Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, June 3-4, 1971.

Label: Kudu
Cat#: KU-01

This was the first album released by Kudu, and the first album as “Johnny Hammond” sans the Smith last name.

Track Listing
1. It’s Too Late – 11:01 (King, Toni Stern)
2. Workin’ on a Groovy Thing – 6:45 (Roger Atkins, Sedaka)
3. Never Can Say Goodbye – 5:35 (Clifton Davis)
4. Blues Selah – 6:40 (Leo Johnson)
5. Breakout – 4:52 (Johnny Smith)

Bonus track on reissue CD
6. It’s Too Late – 16:18 (King, Stern)

Performers (Tracks 1-5)
Johnny Hammond – Organ
Hank Crawford – Alto Sax
Grover Washington, Jr. – Tenor Sax
Danny Moore – Trumpet
Johnny Williams – Fender Electric Bass
Airto Moreira – Percussion
Eric Gale – Guitar
Billy Cobham – Drums

Performers (Track 6)
Johnny Hammond – Organ
George Benson – Guitar
Freddie Hubbard – Trumpet
Stanley Turrentine – Tenor Sax
Hank Crawford – Alto Sax
Airto Moreira – Percussion
Billy Cobham – Drums

Produced by Creed Taylor
Liner notes by Didier C. Deutsch
Jacket Photography by Alan MacWeeney
Jacket Design by Bob Ciano

Bonus track was recorded July 18, 1971 at the Hollywood Palladium.

Reissued on CD, March 2, 2002. Includes a bonus live version of “It’s Too Late.” Tracks 2 and 1 were issued as a single, KU 900.

More info

Track Listing
1. Stimulation – (Johnny Smith)
2. Good ‘Nuff – (Johnny Smith)
3. The Stinger – (Johnny Smith)
4. The Golden Thrush –
5. Love Potion #9 –
6. Ebb Tide – (Maxwell, Sigman)
7. Dirty Grape – (Wally Richardson)
8. Dirty Apple – (Johnny Smith)

Performers

Billboard
This album is mentioned in an article about Prestige releasing a “Best of..” series for many of their top artists. August 2, 1969, page 10.

Track Listing
1. Stormy –
2. You Made Me So Very Happy –
3. Here It ‘Tis – (Johnny Smith / James Clark)
4. Gina D – (Johnny Smith / James Clark)
5. Danny Boy –
6. Nubs – (Johnny Smith)

Performers
Houston Person – Tenor Sax
Jimmy Lewis – Electric Bass
James Clark – Guitar
Bernard “Pretty” Purdie – Drums (Tracks 3-6)
Johnny “Hammond” Smith – Organ
Eddie Gee – Drums (Tracks 1-2)

Billboard Magazine
This album is listed as a new release in the issue dated March 13, 1971, page 13. It has a price of $4.98 listed next to it.

Reissued along with “Black Feeling!” as “Legends of Acid Jazz”

Original Cover

Reissue Cover

LP Label

Track Listing
1. Soul Talk – 9:34 (Johnny Smith)
2. All Soul – 5:30 (Curtis Lewis)
3. Up To Date – 7:50 (Johnny Smith)
4. Purty Dirty – 6:05 (Wally Richardson)
5. This Guy’s In Love With You – 4:25 (Bacharach-David)

Performers
Johnny “Hammond” Smith – Organ
Rusty Bryant – Alto Sax (Veritone)
Wally Richardson – Guitar
Bob Bushnell – Fender Bass
Bernard Purdie – Drums

Billboard Magazine
This album is listed in the “New Album Releases” section of the August 2, 1969 issue, page 55.

Billboard mentioned this album as a highlight of Johnny’s career in his obituary in the August 2, 1997 issue (page 30).

Reissued December 3, 1996 along with “Soul Talk” as “Legends of Acid Jazz.”

Label: Prestige
Cat#: 7736

Track Listing
1. Black Feeling – 6:30 (Leo Johnson)
2. Kindra – 5:40 (Leo Johnson)
3. Johnny Hammond Boogaloo – 5:00 (Wally Richardson)
4. Dig On It – 7:55 (Leo Johnson)
5. When Sunny Gets Blue – 4:25 (Risher-Segal)
6. Soul Talk-1970 – 6:20 (Johnny Smith)

Performers
Virgil Jones – Trumpet
Rusty Bryant – Tenor Sax
Leo Johnson – Tenor Sax
Johnny “Hammond” Smith – Organ
Wally Richardson – Guitar
Jimmy Lewis – Electric Bass
Bernard Purdie – Drums

Reissued along with “Gettin’ Up” (AKA “Ebb Tide”) as “The Soulful Blues” on September 19, 2000.
Listed as a “4-Star” release in Billboard: December 28, 1968, page 38.

Track Listing
1. If I Were A Bell
2. Speak Low
3. Song For My Father
4. Unchained Melody
5. Nasty (Smith)
6. Four Bowls of Soup (Smith)

Performers
Houston Person – Tenor Sax
Johnny “Hammond” Smith – Organ
John Abercrombie – Guitar
Grady Tate – Drums

Listed as a new release in Billboard on July 20, 1968, page 50.

Original Cover
.

Reissue cover, along with Soul Flowers:
.

Track Listing
1. Dirty Grape – 3:00 (Richardson)
2. Animal Farm – 8:08 (Smith)
3. Black Strap Molasses – 3:06 (Richardson)
4. She’s Gone Again – 3:30 (Smith)
5. Hi-Heel Sneakers – 5:45 (Higginbotham)
6. To Sir With Love – 3:30 (Black/London)
7. Love Is A Hurting Thing – 3:41 (Raleigh/Linden)
8. Please Send Me Someone To Love – 5:29 (Mayfield)

Performers
Earl Edwards – Tenor Sax
Houston Person – Tenor Sax
Johnny “Hammond” Smith – Organ
Wally Richardson – Guitar
Jimmy Lewis – Electric Bass
John Harris – Drums
Richie “Pablo” Landrum – Conga