Pop & Miscellaneous

Smokie - Bright Lights & Back Alleys (1977)

2010-05-27T16:15:07Z

Smokie - Bright Lights & Back Alleys (1977)


01. It's Your Life (N.Chinn/M.Chapman) - 3:33
02. I Can't Stay Here Tonight (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 4:05
03. Sunshine Avenue (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 3:09
04. Think Of Me (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 4:41
05. In The Heat Of The Night (N.Chinn/M.Chapman) - 4:45
06. Needles And Pins (J.Nitzschу/S.Bono) - 2:42
07. No One Could Ever Love You More (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 2:30
08. The Dancer (L.Sayer/D.Courtney) - 3:50
09. Baby It's You (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 3:49
10. Walk Right Back (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 5:29

Personnel:
- Chris Norman - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Alan Silson - lead guitar, vocals
- Terry Uttley - bass, vocals
- Pete Spencer – drums

On their fourth album, Smokie attempt to broaden their country-flavored pop with a few stylistic experiments. The resulting album is successful for the most part. For instance, their European hit "It's Your Life" effectively marries the group's sweet harmonies to a reggae-styled pop melody, and further spices things up by throwing in a surprising Beatles-styled midsection. Another song with a Beatlesque feel is "Sunshine Avenue," a full-on tribute to the Fab Four's psychedelic era that mimics the group's sonic affections from that time (electronically filtered vocals, stately horns, and a rollicking pop melody) and even name-checks Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. However, the biggest surprise in the experimental vein is "In the Heat of the Night," a gritty midtempo rocker that effectively pits a muscular, guitar-heavy performance from the band with a sweeping, cinematic string arrangement to create a convincing tale of life on the mean streets of the city. In fact, this song was so strong that producer Mike Chapman later revived it as the title track for Pat Benatar's 1979 debut album. Bright Lights and Back Alleys also features an impressive, punchy cover of the pop classic "Needles and Pins" done in the traditional, acoustic-flavored Smokie style. A few weak tracks occasionally weigh the album down (example: "Walk Right Back" is a dull boogie-style rocker that feels like filler), but Bright Lights and Back Alleys is an overall solid album that offers plenty of worthwhile tracks to entertain Smokie's fans. ---Donald A. Guarisco, AllMusic Review

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Smokie - Changing All The Time (1975)

2010-05-27T20:27:04Z

Smokie - Changing All The Time (1975)


01. Don't Play Your Rock'n'Roll To Me (N.Chinn/M.Chapman) - 3:17
02. If You Think You Know How To Love Me (N.Chinn/M.Chapman) - 3:23
03. It's Natural (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 2:37
04. Give It To Me (A.Silson) - 4:03
05. We're Flyin' High (N.Chinn/M.Chapman) - 3:52
06. Changing All The Time (N.Chinn/M.Chapman) - 3:21
07. Julie (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 3:00
08. Take Me In (A.Silson) - 3:52
09. Umbrella Day (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 3:43
10. Back To Bradford (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 2:41

- Chris Norman - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Alan Silson - lead guitar
- Terry Uttley - bass
- Pete Spencer – drums

On Changing All the Time, Smokie realizes the promise that was only hinted at Pass It Around. This album presents a confident and stylishly crafted blend of country-rock muscle and pop hooks that helped the group become a European phenomenon. Changing All the Time also benefits from the production and writing assistance of hitmakers Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, who provided Smokie with a bounty of hit singles: "Don't Play Your Rock and Roll to Me" is a slick slice of country-pop with clever lyrics comparing a bad romantic relationship to a worn-out record, and "If You Think You Know How to Love Me" is a sweet ballad that accents the group's acoustic delivery with a sweet, heart-tugging string arrangement. The group also scored a hit with the title track, the gorgeous country-rock equivalent of a power ballad that marries the group's soaring harmonies a solid combination of acoustic guitar, smooth slide guitar riffs, and creamy strings. Despite the fact that these hits were penned by Chinn and Chapman, the rest of the album proves Smokie was more than capable of writing their own material: "Julie" is a lilting, mostly a cappella ballad that provides an emotional vocal showcase for lead singer Chris Norman, and "It's Natural" is a tightly arranged\acoustic tune that brims with captivating vocal harmonies and strong pop hooks. Some of the other tunes don't capture the attention as easily as the aforementioned songs ("Back to Bradford" and "Give It to Me" forsake the captivating melodies of the other songs in favor of a minimalist, riff-based approach), but everything on display here is energetically performed and slickly produced. All in all, Changing All the Time is one of the most consistent albums in the group's catalog and a fine introduction to Smokie. ---Donald A. Guarisco, AllMusic Review

