Smith’s Comfort

Description

The self-titled debut album by the Australian folk-rock group Smith’s Comfort (a.k.a. Ian & Sue Smith) was released in Australia on Heaven ‎in 1975. The album was recorded in Sydney, Australia; with Alistair Dewar and band member Ian Smith producing.

Smith’s Comfort (otherwise known as the Australian duo of Ian & Sue Smith) had previously appeared on the live album Bennelong Session, where they performed four songs in the acoustic folk-singer mode. This excellent LP from the same label has them recording in the studio with a band, turning out a decided rock/folk-rock edge. «The Bitter And The Sweet» opens the LP on a folksy guitar/harmonica/dobro Dylan note, followed by a slow stately classic-rock number ala Fairport Convention called «If I Go Down» featuring strong interaction of electric guitar, piano and organ. Harmonica and electric guitar trade licks on the mid-tempo boogie piece «Proverbial Blues». «The Bring Back Song» is a live humorous perversion of «My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean» that recalls their Bennelong Session performance. The minor-key ballad «Is There Anybody Here» supplies a soft dreamy mood, followed by «Turning Over», a great jazz-laced progressive instrumental that fades out and then continues on side two. Next up is the album’s loudest cut «Do You Believe», with hardy fuzz guitar action. Some charming acoustic-oriented songs finish out the side, including «What Do You Do, What Do You Say», «The Carpenter», «Winter-Spring» and «Best I Can Do» (beautiful flute accompaniment on a couple of these). Fifty plus minutes of top-shelf Australian Jesus music, housed in a handsome gate-fold cover. [Ken Scott, The Archivist]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “The Bitter And The Sweet” – 3:30
A2. “If I Go Down” – 6:35
A3. “Proverbial Blues” – 4:00
A4. “The Bring Back Song” – 3:20
A5. “Is There Anybody Here” – 3:55
A6. “Turning Over” (Instrumental) – 2:33

Side Two
B1. “Turning Over Cont.” (Instrumental)
B2. “Do You Believe”
B3. “What Do You Do, What Do You Say”
B4. “The Carpenter”
B5. “Winter-Spring”
B6. “Best I Can Do”

Note: LP housed in a gatefold sleeve.

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