Opus De Funk (album) explained

Opus De Funk
Type:	Album
Artist:	Johnny "Hammond" Smith
Cover:	Opus De Funk.jpg
Released:	1966
Recorded:	February 14 and May 12, 1961
Studio:	Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs
Genre:	Jazz
Label:	Prestige
Producer:	Esmond Edwards
Chronology:	Johnny "Hammond" Smith
Prev Title:	Stimulation
Prev Year:	1961
Next Title:	Johnny "Hammond" Cooks with Gator Tail
Next Year:	1962

Opus De Funk is an album by jazz organist Johnny "Hammond" Smith recorded for the Prestige label in 1961 but not released until 1966.^{[1] [2]}

Reception

AllMusic awarded the album 4 stars stating "The really unusual element here is the presence of McCoy, because one doesn't usually associate vibes with jazz organ combos. The vibes work, however, and give the resonance of Smith's organ a lighter counterpoint that brightens up the overall sound".^[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Johnny "Hammond" Smith except where noted.

1. "Opus de Funk" (Horace Silver) – 5:19
2. "Almost Like Being in Love" (Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe) – 4:27
3. "Autumn Leaves" (Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer) – 4:11
4. "Sad Eyes" – 4:50
5. "Gone With the Wind" (Herb Magidson, Allie Wrubel) – 5:45
6. "If Someone Had Told Me" (Peter DeRose, Charles Tobias) – 4:31
7. "Shirley's Theme" – 4:39

• Recorded at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on February 14 (tracks 1-3) and May 12 (tracks 4-7), 1961.

Personnel

• Johnny "Hammond" Smith – organ
• Freddie McCoy – vibraphone
• Eddie McFadden – guitar
• Wendell Marshall – bass
• Leo Stevens – drums
• Esmond Edwards – producer
• Rudy Van Gelder – engineer

Notes and References

1. http://www.jazzdisco.org/prestige-records/catalog-7400-series/#pr-7420 Prestige Records discography
2. http://www.johnnyhammondsmith.com/discography.html Johnny "Hammond" Smith discography
3. Lankford, Jr. R. D. AllMusic listing accessed April 24, 2013.