discography 
•50s
•60s 
•70s 
•80s+ 
song index 
cover art 
Blue Note years 
a buyer's guide 
watch 
links 

Any Number Can Win
  front cover   side a

1
5
J

2
.
.

3
.
.

4
.
.

5

You Came A Long Way From St Louis *
4:20
Brooks / Russell

The Ape Woman **
3:31
Schifrin

Georgia On My Mind ***
2:27
Carmichael / Gorrell

G'won Train *
4:20
Bown

Theme From Any Number Can Win ***
2:39
Magne

 
  back cover   side b

1
5
J

2
.
.

3
.
.

4
.
.

5

What'd I Say? ****
2:45
Charles

The Sermon ****
7:35
Smith

Ruby ***
2:19
Roemheld / Parish

Tubs *
2:50
Smith

Blues For C.A. **
3:42
Smith

 
  label a  

recording dates

studio

label

cat no.

  

10, 17, 25 & 29/07/63


New York City

Verve

V6 8552

  

label b

PERSONNEL
organ
Jimmy Smith
  
     
arranger
  

Billy Byers a2,a4,b5

Claus Ogerman a1,a3,a5,b3

  
trumpet

Jimmy Maxwell * / **
Joe Newman * / ** / ***
Charlie Shavers *
Snooky Young **
James Sedlar ***

  
     
trombone
  

Kai Winding * / **
Jimmy Cleveland * / **
Melba Liston * / **
Paul Faulise * / **

  
saxophone

Jerry Dodgion * / **
Marvin Holladay * / **
Budd Johnson * / ** / ***
Seldon Powell * / **
Phil Woods * / **
Jerome Richardson ***

  
     
guitar
  

Kenny Burrell
Billy Mure ***
Vince Gambella ***

  
     
drums
  

Herb Lovell * / **
Bobby Donaldson ***
Mel Lewis ****

  
     
percussion
  

George Devens * / **
Doug Allan ***
Art Marotti ***

  
     
bass
  

Art Davis * / **
Milt Hinton ***
Bob Bushness (Fender) ***
George Duvivier ****

  
  TECH  
producer
   Creed Taylor  
     
engineer
  

Rudy Van Gelder
Phil Macy
Phil Ramone

  
     
dir. of eng.
   Val Valentin  
REISSUES label   year   cat no.      
    Polygram   20/10/98   557447  

 

  
REVIEW   New arrangers are aboard for this set, and although there's very little change in the bluesy big band sound set up by OIiver Nelson on Hobo Flats, there is a progression - it all seems to have become just a bit more polished. The tunes have a good spread, from some fine soul jazz, to blues and a ballad. Again the album opens on one of the strongest tunes, where Jimmy really wails and the big band provide some nice commentary. Best of this lovely bunch is Theme From "Any Number Can Win", which is the most swingingest, groovy, made for a bachelor pad tune Jimmy ever recorded. The melody is set up by either a guitarist (there are three listed for this session) and Jimmy, or a couple of the guitarists together. The synchronicity, tightness of the playing and ringing sound make it hard to tell which instruments are playing. After that, Jimmy takes off for the heavens, in a short and tight solo that contains all his trademark sound condensed into a tight minute or so. Again the best tune is the title track. Something of a commonality on these Verve recordings.  
   

additional artwork

      
 

inner gatefold