Addressing the Nation with the Blues Multichannel

I had never ever heard of Byther Smith but happened to stumble across this album because of the way Amazon takes you down various musical paths as you have a look and a listen to the samples. Grabbed this mainly because it was an SACD Hybrid surround and I am buying a few SACDs for the surround sound experience. Musically and as a blues album this does not disappoint. Pretty raw - plenty of emotion and there seem to an underlying edge or anger to his playing which makes it quite powerful. A very good live blues album by most measures

Originally recorded in 1989, this CD is remarkably modern in every sense. Byther Smith isn't the most well-known bluesman but he really ought to be, for the music he writes and plays is full of fire and soul and is masterfully delivered.This particular edition of this album has audiophile-grade sound, and mixing/mastering is so well-done that it really brings out all the warmth and soul that this record could hope to project. If you have a subwoofer, the SACD will make it come alive, literally. The mix is excellent, in that both Byther's guitar and his vocals are justly intense without being overblown or forgotten.Byther Smith is full of fire. His vocals here have the strengh of BB King, and the sound of a young man. You can immediately recognize Byther Smith's intense vocals - they are the heart of his blues. However, his guitar work is no less intense or impressive. The way he plays guitar here is like every solo is a story. Every note appears to be blended with the next in a very fluid sense, with the real purpose, instead of some random plucking. While his guitar supports the intensity of his vocals and his overall songs, it does so without completely taking over everything, in a tasteful tone that seems to flow like a stream of his soul's expression.Byther's background as a bass player definitely shines in the way he plays his blues - he has a very definite and strong sense of rhythm. His songs often employ a driving, danceable rhythm - great driving music, for instance. In some of his own compositions here, he gets creative with the more complex drumming patterns that would be more common in jazz rather than blues. Yet, this CD is unmistakably blues. Completely.In my opinion, this is a stunning CD that every person who has a liking for the blues should give a listen. Byther Smith is remarkably overlooked, but he has a remarkable combination of talents which will hopefully give him the recognition he so deserves.

This CD by Byther Smith was unknown to me and I have never heard of the Chicago Bluesman before scrolling through SACD CD's available in the Amazon library. Took a chanceyand the music is great straight up Chicago Blues, strong rythm band and great guitar work by Byther. The SACD 5.1 is great except one tiny thing is the rytham guitar in rear right is not completely in balance with the organ in rear left, a bit overpowering otherwise great 5.1 mix.

Chicago Blues at it's finest. Excellent guitar work and Byther's vocals just fit so well together. There is not a bad track on this CD.If you enjoy the blues, especially Chicago style, you will love this CD.

Great album. I'd never heard of Byther Smith before but, I like his music.

good R&B,,,,

Maybe it just didn't meet my expectations, but I found some parts of the album almost irritating (i.e. the xeroxed version of Otis Rush "Double Trouble" with worsened lyrics)