Nashville session pianist Jerry Dean Smith is/was also a songwriter, producer and publisher about whom very little personal information is known (not to be confused with Jerry Smith, The Yodelin' Cowboy). His piano style, best described as Crazy Otto/Johnny Maddox, turned out four national hit singles under his own name and one as Papa Joe's Music Box in 1969/70.
Before that, however, working with Bill Justis as Cornbread & Jerry, they had one uncharted single, Lil' Ole Me/Loco Moto on Liberty 55322 in 1961, and then under the same name backed The Dixiebelles on their 1963/64 smash hits, (Down At) Papa Joe's (which he wrote) and Southtown, U.S.A. for Sound Stage 7 Records.
His first solo hit, the driving, bouncy Truck Stop reached # 44 Country and # 71 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in May/June 1969 on ABC 11182 b/w My Happiness, and in August he took Sweet `N' Sassy to # 63 Country on ABC 11230 b/w Sunrise Serenade (yes, the Glenn Miller classic like you've never heard it before - or since). His last charter at ABC, Papa Joe's Thing, was done under the billing Papa Joe's Music Box and finished at # 62 Country in December 1969 b/w Jean on ABC 11246. At Decca in 1970, he had the June # 44 Country, Drivin' Home, b/w Louisiana Blues (Decca 32679) and in October, the # 60 Country, Steppin' Out, b/w Closing Time (Decca 32730).
Although this is shown as "sheet music" the price tells me what you see listed here may be his LP at ABC Records, Truck Stop (ABCS-692) which came out in 1969 containing: A1. Truck Stop; A2. Speakeasy (1929); A3. Sunrise Serenade; A4. My Happiness; A5. Smokey Corners; B1. Sweet 'N Sassy; B2. Tokyo Butterfly; B3. I'll Always Be In Love With You; B4. The Street Singers (Y Cantanti Della Strada); B5. Pretend. However, I'd obtain clarification before ordering as it may also simply be the 45 rpm single or, indeed, overpriced sheet music.
His lone Decca LP, Drivin' Home - Steppin' Out (Decca DL-75241) came out in 1970 containing A1. Drivin' Home; A2. The Long And Winding Road; A3. Gimme Dat Ding; A4. Louisiana Blues; A5. When In Rome; B1. Cream And Sugar; B2. Steppin' Out; B3. Whatever Will be, Will Be; B4. Long Lonesome Highway; B5. By Special Request; B6. Closing Time.
Another LP, The New Sound Of Jerry Smith And His Pianos, came out in 1973 on Ranwood R-8111 containing: A1. Moonlight And Roses; A2. Red Roses For A Blue Lady; A3. The Third Man Theme; A4. Sleepy Time Gal; A5. Heartaches; A6. The Poor People Of Paris; B1. Faded Love; B2. The Yellow Rose Of Texas; B3. Ramblin' Rose; B4. The Red Garter Saloon; B5. Glow Worm; B6. Sioux City Sue.
In terms of CDs, Truck Stop can be found in Volume 4 of the great Stardust series Vintage Instrumentals, but as for the rest of his solo hits, good luck trying to find any. It's high time someone gathered together a comprehensive CD volume of his music with perhaps that Cornbread & Jerry side at Liberty and maybe even their backing of The Dixiebelles, if possible.
