Topic: Rev. Utah Smith

[unezrider]

hello friend,
i was listening to dylan's 'theme time radio hour' the other night, & he played a song by rev. utah smith called 'i want 2 wings'. (pretty sure that was the name. the title didn't come up on my screen). i had never heard of him before, but it was a real cool recording. all i know about him is that he only recorded 6 songs. -&, according to bob, he would wear a pair of angels wings while performing this song in public! anyone here familiar w/ this man's work?
by the way, the song struck me as being in the country blues vein, but if he belongs elsewhere, please move this post accordingly.
thanks,
chris

[Doug]

Rev. Utah Smith is the correct name, although I don't have a huge amount of information on him.  I've heard him on Volume 4 of JSP's The Guitar Evangelists (http://www.amazon.com/Blind-Willie-Johnson-Guitar-Evangelists/dp/tracks/B000675V8S/ref=dp_tracks_all_4#disc_4).

I've lost the CD liner with the information about the fellow, but I seem to recall that he was active in the 50s, and would perform with large wings on his back.  On the JSP set, they've included six numbers by him:  "I Want Two Wings", "God's Mighty Hand", "Two Wings", "Take a Trip", "I Got Two Wings", "Glory to Jesus, I'm Free". 

As you can probably tell from the titles, it looks like he had one hit, tht he recycled several times.

[Bunker Hill]

He recorded for Regis in June 1944 and Checker in 1953. He put out a "vanity" recording some time after that on his Two Wings Temple label. He was known as The Traveling Evangelist.

[Bunker Hill]

I've since located the misfiled Document CD he shares with Lonnie Farris and what's said in the booklet about Smith is little more than Chris Strachwitz came up with when writing his notes to "Negro Religious Music Vol. 2:The Sanctified Singers Part 2" (1968). See http://www.wirz.de/music/blclafrm.htm

[unezrider]

thanks guys

[Doug]

Hey unez (or others),

If you're interested in hearing another song by Utah, there's a copy of "I'm Free" on http://prewarblues.org/2007/12/life-is-a-problem/

[unezrider]

thanks doug,
cool tune!

[jostber]

Great music and some wild guitar there! Gotta hear his other stuff too.

[oddenda]

I was just going to mention the Case Quarter "compleat" Utah Smith, complete with Lynn Abbott book. A must, if you like this sort of thing... and I do!

Peter B.

[JohnLeePimp]

I'd say that John is correct - sounds like one is playing a twelve-string, too. Hardly "delta"!! They recorded a huge amount of material in the 40s.

pbl

Judging from comments on YouTube and Amazon, the term 'delta blues' seems to have acquired a new meaning among the not-very-knowledgeable, something like 'rural-sounding guitar blues'. I've seen Willie McTell described as 'delta blues'.  

Hey LD who's the guy in your avatar?

[LD50]

I'd say that John is correct - sounds like one is playing a twelve-string, too. Hardly "delta"!! They recorded a huge amount of material in the 40s.

pbl

Judging from comments on YouTube and Amazon, the term 'delta blues' seems to have acquired a new meaning among the not-very-knowledgeable, something like 'rural-sounding guitar blues'. I've seen Willie McTell described as 'delta blues'.  

Hey LD who's the guy in your avatar?

Reverend Utah Smith.

[JohnLeePimp]

Reverend Utah Smith.

ahh right... didn't recognise him without the wings

is it from that book written about him?

[LD50]

Reverend Utah Smith.

ahh right... didn't recognise him without the wings

is it from that book written about him?

I think it's in the book, but I just plucked it off the internet somewhere.

This pic may be even cooler: http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/252/44354719.jpg

And this is probably the closest we'll ever come to a music video of Smith: