David Johansen and the Harry Smiths – David Johansen and the Harry Smiths [One-Step] (Vinil 180g, LP)

Released in 2000 on the renowned Chesky Records label, “David Johansen And The Harry Smiths” – the folk-blues project of the legendary former lead singer of the highly influential New York Dolls – is a unique album inspired by the folk scene that developed in New York City clubs in the late 1990s. Inspired by the 1997 reissue of “Anthology Of American Folk Music,” a compilation of country and blues recordings from the 1920s and 1930s by musicologist Harry Everett Smith, Johansen named his band “The Harry Smiths” and recorded songs from the anthology or pieces inspired by it and played them live. “The Harry Smiths” included Johansen’s longtime companion Brian Koonin on guitar and mandolin, as well as Larry Saltzman, also on guitar and banjo.

The rhythm section, featuring Kermit Driscoll and Joey Baron, played with jazz guitarist Bill Frisell for many years. With his quartet, David Johansen explores the beginnings of American folklore by playing blues written by Lightnin’ Hopkins, Sonny Boy Williamson and Mississippi John Hurt, but also interpreting songs such as “Poor Boy Blues” and “Oh Death,” whose composers are no longer known today. With his distinctive voice, Johansen stays close to the original, but as an arranger he sometimes allows himself a little detour into rock. And what will particularly delight audiophiles: the album, recorded at the end of 1999 in St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in New York, sounds absolutely superb!

“David Johansen And The Harry Smiths” is a unique gem in the Chesky Records catalog, and Evosound is delighted to now present the LP reissue of this wonderful album: pressed on 180-gram vinyl (33 RPM) using the superior One-Step process, which brilliantly showcases Chesky’s famous production and recording techniques. This edition will be released exclusively for Record Store Day Black Friday 2025 and is strictly limited to 2,500 copies!

Lista pieselor

Side A

1.    James Alley Blues
2.    Darling, Do You Remember Me?
3.    Delia
4.    Little Geneva
5.    Well, I’ve Been To Memphis

Side B 
1.    Katie Mae
2.    Old Dog Blue
3.    Somebody Buy Me A Drink
4.    Poor Boy Blues
5.    Don’t Start Me Talking
6.    Oh Death