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.
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See Wikipedia for a disambiguation page for Jimmy Smith#Musicians.
Strut
Jimmy Smith Lyrics
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As you laid across my folding bed
You should have never said you loved me
As you laid across my folding bed
Drinkin' your white lightning, baby
Talkin' all out of your head
You said, "Baby, baby, baby, buh-buh-baby
You said, "Duh-duh-dad, daddy, daddy
Daddy, that's all right with me"
You can have my juicy lovin'
But don't you throw it in the deep blue sea
The lyrics of Jimmy Smith's song "Strut" describe a scene where someone expresses their love for the singer while lying on his folding bed, but their inebriated state causes them to be incoherent and talk out of their head. Despite their declaration of love, the singer cautions them not to throw away their love into the deep blue sea. The repetition of the word "baby" or "daddy" indicates a sense of endearment in the conversation, but the slurred speech and the mention of white lightning, a slang term for a type of moonshine, hints towards a darker and rougher side of their relationship. The singer wants to enjoy the physical aspect of their relationship but warns against taking the relationship to a level that ruins it completely.
The mood of the song conveys a sense of world-weary cynicism and acceptance of harsh reality- the fact that love and relationships can be messy, difficult, and complicated. The singer acknowledges the futility of trying to change anything but instead embraces the moment and allows himself to be seduced while still maintaining some level of emotional distance. The lyrics, when combined with the jazz-infused beat of the song, create a distinct vibe and atmosphere that is both seductive and ironic.
Line by Line Meaning
You should have never said you loved me
The singer is regretting that the other person ever expressed love for them.
As you laid across my folding bed
The moment when the other person expressed love for the singer.
Drinkin' your white lightning, baby
The other person was drinking white lightning, which is a slang term for a strong alcoholic drink made from fermented grain.
Talkin' all out of your head
The other person was speaking incoherently due to being under the influence of the strong alcoholic drink.
You said, "Baby, baby, baby, buh-buh-baby
The other person addressed the artist affectionately, repeating the word "baby" in a stuttering manner.
Baby, that's all right with me"
The other person is indicating that the singer's terms are acceptable to them.
You said, "Duh-duh-dad, daddy, daddy
The other person addressed the singer in a paternalistic manner, repeating the word "daddy" in a stuttering manner.
Daddy, that's all right with me"
The other person is indicating that the artist's terms are acceptable to them.
You can have my juicy lovin'
The other person is offering the artist their affection and sexual attention.
But don't you throw it in the deep blue sea
The other person is warning the artist not to discard or misuse the affection and sexual attention they are offering.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TAJ MAHAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind