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.
The Way You Look Tonight
Jimmy Smith Lyrics
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And the world is cold
I will feel a glow just thinking of you
And the way you look tonight
Yes, you're lovely
With your smile so warm and your cheek so soft
There is nothing for me but to love you
Just the way you look tonight
Tearing my fear apart
And that smile that wrinkles your nose
Touches my foolish heart
Lovely, never, never change
Keep that breathless charm
Won't you please arrange it 'cause I love you
Just the way you look tonight
Just the way you look tonight
The lyrics to the song "The Way You Look Tonight" by Jimmy Smith describe the lasting impact of one's love and affection towards their significant other. The opening line of the song, "Someday when I'm awfully low" suggests a moment of vulnerability where the singer is sad and needs someone to rely on. In this dark moment, the memory of their lover's image comes to mind, providing a warmth that becomes an antidote to the feeling of isolation. The singer acknowledges the powerful impact their partner has on their mood, and sees the beauty that lies in their smile and soft cheeks, acknowledging their devotion to their beloved with the words "There is nothing for me but to love you/ Just the way you look tonight."
As the song progresses, the singer describes how the tender and affectionate words of the beloved affect them, and how even the littlest things, like the smile that wrinkles their nose, are capable of touching their heart. The singer acknowledges the vulnerability that comes with loving someone and pleads with their beloved not to change, to keep the breathless charm that makes them so special to the singer. The song comes to a close with the repeated refrain of "Just the way you look tonight" reaffirming the eternal love the singer feels for their partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Someday when I'm awfully low
At some point in the future, when I am feeling immensely sad
And the world is cold
When the environment around me seems completely emotionless and harsh
I will feel a glow just thinking of you
The mere thought of you will bring a warmth to my heart
And the way you look tonight
Especially the way you appear this evening
Yes, you're lovely
You are incredibly beautiful
With your smile so warm and your cheek so soft
Your smile is so welcoming and your cheeks appear extremely comfortable to touch
There is nothing for me but to love you
I cannot help but completely adore you
Just the way you look tonight
Exactly how you appear in this moment
With each word your tenderness grows
Every utterance from you makes me feel more and more cared for
Tearing my fear apart
Causing my worries and insecurities to vanish
And that smile that wrinkles your nose
When you smile, the slight creases on your nose make my heart burst with happiness
Touches my foolish heart
Your actions truly warm my silly and irrational heart
Lovely, never, never change
You are perfect just the way you are, never change for anyone
Keep that breathless charm
Maintain that enchanting aura you possess
Won't you please arrange it 'cause I love you
Could you please stay this way, because I am deeply in love with you
Just the way you look tonight
I am hopelessly captivated by your appearance at this moment
Writer(s): JEROME KERN, DOROTHY FIELDS
Contributed by Adalyn P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.