egroj world: Byther Smith • Tell Me How You Like It

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Byther Smith • Tell Me How You Like It

Biography
by Bill Dahl
Strictly judging from the lyrical sentiment of his recordings, it might be wise not to make Chicago guitarist Byther Smith angry. Smitty's uncompromising songs are filled with threats of violence and ominous menace (the way blues used to be before the age of political correctness), sometimes to the point where his words don't even rhyme. They don't have to, either -- you're transfixed by the sheer intensity of his music. Smitty came to Chicago during the mid-'50s after spending time toiling on an Arizona cattle ranch. He picked up guitar tips from J.B. Lenoir (his first cousin), Robert Jr. Lockwood, and Hubert Sumlin, then began playing in the clubs during the early '60s. Theresa's Lounge was his main haunt for five years as he backed Junior Wells; he also played with the likes of Big Mama Thornton, George "Harmonica" Smith, and Otis Rush.

A couple of acclaimed singles for C.J. (the two-part "Give Me My White Robe") and BeBe ("Money Tree"/"So Unhappy") spread his name among aficionados, as did a 1983 album for Grits, Tell Me How You Like It. The rest of the country then began to appreciate Smitty, thanks to a pair of extremely solid albums on Bullseye Blues: 1991's Housefire (first out on Grits back in 1985) and I'm a Mad Man two years later. With two sets on Delmark and a stepped-up touring itinerary, Smitty really hit his stride. He continued with strong performances and recordings during the new millennium, issuing two albums on Black & Tan, 2001’s Smitty’s Blues and 2004’s Throw Away the Book; returning to Delmark for 2008’s Blues on the Moon: Live at the Natural Rhythm Social Club; and issuing Got No Place to Go on Fedora, also in 2008.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/byther-smith-mn0000939457/biography

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Biografía
por Bill Dahl
A juzgar estrictamente por el sentimiento lírico de sus grabaciones, sería prudente no hacer enfadar al guitarrista de Chicago Byther Smith. Las intransigentes canciones de Smitty están llenas de amenazas de violencia y ominosas amenazas (como solía ser el blues antes de la era de la corrección política), a veces hasta el punto de que sus palabras ni siquiera riman. Y no hace falta que lo hagan: la intensidad de su música te atrapa. Smitty llegó a Chicago a mediados de los años 50, después de trabajar en un rancho ganadero de Arizona. Aprendió a tocar la guitarra de J.B. Lenoir (su primo hermano), Robert Jr. Lockwood y Hubert Sumlin, y empezó a tocar en los clubes a principios de los 60. El Theresa's Lounge era su lugar de residencia. El Theresa's Lounge fue su principal refugio durante cinco años como telonero de Junior Wells; también tocó con artistas de la talla de Big Mama Thornton, George "Harmonica" Smith y Otis Rush.

Un par de aclamados singles para C.J. (el bipartito "Give Me My White Robe") y BeBe ("Money Tree"/"So Unhappy") difundieron su nombre entre los aficionados, al igual que un álbum de 1983 para Grits, Tell Me How You Like It. El resto del país empezó entonces a apreciar a Smitty, gracias a un par de álbumes extremadamente sólidos en Bullseye Blues: Housefire en 1991 (publicado por primera vez en Grits en 1985) y I'm a Mad Man dos años más tarde. Con dos discos en Delmark y un itinerario de giras más intenso, Smitty alcanzó su mejor momento. Durante el nuevo milenio continuó con sus sólidas actuaciones y grabaciones, publicando dos álbumes en Black & Tan, Smitty's Blues en 2001 y Throw Away the Book en 2004; volvió a Delmark para Blues on the Moon en 2008: Live at the Natural Rhythm Social Club, de 2008; y Got No Place to Go, de Fedora, también en 2008.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/byther-smith-mn0000939457/biography

www.bythersmithweb.com ...

Tracks:
A1 - Tell Me How You Like It - 4:09
A2 - I Don't Like To Travel - 4:11
A3 - Cut You Loose - 3:43
A4 - Walked All Night Long - 4:01
A5 - Close To You - 3:56
A6 - Come On In This House - 4:02
B1 - 300 Pounds Of Joy - 3:37
B2 - Hold That Train - 5:21
B3 - You Ought To Be Ashamed - 3:50
B4 - What My Mamma Told Me - 3:46
B5 - This Little Voice - 3:13

Credits:
    Artwork – Stennik Advertising Ltd.
    Bass – Bruce Felgen
    Concept By [of UK Release] – Barrie Chambers
    Drums – Joe Pusateri
    Engineer – Jerry Muzica
    Executive-Producer – Kehn A. Bacon*
    Guitar – Mike Baietto
    Guitar, Vocals – Byther Smith
    Liner Notes – Peter Shertser
    Plated By – Z (2)
    Producer – Bruce Felgen, Byther Smith
    Written-By – B. Smith* (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B3)

Recorded At Timbre Recording Studio, Alsip, Illinois, 1983.

Label:    Red Lightnin' – RL0061, Red Lightnin' – RLoo61
Country:    UK
Released:    1985
Genre:    Blues
Style:    Chicago Blues
https://www.discogs.com/release/3705097-Byther-Smith-Tell-Me-How-You-Like-It