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Shades Of Crazy Otto/Johnny Maddox
Nashville session pianist Jerry Dean Smith is/was also a songwriter, producer and publisher about whom very little personal information is known (not to be confused with Jerry Smith, The Yodelin' Cowboy). His piano style, best described as Crazy Otto/Johnny Maddox, turned out four national hit singles under his own name and one as Papa Joe's Music Box in 1969/70.Before that, however, working with Bill Justis as Cornbread & Jerry, they had one uncharted single, Lil' Ole Me/Loco Moto on Liberty 55322 in 1961, and then under the same name backed The Dixiebelles on their 1963/64 smash hits, (Down At) Papa Joe's (which he wrote) and Southtown, U.S.A. for Sound Stage 7 Records.His first solo hit, the driving, bouncy Truck Stop reached # 44 Country and # 71 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in May/June 1969 on ABC 11182 b/w My Happiness, and in August he took Sweet `N' Sassy to # 63 Country on ABC 11230 b/w Sunrise Serenade (yes, the Glenn Miller classic like you've never heard it before - or since). His last charter at ABC, Papa Joe's Thing, was done under the billing Papa Joe's Music Box and finished at # 62 Country in December 1969 b/w Jean on ABC 11246. At Decca in 1970, he had the June # 44 Country, Drivin' Home, b/w Louisiana Blues (Decca 32679) and in October, the # 60 Country, Steppin' Out, b/w Closing Time (Decca 32730).Although this is shown as "sheet music" the price tells me what you see listed here may be his LP at ABC Records, Truck Stop (ABCS-692) which came out in 1969 containing: A1. Truck Stop; A2. Speakeasy (1929); A3. Sunrise Serenade; A4. My Happiness; A5. Smokey Corners; B1. Sweet 'N Sassy; B2. Tokyo Butterfly; B3. I'll Always Be In Love With You; B4. The Street Singers (Y Cantanti Della Strada); B5. Pretend. However, I'd obtain clarification before ordering as it may also simply be the 45 rpm single or, indeed, overpriced sheet music.His lone Decca LP, Drivin' Home - Steppin' Out (Decca DL-75241) came out in 1970 containing A1. Drivin' Home; A2. The Long And Winding Road; A3. Gimme Dat Ding; A4. Louisiana Blues; A5. When In Rome; B1. Cream And Sugar; B2. Steppin' Out; B3. Whatever Will be, Will Be; B4. Long Lonesome Highway; B5. By Special Request; B6. Closing Time.Another LP, The New Sound Of Jerry Smith And His Pianos, came out in 1973 on Ranwood R-8111 containing: A1. Moonlight And Roses; A2. Red Roses For A Blue Lady; A3. The Third Man Theme; A4. Sleepy Time Gal; A5. Heartaches; A6. The Poor People Of Paris; B1. Faded Love; B2. The Yellow Rose Of Texas; B3. Ramblin' Rose; B4. The Red Garter Saloon; B5. Glow Worm; B6. Sioux City Sue.In terms of CDs, Truck Stop can be found in Volume 4 of the great Stardust series Vintage Instrumentals, but as for the rest of his solo hits, good luck trying to find any. It's high time someone gathered together a comprehensive CD volume of his music with perhaps that Cornbread & Jerry side at Liberty and maybe even their backing of The Dixiebelles, if possible.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2012
Before that, however, working with Bill Justis as Cornbread & Jerry, they had one uncharted single, Lil' Ole Me/Loco Moto on Liberty 55322 in 1961, and then under the same name backed The Dixiebelles on their 1963/64 smash hits, (Down At) Papa Joe's (which he wrote) and Southtown, U.S.A. for Sound Stage 7 Records.
His first solo hit, the driving, bouncy Truck Stop reached # 44 Country and # 71 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in May/June 1969 on ABC 11182 b/w My Happiness, and in August he took Sweet `N' Sassy to # 63 Country on ABC 11230 b/w Sunrise Serenade (yes, the Glenn Miller classic like you've never heard it before - or since). His last charter at ABC, Papa Joe's Thing, was done under the billing Papa Joe's Music Box and finished at # 62 Country in December 1969 b/w Jean on ABC 11246. At Decca in 1970, he had the June # 44 Country, Drivin' Home, b/w Louisiana Blues (Decca 32679) and in October, the # 60 Country, Steppin' Out, b/w Closing Time (Decca 32730).
Although this is shown as "sheet music" the price tells me what you see listed here may be his LP at ABC Records, Truck Stop (ABCS-692) which came out in 1969 containing: A1. Truck Stop; A2. Speakeasy (1929); A3. Sunrise Serenade; A4. My Happiness; A5. Smokey Corners; B1. Sweet 'N Sassy; B2. Tokyo Butterfly; B3. I'll Always Be In Love With You; B4. The Street Singers (Y Cantanti Della Strada); B5. Pretend. However, I'd obtain clarification before ordering as it may also simply be the 45 rpm single or, indeed, overpriced sheet music.
His lone Decca LP, Drivin' Home - Steppin' Out (Decca DL-75241) came out in 1970 containing A1. Drivin' Home; A2. The Long And Winding Road; A3. Gimme Dat Ding; A4. Louisiana Blues; A5. When In Rome; B1. Cream And Sugar; B2. Steppin' Out; B3. Whatever Will be, Will Be; B4. Long Lonesome Highway; B5. By Special Request; B6. Closing Time.
