Floyd Smith • Relaxin' With Floyd

 

Floyd Smith wasn't the first to play electric guitar on record, but his "Floyd's Guitar Blues" is usually recognized as the first hit electric guitar record. On that tune, recorded with the Andy Kirk band, Smith played Hawaiian (lap steel) guitar, but he was also an early adapter of electric Spanish guitar.

John Hammond thought FGB was "corny," but apparently Benny Goodman liked it enough that he tried to recruit Smith for his band, but Smith had signed a five-year contract with Kirk and, so, recommended Charlie Christian. FGB has been covered many times since. Smith did it several times including with his combo around 1946 on lap steel, with Bill Doggett on electric guitar, and on a 1972 album. Contemporary bluesman Bob Margolin has covered it and Chuck Berry copied it (without crediting Smith) for his "Blues for Hawiians."

After serving in WWII, Smith played with Bill Doggett, Wild Bill Davis, Hank Marr, and Johnny "Hammond" Smith. He recorded one album "Relaxin' with Floyd" in 1972 for the French Black and Blue label which has been reissued on CD.

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Floyd Smith no fue el primero en tocar la guitarra eléctrica en un disco, pero su "Floyd's Guitar Blues" generalmente se reconoce como el primer disco exitoso de guitarra eléctrica. En esa melodía, grabada con la banda de Andy Kirk, Smith tocaba la guitarra hawaiana (lap steel), pero también fue uno de los primeros en adaptar la guitarra eléctrica española.

John Hammond pensó que FGB era "cursi", pero aparentemente a Benny Goodman le gustó tanto que trató de reclutar a Smith para su banda, pero Smith había firmado un contrato de cinco años con Kirk y, por lo tanto, recomendó a Charlie Christian. FGB ha sido cubierto muchas veces desde entonces. Smith lo hizo varias veces, incluso con su combo alrededor de 1946 en lap steel, con Bill Doggett en guitarra eléctrica y en un álbum de 1972. El bluesman contemporáneo Bob Margolin lo ha versionado y Chuck Berry lo copió (sin dar crédito a Smith) para su "Blues for Hawiians".

Después de servir en la Segunda Guerra Mundial, Smith tocó con Bill Doggett, Wild Bill Davis, Hank Marr y Johnny "Hammond" Smith. Grabó un álbum "Relaxin' with Floyd" en 1972 para el sello francés Black and Blue que ha sido reeditado en CD.

Tracklist
1 Petite Mademoiselle
2 Mama Talks Soft
3 Relaxin' With Floyd
4 Floyd's Guitar Blues
5 Satin Doll
6 Take It Easy Blues
7 Red Top
8 Without You
9 Merci
10 Something For Baby
11 Invitation


Credits:
Floyd Smith (guitar); Wild Bill Davis (organ); Chris Columbus (drums)

 

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