Johnny 'Hammond' Smith - Imagination [Warwick]

Johnny (later alias 'Hammond') Smith - Imagination - Warwick W 2003 - Original Warwick Pressing (?), Mono

Johnny Hammond Smith - Organ
[other players uncredited]

Recorded - [dates unknown c 1958-59?]

Produced by Fred Mendelsohn
Recording [uncredited]
Cover Photo - Lester Krauss

Released - November 16, 1959

Johnny Hammond Smith is one of my true unsung heroes of the Soul Jazz/organ trio scene. He's a fun and energetic player and I've always tried to seek out his recordings when I have the opportunity. Last year I posted two of his missing Prestige sides - 1966's The Stinger Meets The Golden Thrush and 1962's Look Out! Time now for a monster Soul Jazz rarity and the true remaining missing link in Johnny Hammond Smith's discography: Imagination!

This is actually his true debut side - released on the obscure Warwick label in late 1959 and then promptly forgotten by history, and unreferenced in most discographies. Not a lot is known about this side - a proposed list of sidemen circulate in some quarters. This list however is identical to the personnel on Johnny first New Jazz/Prestige side 'All Soul", but I think this is incorrect. The only thing we can be truly certain of is that Smith is on organ. Lord places the recording date as sometime in 1961 but I think this is also incorrect as other pretty trustworthy documentation places the release date in November 1959.

Not as polished as his later New Jazz/Prestige recordings, I think this side gives a good approximation of how Smith and his working group would sound in a live setting. Anyways, something worth a listen to - and a true historical find for Soul Jazz scholars.