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Smokie - Don't Play Your Rock'N'Roll To Me (Best Rock Greatest Hits) [2010]

2013-08-24T15:38:17Z

Smokie - Don't Play Your Rock'N'Roll To Me (Best Rock Greatest Hits) [2010]


1. Walk right back
2. Petesys song
3. Samantha Elizabeth
4. Girl can’t help it
5. Think of me
6. London is burning
7. Going home
8. Power of love
9. Stranger
10. Light up my life
11. Falling for you
12. Sunshine Avenue
13. Don’t play your rock’n’roll to me
14. It’s your life
15. Jet lagged
16. No more letters
17. I can’t stay here tonight
18. For a few dollars more
19. Make ya boogie
20. Needles and pines
21. What can I do
22. Oh Carol

Originally formed in Yorkshire, England, in 1966, Smokie hit the British pop charts several times during the late '70s with updated psychedelic pop, influenced by the band's stay on Mickie Most's Rak Records as well as the writers of most of the band's hit material, Rak's Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. Vocalist Chris Norman, bassist Terry Utley, guitarist Alan Silson, and drummer Ron Kelly had played in the Elizabethans, but formed the band Kindness in 1970. The quartet recorded many singles during the late '60s and early '70s, but failed to show any chart activity. By 1973, Kelly had left the band and was replaced by Pete Spencer. In 1975, the band, signed to Rak Records, and billed as Smokey, hit number three in the U.K. with "If You Think You Know How to Love Me." After another Top Ten hit, "Don't Play Your Rock 'n' Roll to Me," Smokey became Smokie; during 1976, the group scored with three Top 20 hits, including the number five "Living Next Door to Alice." Smokie hit number five both in 1977 ("It's Your Life") and 1978 ("Oh Carol"), but the band's chart run ended by early 1980, and following 1982's Midnight Delight, they disbanded. Both Spencer and Norman continued to work at Rak during the '80s, writing hits for several groups; they re-formed Smokie in 1986, resurfacing with the LP My Heart Is True. Two more albums, All Fired Up and Greatest Hits Live, followed, with the group remaining active throughout the '90s, issuing new material as well as a number of hits collections. ---John Bush, Rovi

Grupa Smokie została założona w angielskim Yorkshire w 1966 roku. Pierwotny skład zespołu tworzyli: Chris Norman, Alan Silson i Terry Uttley. W 1973 roku nastąpiła zamiana perkusisty na Pete Spencera. W tym samym roku nowy manager zespołu Bill Hurley podjął działania by zespół osiągnął sukces komercyjny. W 1976 roku zespół Smokie zdobył ogromną popularność w całej Europie singlem ”Living Next Door to Alice”, rok później na topie była piosenka ”It's Your Life”, a w 1978 miażdżący hit ”Oh Carol”.

W 1982 roku z zespołu Smokie odszedł Chris Norman i zaczął karierę solową, jednak ostateczne rozstanie wokalisty z zespołem nastąpiło w 1986 roku. Jego następcą został Alan Barton, a zespół pozyskał także keyboardzistę Martina Bullarda i formacja znów cieszyła się dużą popularnością. Wkrótce odszedł także Pete Spencer, zastąpiony przez Steve Pinnella. Po wydaniu w 1982 roku płyty ”Midnight Delight” Smokie rozpadli się. Niektórzy z muzyków grupy (perkusista Pete Spencer oraz wokalista Chris Norman) zajęli się pisaniem kompozycji dla innych artystów. ---fm.tuba.pl

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Smokie - Midnight Café (1976)

2010-05-27T17:02:39Z

Smokie - Midnight Café (1976)


01. Something's Been Making Me Blue (N.Chinn/M.Chapman) - 2:59
02. Wild Wild Angels (N.Chinn/M.Chapman) - 3:55
03. Poor Lady (Midnight Baby) (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 4:40
04. When My Back Was Against The Wall (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 3:34
05. Make Ya Boogie (A.Silson/C.Norman/P.Spencer/T.Uttley) - 5:11
06. Stranger (N.Chinn/M.Chapman) - 4:38
07. What Can I Do (A.Silson) - 3:35
08. Little Lucy (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 3:44
09. Going Home (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 7:30
10. I'll Meet You At Midnight (N.Chinn/M.Chapman) - 3:13

