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Like his brother Otis (Big Smokey), Albert Smothers was already a guitarist when he arrived in Chicago. Ten years younger than Big Smokey, and making the move ten years later, Little Smokey plays in a more modern style, indebted to the aggressive West Side guitarists and to Albert King. He led his own bands, and worked with Howlin' Wolf, Earl Hooker and Paul Butterfield among many others before temporarily quitting music in the '70s. Smothers and Bishop, who was his guitar student in the early '60s have an obvious mutual affection, but their conversations on 'Remembering' and 'Talking Blues' are more fun for them, than for the listener. Bishop buzzsaw tone obtrudes on the four tracks where he appears, among them an overlong 'Tribute To Earl Hooker', on which Flynn's and Smothers's solo are equally undernourished. Smokey shines as both singer and guitarist on the rest of the album, and cousin Lee Shot produces some of his best, bluesiest vocals, but its drawbacks keep 'Bossman' out of the top rank.

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Personnel:
Little Smokey Smothers - Guitars, Vocals
Billy Flynn - Guitar
Tony Zamagni - Keyboards
Willie Black - Bass
Pete Williams - Drums

Guests:
Lee 'Shot' Williams - Vocals on tr.4,6,8,11
Elvin Bishop - Guitar on tr.1,5,7,10, Vocals on tr.1,7

Tracklist:
01. Remembering
02. Days Are Dark
03. You're Gonna Miss Me
04. This Town's Too Small
05. Tribute To Earl Hooker
06. Hello Baby
07. Talkin' Blues
08. Don't Misuse My Love
09. Why Are You So Mean To Me
10. Monkey Man
11. 43rd Street Blues

Album Ratings:
AMG: ****½

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