50 years ago today (2/8/72), organist Jimmy Smith, along with bass, guitar, percussion, and drums recorded Root Down -one of the most greasy and funky instrumental live albums of all time. While many a younger fan might know this organ kingpin via The Beastie Boys ( the song “Root Down (And Get It)” which was sampled by the NYC trio or the song “Root Down”), this six-song scorcher also set the template for many a later-day organ-based improv band. Recorded at the Bombay Bicycle Club in Los Angeles, Verve released it later in 1972. Still, this fiery live set caught on more in later years, as Jimmy Smith received a late-career re-evaluation. Check out the molten title track…
