Move over, Ray Benson. Asleep at the Wheel isn’t the only band celebrating half a hundred years. East of the Sabine, Baton Rouge’s Smithfield Fair also reached the semi-centurion mark recently. To commemorate this special occasion, the longstanding folk-rock group boiled its 35-album discography to 14 songs core to its repertoire and reprised them to show how they sound today. Smithfield Fair astutely realized that over time, songs evolve from their inception. Keys change; tempos change; harmonies are added. Longtime Smithfield Fair engineer, J. David Praet, formerly of Alexandria, Louisiana, brought his mobile unit from Nashville to record the group over three days at a picturesque farmhouse near Alexandria. To make it even more special, Smithfield Fair brought back drummer Kenny Brady, beat keeper on 2021’s Looking For Wonderland, for an extra push and punch.
Since most songs were first takes, the experience must have been magical. Smithfield Fair sounds fresher as ever: crisp hearty vocals, tight, orchestrated harmonies, and resoundingly deep conviction. Jan Smith remains the sparkle of the group that includes husband/songwriter Dudley-Brian Smith (guitar/vocals) and his brother Bob (bass/vocals). She’s one of the best songwriters in the state, according to fellow folkie Gina Forsyth, with sincere, unpretentious lyrics and touching melodies dressed with pretty chords. Jan’s songs are deeply personal, such as her classic “Girl I Left Behind,” a self-realization of the person she’s become.
Interestingly, the title track and “Goodbye Old Friends” originally appeared on the group’s debut single released on Ville Platte record man Floyd Soileau’s One Way Records and was a regional jukebox staple for a spell. Listeners appreciating Louisiana-themed material will find some of that here, such as “Waiting On The River” and “To Louisiana,” featuring Jan’s quasi-zydeco accordion playing that’s atypical of her signature gliding style.
Unlike Asleep at the Wheel, Smithfield Fair hasn’t continuously operated under Smithfield Fair, only since 1989, when it entered its Scottish music era. Although it underwent two name changes, Laughter (1973-76) and Charmer (1976-89), Smithfield Fair’s blueprint of harmonies and acoustic instrumentation was established early on. Dudley-Brian is the group’s common denominator, Smithfield Fair’s version of Ray Benson. He’s been there every step along the way, providing leadership and quality originals (“The Longing”).
The CD packaging is a six-panel digipak with lyrics, credits and photos, unheard of in this day and age of anti-CD bias. For the uninitiated, there’s no better place to dig into Smithfield Fair’s remarkable legacy than right here. Longtime listeners will be reminded how well Smithfield Fair’s songs have stood the test of time and are still relevant.
