Lonnie Smith: Drives (180g) Vinyl LP

Of all the jazz-funk period Blue Notes, this one may have been the most in-demand. It has everything going for it: The striking sky blue cover with Lonnie Smith (ed. note: not to be confused with Lonnie Liston Smith!) and scarved female hanging out the skyroof of his caddie; the genius typeface treatment; and a high profile Tribe sample ("Can I Kick It") on Lonnie's version of "Spinning Wheel." So much so, that I dropped $40 at the Union Square record show for it (which was a shit ton of money in my college days). The rest of the album keeps pace as it's got a continual fiery quality that other albums from the same era lack. Check "Twenty Five Miles," "Psychedelic Pi," and "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Wolf." 5 tracks in all.

• 180g black vinyl pressing
• all-analog remaster cut from the original tapes
• featuring Lonnie Smith (organ), Dave Hubbard  (t. sax), Ronnie Cuber (b. sax), Larry McGee (g), Joe Dukes (d)
• original release year: 1970
• music label: Blue Note Records 2024

reviewed by the mngmt 04/2008