Holland K. Smith
Walking Heart Attack
(Top Cat 1992)
The North Texas area is rich with an overabundance of highly talented blues musicians who toil in relative obscurity. One musician who is trying hard to break out from the pack is Holland K. Smith. With his second fine CD on TopCat records, Walking Heart Attack, HKS should no longer worry about not being given the recognition that he has earned.
The Anson Funderburgh produced Walking Heart Attack features 10 original tunes among its dozen songs. BB King and Jimmy Forest penned the two songs not written by Holland, nice deep covers that will not spur anyone to print up any 'no more' stickers.
Although the songs on the CD can be put into the general categories of Texas Blues and Swing, the sound that Holland K. Smith produces is distinctly his own.
Holland is backed by a fine band of Eric Mathew on bass, Kevin Schermerhorn on drums with guest appearances by Hash Brown, John Street and the White Trash Horns. From the driving title track, the hit sounding "Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" to the instrumental "This, That and The Other" and the concluding jazzy cover of "Night Train," Holland K. Smith has put out a disc of which to be proud.
By purchasing this CD and going to hear Holland K. Smith perform live, you - the blues fan, can carry this native Texan from obscurity to known artist of the blues.
- Scott Ferman -
Southwest Blues CD Review - July 1999
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