Personnel:
- Chris Norman - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Alan Silson - lead guitar, vocals
- Terry Uttley - bass, vocals
- Pete Spencer – drums

This 1976 follow-up to the successful Changing All the Time finds Smokie pursuing the same kind of country-flavored pop that made that album a hit. With Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman once again in the producer's chairs, the band produced some notable hits in Europe: "Something's Been Making Me Blue" layers Smokie's trademark harmonies atop a rousing country-rock tune driven by tasty guitar work, and "Wild Wild Angels" is a dramatic power ballad that highlights a strong lead from whiskey-throated vocalist Chris Norman. Smokie also scored a hit with "I'll Meet You at Midnight," a surprising departure from their usual formula where the band plays a backup role to a dramatic, French-styled string arrangement that sets the melody. Despite these strong hits, the remainder of Midnight Café hits a few rough spots: "Make Ya Boogie" is a dull and overlong boogie rock tune that could have been performed by any rock band, and the attractive melody of "Poor Lady (Midnight Baby)" is marred by mean-spirited and misogynistic lyrics that mercilessly skewer the down-on-her-luck groupie of the title. Despite these occasional lapses in quality, Midnight Café does offer some decent tunes between the hit singles: "When My Back Was Against the Wall" is a dreamy ballad driven by an ethereal string arrangement, and the epic "Going Home" allows the bandmembers to stretch out and show off their formidable instrumental chops. In the end, the album serves up enough solid tunes to satisfy the group's fans, but casual listeners may want to track down the album's hits on a Smokie compilation. ---Donald A. Guarisco, AllMusic Review

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Smokie - Pass It Around (1975)

2010-05-27T18:56:27Z

Smokie - Pass It Around (1975)


01. Pass It Around (N.Chinn/M.Chapman) - 3:06
02. Daydreamin' (C.Norman/P.Spencer/T.Uttley) - 2:14
03. Oh Well, Oh Well (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 3:15
04. My Woman (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 3:19
05. It Makes Me Money (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 2:55
06. Headspin (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 3:28
07. Goin' Tomorrow (C.Norman/A.Silson/P.Spencer/T.Uttley) - 3:41
08. I Do Declare (N.Chinn/M.Chapman) - 3:43
09. Don't Turn Out Your Light (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 3:58
10. Will You Love Me (C.Norman/A.Silson/P.Spencer/T.Uttley) - 3:42
11. A Day At The Mother-In-Law's (A.Silson) - 2:49
12. The Coldest Night (A.Silson) - 4:13
13. Shy Guy (A.Silson) - 3:23

Personnel:
- Chris Norman - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Alan Silson - lead guitar
- Terry Uttley - bass
- Pete Spencer – drums

This was the debut album for Smokie, an English quartet who were a pet project for legendary English pop producers Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. Although their unique blend of country-rock and pop would soon make Smokie a big success in Europe, their style comes off as tentative and unfocused on Pass It Around. The group's instrumental performance is tight and their Beach Boys-meet-Sweet vocal harmonies are quite pleasing to the ear but their songwriting abilities are not up to snuff. Too many of the songs are weighed down with lightweight lyrics: "It Makes Me Money" is a petulant jab at rock critics, and "A Day at the Mother-in-Law's" is a gimmicky novelty tune that wears out its welcome after the first listen. The worst offender in this respect is "Headspin," a song that wastes its catchy central country-rock riff on a silly lyric about getting drunk. Other songs feel more like loose collections of riffs than fully realized compositions: "Goin' Tomorrow" rides its galloping guitar riff into the ground through endless repetition, and "I Do Declare" runs into the same problem despite a catchy chorus. Despite this problem, echoes of the group that Smokie would eventually become shine through here and there: "Daydreamin'" works an infectious harmony-driven chorus into a likable guitar-fueled melody and the surprisingly complex arrangement of "Don't Turn Out Your Light" weaves serpentine guitar lines and a chorus built on escalating harmonies into a beguiling little pop tune. In the end, though, the inconsistent moments outweigh the solid tunes. Thus, Pass It Around can only be recommended to the Smokie completist. ---Donald A. Guarisco, AllMusic Review

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Smokie - Take a Minute (2010)

2010-12-10T20:20:31Z

Smokie - Take a Minute (2010)


01. Take A Minute (3:55)
02. Sally's Song (The Legacy Goes On) (3:49)
03. If I Can't Love You (3:40)
04. Let's Do It Again (3:31)
05. Nothing Hurts (Like A Broken Heart) (3:20)
06. Celtic Days (2:56)                 play
07. Friends Will Be Friends (3:24)     play
08. The Biggest Lie (4:17)
09. I Don't Want To Lose You (3:02)
10. Can't Change The Past (3:37)
11. This Is What I Did (3:31)
12. 'Til The Grass Grows Over Me (3:29)

