influenced by both gospel and blues. He first achieved prominence in the 1950s where his recordings became popular on jukeboxes before there were commonly used terms to describe his unique musical flavor. In the sixties and seventies he helped create the jazz style known as soul jazz.
Smith employed a unique technique to emulate a string bass player on the organ. Although he played walking bass lines on the pedals on ballads, for uptempo tunes, he would play the bass line on the lower manual and use the pedals for emphasis on the attack of certain notes. His solos were characterised by percussive chords mixed with very fast melodic improvisation with the right hand.
Smith was a prolific recording artist. He first recorded with the Blue Note label in 1956. His early albums with Blue Note sold very well, improving its financial viability and aiding the label's efforts to promote other artists. They include Home Cookin' , The Sermon!, Midnight Special, Prayer Meetin' , and Back at the Chicken Shack.
Smith signed to Verve Records label in 1963. Smith's albums with Verve include: The Cat, The Boss, Root Down, Peter & The Wolf, Any Number Can Win, The Incredible..., Bashin', Got My Mojo Workin', Christmas Cookin', and Organ Grinder Swing.
His influence has been felt across multiple generations and musical styles; nearly every subsequent jazz organist owes a large debt to Smith. The Beastie Boys (who sampled the bassline from Smith's "Root Down (and Get It)"—and saluted Smith in the lyrics—for their own hit "Root Down"), Medeski, Martin & Wood, and The Hayden-Eckert Ensemble are among the better known contemporary bands that pay tribute to Smith's sensibilities and sound. The Acid Jazz movement also reflects Smith's influences.
Smith died on 8th February 2005, in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
There are several other artists with this name: 1. an American jazz trumpeter, 2. an American jazz drummer, 3. a British guitarist for the band Foals, 4. blues guitarist Jimmy "Guitar" Smith.
--
See Wikipedia for a disambiguation page for Jimmy Smith#Musicians.
Ruby
Jimmy Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not always what you seem
And though my heart may break when I awake
Let it be so
I only know, Ruby, it's you
They say, Ruby you're like a song
You don't know right from wrong
But from the start, who stole my heart?
Ruby, it's you
I hear your voice and I must come to you
I have no choice what else can I do?
They say, Ruby you're like a flame
Into my life you came
And though I should beware
Still I don't care you thrill me so
The lyrics of Jimmy Smith's song Ruby are a poetic expression of the composer's deep and complex emotions towards a woman named Ruby. Throughout the song, Jimmy Smith describes Ruby using a variety of metaphors and similes that convey both her beauty and her mystery. The opening lines of the song, "They say, Ruby you're like a dream, not always what you seem" foreshadows the idea that Ruby is a complex and multifaceted person that is not easily understood.
The second stanza of the song compares Ruby to a song that doesn't know right from wrong. This is a poignant metaphor that suggests that Ruby's actions are often based on emotional impulses rather than rational thought. However, despite her unpredictability, Jimmy Smith is deeply drawn to Ruby. He cannot resist the allure of her voice and is compelled to be near her. The final stanza of the song likens Ruby to a flame that has entered into Jimmy Smith's life. Although he knows he should be wary of getting involved with her, he cannot resist the thrill of her presence.
Overall, the lyrics of Ruby are a beautiful and complex expression of human emotions. The metaphors and imagery used by Jimmy Smith provide a vivid description of his love for a mysterious and alluring woman named Ruby.
Line by Line Meaning
They say, Ruby you're like a dream
They describe you as a figment of my imagination
Not always what you seem
You are not always what you appear to be
And though my heart may break when I awake
Even if it causes me pain to leave you
Let it be so
I accept the outcome
I only know, Ruby, it's you
I only know that you are the one
They say, Ruby you're like a song
You are like a melody
You don't know right from wrong
You lack moral judgement
And in your eyes I see heart aches for me
I perceive your love for me
But from the start, who stole my heart?
But who captivated my heart from the beginning?
Ruby, it's you
It's you, Ruby
I hear your voice and I must come to you
On hearing your voice, I must rush to you
I have no choice what else can I do?
I have no other option
They say, Ruby you're like a flame
You are like a fire
Into my life you came
You entered my life
And though I should beware
Although I should be cautious
Still I don't care you thrill me so
Still, I do not care because you bring me so much joy
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HEINZ ROEMHELD, MITCHELL PARISH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind