Smith: A Group Called Smith

Basically a mainstream pop/rock band with hard rock and soul-influenced arrangements, Smith hit the Top Ten in 1969 with their drastically revised cover of the Shirelles' "Baby It's You." Featuring three lead singers and a B-3 Hammond organ, their strongest asset was their most frequent vocalist, Gayle McCormick, an accomplished female blue-eyed soul belter. Most of their material consisted of covers of popular rock and R&B tunes, and they broke up after a couple of albums, though the singles "What Am I Gonna Do" (co-written by Carole King) and "Take a Look Around" made the middle of the charts. McCormick had a couple small hits in 1971, and made a few albums in the early '70s as a soloist.

The 1995 CD reissue on the Varese Saranbande label of their 1969 debut album (LP Dunhill 50056) A Group Called Smith, adds five significant bonus tracks: the singles "Take A Look Around" and "What Am I Gonna Do," Gayle McCormick's solo singles "Gonna Be Alright Now" and "It's A Cryin' Shame," and Smith's version of "The Weight," which orginally was included on the Easy Rider 1969 soundtrack album, even though the Band's original version was the one used in the film.

Tracks

1. Let's Get Together
2. I Don't Believe
3. Tell Him No
4. Who Do You Love
5. Baby It's You
6. Last Time
7. I Just Wanna Make Love to You
8. Mojaleskey Ridge
9. Let's Spend the Night Together
10. I'll Hold out My Hand
11. The Weight (Robertson,Robbie) (244K)
12. Take a Look Around
13. What Am I Gonna Do
14. Gonna Be Alright Now
15. It's a Cryin' Shame