O. C. Smith

If You Knew

O. C. Smith - Love Changes (Southbay Records SB 1001) 1982

I Betcha; If You Knew; Love Changes; Girl; Got To Know; That's One For Love; You're Still My Lady; We're Making Love, We're Making Music; I'm Glad That I Fell In Love With You.

Produced by: H.B. Barnum

It's got to be his best album, not one poor track on the set, produced by H.B. Barnum, Kevin Brandon on bass, David T. Walker who recorded my Basement Soul Show radio theme music is on guitar, he played for Martha Reeves touring band for some years. Every time I play the album I have a new favorite track. Today it's If You Knew. Other stunning tracks on this album are I Betcha, Got To Know We're Making Love... and That's One For Love.

His collectables are Whatcha Gonna Do £20, Colour Him Father £10 , On Easy Street, Stormy and I Am Your Man.

Born Ocie Lee Smith, 21 June 1932, Mansfield, Louisiana, USA, d. 23 November 2001, Los Angeles, California, USA. O.C. Smith was raised in Los Angeles, where he began singing jazz and standards in clubs at the end of the 40s.

After serving five years in the US Air Force, he signed with Cadence Records in 1956, enjoying some success the following year with the sophisticated Lighthouse. He remained predominantly a club performer until 1961, when he replaced Joe Williams in the Count Basie Band.

He resumed his solo career in 1963, finally attaining a commercial breakthrough in 1968 with Dallas Frazier's unusual story-song, The Son Of Hickory Holler's Tramp, recorded at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, and a major hit in Britain.

In the USA, this record was overshadowed by his rendition of Bobby Russell's Little Green Apples, which outsold a rival hit version by Roger Miller. Daddy's Little Man in 1969 provided Smith's final taste of US Top 40 success, though the soul-flavoured La La Peace Song proved popular in 1974, and Together was an unexpected chart entry in 1977.

During the 70's which he was most successful, Smith issued a series of impressive albums. He spent the last 16 years of his life as a full-time minister at the City Of Angels Church Of Religious Science in Los Angeles. Thank you for great music.

http://www.cityofangelschurch.com/