Credits:
* Mike Craft - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
* Mick McConnell - lead guitar, vocals
* Terry Uttley - bass, vocals
* Steve Pinnell - drums
* Martin Bullard - keyboards

Smokie is an English rock band from Bradford, Yorkshire who found success in Europe in the 1970s. Originally called The Yen, then The Sphynx and later Essence, the band was formed in 1964 at St. Bede's Grammar School in Heaton, Bradford as The Yen. The Yen's first gig was at Birkenshaw School in February 1965. It was composed of Chris Norman (lead vocals/rhythm guitar/piano), Terry Uttley (bass/vocals), Alan Silson (lead guitar/vocals) and Ron Kelly (drums). As Essence, they toured small clubs in Bradford and the surrounding communities before they split in 1966. The Black Cats were already a working band when Ron Kelly joined them at Dewsbury College. The Black Cats at this time were Peter Eastwood on guitar/vocals and Arthur Higgins on bass. Kelly replaced the drummer they had at the time. Alan Silson joined the band initially alongside Pete Eastwood but Eastwood soon left and was replaced by Chris Norman. In Nov 1967 the band changed their name to The Four Corners. 2010 has seen Smokie gain new chart success with an album of brand new material "Take a Minute". Released initially in Denmark in August, it peaked at number two on the Danish album chart. Releases in the remainder of Scandinavia and Germany are taking place during October, with the single "Sally's Song", a continuation of the story of the other character in "Living Next Door to Alice" also being released. UK release dates have yet to be announced for either Take a Minute or Sally's Song.

Smokie - brytyjski zespół muzyki pop i country rock, który zdobył popularność w Europie w latach 70. XX wieku. Chris Norman, Alan Silson i Terry Uttley, będący filarami grupy, znali się ze szkoły. Ich pierwszy zespół nazywał się The Yen, wkrótce przybrał nazwę The Sphynx. Po ukończeniu szkoły zaczęli podróżować i grać koncerty w klubach i pubach robotniczych. W 1968 po wielkokrotnych zmianach nazwy grali jako The Elizabethans. Mimo usilnych starań - rozsyłania nagrań demo, nagrania singli dla różnych wytwórni pod nazwą Kindness - nie udało im się zaistnieć. W 1973 nastąpiła zamiana perkusisty na Pete'a Spencera. W tym samym roku nowy manager zespołu Bill Hurley podjął działania mające na celu osiągnięcie sukcesu komercyjnego, nawiązując współpracę ze znanym duetem twórców przebojów glam rocka Chinn-Chapmann. Na efekty nie trzeba było długo czekać. W 1975 grupa przyjęła ostatecznie nazwę Smokie.

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Smokie - The Best of Smokie (1997)

2010-02-18T15:05:05Z

Smokie - The Best of Smokie (1997)


1. Living Next Door to Alice 
2. Needles and Pins 
3. Oh Carol 
4. Lay Back in the Arms of Someone 
5. Something's Been Making Me Blue 
6. Couldn't 
7. Talking Her 'Round 
8. Train Song 
9. The Loser 
10. Miss You 
11. Run to You 
12. Here Lies a Man 
13. Now You Think You Know 
14. No One Could Ever Love You More 
15. Goin' Tomorrow 
16. Will You Love Me 
17. You Took Me by Surprise 
18. A Stranger With You

Disky's 1998 release The Best of Smokie is a generous, 18-track collection featuring all of the '70s British phenomenon's hits. At least that what it appears to be upon a glance. Closer inspection reveals that these are "Digital re-recordings" featuring "lead singer Alan Barton." Which means it isn't quite the bargain it seems. These slick re-recordings are professionally done but they feel wrong really should be avoided by listeners with any degree of interest in Smokie. --- Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AllMusic Review

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Smokie - The Montreux Album (1978)

2010-05-27T15:04:31Z

Smokie - The Montreux Album (1978)


01. The Girl Can't Help It (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 3:46
02. Power Of Love (N.Chinn/M.Chapman) - 1:54
03. No More Letters (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 3:27
04. Mexican Girl (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 3:57
05. You Took Me By Surprise (A.Silson/T.Uttley) - 3:36
06. Oh Carol (N.Chinn/M.Chapman) - 3:38
07. Liverpool Docks (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 2:56
08. Light Up My Life (T.Uttley/A.Silson) - 4:23
09. Petesey's Song (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 2:49
10. For A Few Dollars More (N.Chinn/M.Chapman) - 3:33

