It is finally here, the much talked about re-issue of Ray Smith's late seventies recordings for Wix Records, appropriately called "The Complete Wix Sessions of Ray Smith". It was Tommie Wix, secretary of the Ray Smith Fan Club, who in 1978 convinced Ray to record again in the style which in the early sixties gave him the nickname "Rockin'" Ray Smith. Let there be no mistake about it, he was an excellent singer of country songs as releases on labels like Cinnamon and Corona during the early seventies clearly show. His true love however was rock & roll music and when Tommie presented him with the opportunity to record in the style he originally developed at Sun Records in Memphis, he grabbed it with both hands. Unable to find a label interested in the project, Tommie and her late husband Howard started a label of their own, Wix Records.
The recordings on this CD were taken from the original studio tapes of the two singles and one album that Ray recorded for Wix during 1978. The original tracks were cleaned up, some studio talk was left in and also some alternate takes of songs were used. The CD opens with the b-side of his first release for Wix Records, "Break Up", a song written by Charlie Rich which Ray originally recorded for Sun with Charlie playing piano. This time around Ray himself is behind the piano, providing the song with a nice pumping piano beat. "Room Full Of Roses", the a-side of the first single and a sizeable hit for Mickey Gilley at the time is next. When I first laid ears on Ray's rough and rowdy rock & roll interpretation of this song I knew he was back on the right track. The second single followed the same concept. "Whole Lot Of Shaking Going On", the old rock & roll standard, was coupled with a rocking version of a hit of the era, Kris Kristofferson's "Me And Bobby McGee", which by the way is allowed to run an extra 30 seconds on this CD.
After two successful singles Ray returned to studio in September 1978 for his first album since the early sixties when his "Rockin' Little Angel" for Judd resulted in the now highly collectable "Travelin' With Ray Smith" album. The next six songs on this CD are from his Wix album I'm Gonna Rock Some More", and include such rockin' goodies as Domino's "Let The Four Winds Blow" , A.P. Carter's "Wabash Cannon Ball", and Chuck Willis's "Hang Up My R&R; Shoes". The highlight however is the instrumental "Wipe Out", with some outstanding, almost Esquerita like, keyboard work by Ray and a drummer who is trying to demolish his instrument in one number. Throughout the full 3:15 min., one expects the drummer to be "wiped-out" by arm muscle cramp or heart failure.
The second side of the album is next and I believe that Ray's almost 25 minute long tribute to Elvis Presley is a masterpiece in itself. He included an Elvis medley in most of his shows through the sixties and seventies simply because he loved Elvis and his music. What makes "The King's Medley" so outstanding is the fact that Ray and the backup musicians play Elvis songs for 25 minutes without a single interruption. It covers track 11 and the CD player considers it one song. Ray swings from rockers like "Mystery Train" and "Wear My Ring" right into "Love Me Tender" and "The Wonder Of You", even throwing in some original Italian lyrics in "It's Now Or Never" and blending it all together into one brilliant tribute. These are not shameless imitations or note for note copies but just a series of tunes forever linked with the name Elvis Presley, done the Ray Smith way. Recorded in one take, "The King's Medley", even more than the other songs, is rough and primitive. The way fans of original rock & roll music still like it best.
A little over a year after Ray finished the sessions for Wix Records he past away from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. I don't know why a nice rocked up version of "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" was included in the original album but it makes for a very appropriate closing to "The Complete Wix Sessions of Ray Smith". As I wrote in a review of the original album, it is hard for me to understand Ray's reaction when asked by Tommie Wix to play piano on the recordings ; "Oh no I couldn't do that. If you want a good piano player you better get Charlie Rich or Jerry Lee Lewis". Only the threat that there would be no Ray Smith releases on Wix Records with another piano player made Ray take his place behind the piano. Little did Tommie Wix know at the time that her persistence would mark the first and final time Ray's remarkable talent on the piano was captured on tape. Now thanks to her all the recordings he made for Wix Records are preserved on this wonderful CD.
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