Another LP, The New Sound Of Jerry Smith And His Pianos, came out in 1973 on Ranwood R-8111 containing: A1. Moonlight And Roses; A2. Red Roses For A Blue Lady; A3. The Third Man Theme; A4. Sleepy Time Gal; A5. Heartaches; A6. The Poor People Of Paris; B1. Faded Love; B2. The Yellow Rose Of Texas; B3. Ramblin' Rose; B4. The Red Garter Saloon; B5. Glow Worm; B6. Sioux City Sue.
In terms of CDs, Truck Stop can be found in Volume 4 of the great Stardust series Vintage Instrumentals, but as for the rest of his solo hits, good luck trying to find any. It's high time someone gathered together a comprehensive CD volume of his music with perhaps that Cornbread & Jerry side at Liberty and maybe even their backing of The Dixiebelles, if possible.
Shades Of Crazy Otto/Johnny Maddox
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2012
Nashville session pianist Jerry Dean Smith is/was also a songwriter, producer and publisher about whom very little personal information is known (not to be confused with Jerry Smith, The Yodelin' Cowboy). His piano style, best described as Crazy Otto/Johnny Maddox, turned out four national hit singles under his own name and one as Papa Joe's Music Box in 1969/70.Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2012
Before that, however, working with Bill Justis as Cornbread & Jerry, they had one uncharted single, Lil' Ole Me/Loco Moto on Liberty 55322 in 1961, and then under the same name backed The Dixiebelles on their 1963/64 smash hits, (Down At) Papa Joe's (which he wrote) and Southtown, U.S.A. for Sound Stage 7 Records.
His first solo hit, the driving, bouncy Truck Stop reached # 44 Country and # 71 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in May/June 1969 on ABC 11182 b/w My Happiness, and in August he took Sweet `N' Sassy to # 63 Country on ABC 11230 b/w Sunrise Serenade (yes, the Glenn Miller classic like you've never heard it before - or since). His last charter at ABC, Papa Joe's Thing, was done under the billing Papa Joe's Music Box and finished at # 62 Country in December 1969 b/w Jean on ABC 11246. At Decca in 1970, he had the June # 44 Country, Drivin' Home, b/w Louisiana Blues (Decca 32679) and in October, the # 60 Country, Steppin' Out, b/w Closing Time (Decca 32730).
Although this is shown as "sheet music" the price tells me what you see listed here may be his LP at ABC Records, Truck Stop (ABCS-692) which came out in 1969 containing: A1. Truck Stop; A2. Speakeasy (1929); A3. Sunrise Serenade; A4. My Happiness; A5. Smokey Corners; B1. Sweet 'N Sassy; B2. Tokyo Butterfly; B3. I'll Always Be In Love With You; B4. The Street Singers (Y Cantanti Della Strada); B5. Pretend. However, I'd obtain clarification before ordering as it may also simply be the 45 rpm single or, indeed, overpriced sheet music.
His lone Decca LP, Drivin' Home - Steppin' Out (Decca DL-75241) came out in 1970 containing A1. Drivin' Home; A2. The Long And Winding Road; A3. Gimme Dat Ding; A4. Louisiana Blues; A5. When In Rome; B1. Cream And Sugar; B2. Steppin' Out; B3. Whatever Will be, Will Be; B4. Long Lonesome Highway; B5. By Special Request; B6. Closing Time.
Another LP, The New Sound Of Jerry Smith And His Pianos, came out in 1973 on Ranwood R-8111 containing: A1. Moonlight And Roses; A2. Red Roses For A Blue Lady; A3. The Third Man Theme; A4. Sleepy Time Gal; A5. Heartaches; A6. The Poor People Of Paris; B1. Faded Love; B2. The Yellow Rose Of Texas; B3. Ramblin' Rose; B4. The Red Garter Saloon; B5. Glow Worm; B6. Sioux City Sue.
In terms of CDs, Truck Stop can be found in Volume 4 of the great Stardust series Vintage Instrumentals, but as for the rest of his solo hits, good luck trying to find any. It's high time someone gathered together a comprehensive CD volume of his music with perhaps that Cornbread & Jerry side at Liberty and maybe even their backing of The Dixiebelles, if possible.
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