Personnel:
- Chris Norman - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Alan Silson - lead guitar, vocals
- Terry Uttley - bass, vocals
- Pete Spencer – drums

Surprisingly, no hits surfaced when The Montreux Album was released. The great "For a Few Dollars More" is here, and along with the original "The Girl Can't Help It, " they should have had much more success than they did. This is a solidly played and recorded work. ---James Chrispell, AllMusic Review

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Smokie - The Other Side Of The Road (1979)

2010-05-27T14:07:07Z

Smokie - The Other Side Of The Road (1979)


01. The Other Side Of The Road (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 3:48
02. Do To Me (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 3:16
03. Belinda (A.Silson/T.Uttley) - 2:56
04. Big Fat Momma (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 2:46
05. Don't Take Your Love Away This Time (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 3:09
06. London Is Burning (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 5:08
07. Babe It's Up To You (Macari/Ferris) - 3:40
08. You Don't Care (A.Silson/T.Uttley) - 3:16
09. All Alone (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 3:53
10. I Can't Stop Loving You (A.Silson/T.Uttley) - 3:31
11. Too Many Pennies In Hell (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 1:16
12. Samantha Elizabeth (A.Silson/T.Uttley) - 3:57
13. San Francisco Bay (C.Norman/P.Spencer) - 3:12

Personnel:
- Chris Norman - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Alan Silson - lead guitar, vocals
- Terry Uttley - bass, vocals
- Pete Spencer – drums

By the end of the 1970s, Smokie seemed more or less spent as a serious commercial force, although they continued racking up the hit singles, sporadically at home and consistently in Germany. This album, however, caught them during one of their fallow patches, midway between the peaks of "Mexican Girl" and "Take Good Care of My Baby," and it was very easy to overlook it entirely. Easy, but wrong. The Other Side of the Road is actually one of Smokie's stronger latter-day albums, 13 songs that can best be compared to the sound of the Searchers, if they'd relocated to the mid-'70s Hotel California. Melody and texture dominate, with Chris Norman's vocals sounding sadder and more soulful than ever before, even on the handful of songs whose intent is clearly somewhat lighter-hearted. ---Dave Thompson, AllMusic Review

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Smokie ‎– Light A Candle - The Christmas Album (1996)

2019-12-14T16:25:27Z

Smokie ‎– Light A Candle - The Christmas Album (1996)


1 	It Won't Be Christmas 	3:41
2 	Mary's Boychild 	3:47
3 	Light A Candle 	3:53
4 	Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 	4:34
5 	A Spaceman Came Travelling 	4:45
6 	Silent Night 	4:13
7 	A Winters Tale 	4:12
8 	When A Child Is Born 	4:29
9 	O' Little Town Of Bethlehem 	3:41
10 	O' Holy Night 	4:01
11 	White Christmas 	3:44
12 	Away In A Manger 	3:09
13 	O' Christmas Tree (O' Tannenbaum) 	3:50
14 	Christmas Isn't Just For Children 	5:30

Backing Vocals, Bass – Terry Uttley
Drums, Percussion – Steve Pinnell
Engineer – Charlie Jensen
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Mick McConnell
Keyboards, Composed By [Orchestrations], Performer – Martin Bullard
Lead Vocals, Guitar, Backing Vocals – Mike Craft 
+
Accordion – Henry Marsh
Fiddle – Lars Lilholt
Whistle – Tine Lilholt
Voice [Child's Voice] – Stephanie Bullard
Percussion [Additional] – Peter Bo Mikkelsen
Lead Vocals – Terry Uttley

Quite a surprise. I am a fan of Smokie, but like other groups who founded their success on the skills of the Chinn and Chapman writing duo they never attained the same status or success when they went their own way. However, they were talented and tight musically with a good sound, and this album shows it. The mix is also much better than the average bunch of classics covered with minimal effort or input. There are classics of course; Mary's Boychild, Have Yourself a merry Little Christmas, Silent Night etc, but also later compositions A Spaceman Came Travelling, A Winters Tale and self penned It Won't Be Christmas, Light a Candle, Christmas Isn't Just For Christmas, all of which have been arranged and are performed as if they really cared. A real find for my Christmas album collection, which be warned for comparison, includes works from Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Annie Lennox and Jethro Tull. ---Clem Neville

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