Sunday, December 29, 2013

Andy and Jan Smith (The Smith Family)

Dave Cooper (Dando Shaft) writes " Anyone who frequented Acoustic, Folk and Country Music Clubs 
around Coventry and Warwickshire throughout the 60's and 70's would know Andy Smith. Multi instrumentalist and fabled bluegrass banjo player. With his sister Jan, The Smith Family and various ensembles including Down County Boys and the Ian Campbell Folk Group all featuring Andy's dynamic musical fluency across banjo, guitar, mandolin and fiddle. He also had one of the best high and lonesome vocals ever, creating with Jan those harmonies that only siblings can. His untimley death aged 61 in 2007 after more than twelve years with Lewy Bodies Disease took away a unique talent. We are delighted to offer this collection of songs from Andy's wife Barbara."  On his Rare Music site here http://raremusez.co.uk/music/index.php/component/maianmedia/?view=album&album=8

On Dave Cooper's Raremusez site you can download13 tracks by Andy and Jan for 55p each - (NOTE Raremusez site seems to have have gone down now!)
The tracks they offer are -


Tracks:
Little Birdie
Soul of A Man
Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Hey Boys
Got Put A Rainbow In The Sky
Twin Banjo
Fly Around Cherokee
Hello City Limits
End Of A Long Lonely Day
Hesitation Blues
Baltimore Fire
Clouds
Walloping Window Blind

Andy Smith- Guitar, Banjo,Mandolin,Vocals
Mike Smith- Guitar,Banjo,Uke,Vocals
Jan Smith- Fiddle,Mandolin,Bottle-neck Guitar,Vocals
Steve Allcutt- String Base
John Fields- Fiddle, Mandolin
.......................................................................

Meanwhile, Marko Krnjulap has sent some live tracks by Andy and Jan recorded in the Old Dyers Arms folk club in Coventry in the 70's - My Love and I / Who's Gonna be your Man?.

Here they are - (and there may be some more coming later from Marko)


In 1969, Andy and Jan were guests (along with Jackie and Bridie) at the Coventry Arts Umbrella Club's Music Marathon in November 1969.