- JACK SMITH
- & THE
- ROCKABILLY PLANET
- "CAN'T HELP MYSELF"
- RUN WILD RECORDS
People get a little too snobby when it
comes to what was originally called rock & roll music. Maybe it’s the stereotype
about southern white trash or that rock isn’t "real" music because
it’s made by common people with little "formal" musical training. Who
knows? Stuff and nonsense, I say! Rockabilly is American roots music. Very working class
and created by those who felt a need to express, it combined country swing with R&B
and gospel rhythms. It comes from the heart and still thrives today. And one of the more
talented artists is a transplanted Texan now living in Rhode Island named Jack Smith. Jack
has a real knack for writing some very back-to-basics, country-flavored rock & roll.
He is appreciated among the last original 50s artists such as Sonny Burgess and Paul
Burlison and has lent his considerable talents to them. Even former Blasters’ member
Dave Alvin has sang Jack’s praises. Produced by Bill Kirshen "Can’t Help
Myself" is Jack’s third album, and it’s his best yet. Jack gets to stretch
his songwriting style more so then previous outings. "Hardtown" has a bit of
Johnny Cash influence in it, while "Neon Highway" is a tear-jerker with a
Tex-Mex sound. My favorite is the title track harkening back to the primal rockin’
sound Elvis Presley originally started with. What helps hold this record together is the
current line-up of the Rockabilly Planet; they are an extremely tight ensemble of
excellent musicians. Especially out-standing is guitarist Jerry Miller who co-wrote half
the songs on the disc; there is no finer guitar-picker around. Having seen Jack Smith and
the band play several times, they sound as good live as they do on disc and put on a damn
fine show. Pick this one up, it’s highly recommended.
- Cheryl LeBeau
****1/2