LONNIE LISTON SMITH
A BOX of Lonnie Liston Smith [1973-2012] (22 x CDs)
Lonnie Liston Smith Jr., a celebrated figure in the world of jazz, soul, and funk music, was born on December 28, 1940. His journey into the world of music began in the vibrant city of Richmond, Virginia, where he was born into a family that had a deep connection with music. His father was a member of the gospel group “The Harmonizing Four”, and it was through this early exposure that Smith developed a love for music. Smith’s musical influences were not limited to gospel. He was introduced to the world of jazz through the works of legendary musicians like Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis. The profound influence of these jazz maestros played a significant role in shaping Smith’s musical style and vision.
Smith’s formal education in music began in high school, where he studied piano, tuba, and trumpet. His passion for music led him to pursue a B.S. in Music Education from Morgan State University in Baltimore. During his time at university, he had the opportunity to perform with contemporaries like Gary Bartz, Grachan Moncur, and Mickey Bass. These experiences enriched his understanding of music and honed his skills as a musician. In 1963, Smith moved to the bustling city of New York to kickstart his professional career. He started performing with top vocalists like Betty Carter and Joe Williams, gaining invaluable experience and exposure. In 1965, he joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, a group known for nurturing young jazz musicians and helping them make their mark in the world of music. Smith’s stint with the Jazz Messengers was followed by a two-year engagement with Rahsaan Roland Kirk. These experiences with various musicians and groups helped Smith develop his unique musical style and identity. The year 1968 marked a significant turning point in Smith’s career when he joined Pharoah Sanders’ ensemble.
It was during this time that Smith began to experiment with a unique fusion of jazz, soul, and funk. This experimental phase culminated in the formation of his own band, Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes. The Cosmic Echoes was more than just a band; it was a platform for Smith to express his unique musical vision. The band recorded several albums that are now considered classics in the fusion, smooth jazz, and acid jazz genres. These albums showcased Smith’s ability to blend different musical styles and create a unique sound that was both innovative and captivating.
With a career spanning over four decades, Smith has established himself as one of the most versatile musicians in contemporary music. His rhythmic urgency, harmonic acumen, and composing skills have influenced a generation of young players. His music has transcended boundaries and has inspired musicians across genres.
Today, Lonnie Liston Smith continues to inspire with his timeless music. His music is a testament to his passion, creativity, and dedication to his craft. Despite the changing trends in music, Smith’s music remains relevant and continues to resonate with audiences worldwide. His contribution to the world of music is immeasurable, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of musicians.
These albums and compilations offer a deeper exploration of Lonnie Liston Smith’s music. (B)
Presented in this post are the following Lonnie Liston Smith albums':
- Astral Traveling - [1973]
- Cosmic Funk - [1974]
- Expansions - [1974]
- Visions Of A New World - [1975]
- Reflections Of A Golden Dream - [1976]
- Renaissance - [1977]
- Lonnie Liston Smith Live - [1977]
- A Song For The Children - [1978]
- Exotic Mysteries - [1978]
- Loveland - [1978]
- Love Is The Answer - [1980]
- Dreams Of Tomorrow - [1983]
- Silhouettes - [1984]
- Rejuvenation - [1985]
- Love Goddess - [1989]
- Make Someone Happy - [1989]
- Magic Lady - [1991]
- Watercolors - [1991]
- Transformation - [1998]
- Explorations, The Columbia Recordings CD1 - [2002]
- Explorations, The Columbia Recordings CD2 - [2002]
- Cosmic Funk & Spiritual Sounds, The Flying Dutchman Masters - [2012]
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Track lists
Astral Traveling [1973]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Astral Traveling 5:31
02 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Let Us Go Into The House Of The Lord 6:22
03 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Rejuvenation 5:36
04 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - I Mani (Faith) 6:11
05 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - In Search Of Truth 7:12
06 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Aspirations 4:23
07 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Astral Traveling (Alternative Version) 5:38
08 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Rejuvenation (Alternative Version) 6:33
09 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - I Mani (Faith) [Alternative Version] 5:58
10 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - In Search Of Truth (Alternative Version) 6:23
Cosmic Funk [1974]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Cosmic Funk 5:39
02 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Footprints 6:11
03 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Beautiful Woman 6:58
04 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Sais (Egypt) 8:16
05 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Peaceful Ones 5:03
06 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Naima 4:01
Expansions [1974]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Expansions 6:08
02 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Desert Nights 6:44
03 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Summer Days 5:51
04 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Voodoo Woman 4:23
05 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Peace 4:18
06 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Shadows 6:22
07 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - My Love 5:41
Visions Of A New World [1975]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - A Chance For Peace 5:20
02 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Love Beams 4:07
03 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Colors Of The Rainbow 3:49
04 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Devika (Goddess) 5:13
05 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Sunset 4:16
06 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Visions Of A New World (Phase I) 2:10
07 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Visions Of A New World (Phase Ii) 3:40
08 Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes - Summer Nights 5:05
Reflections Of A Golden Dream [1976]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith - Get Down Everybody (It's Time For World Peace) 4:25
02 Lonnie Liston Smith - Quiet Dawn 3:33
03 Lonnie Liston Smith - Sunbeams 3:54
04 Lonnie Liston Smith - Meditations 4:24
05 Lonnie Liston Smith - Peace & Love 2:38
06 Lonnie Liston Smith - Beautiful Woman 6:05
07 Lonnie Liston Smith - Goddess Of Love 4:24
08 Lonnie Liston Smith - Inner Beauty 2:18
09 Lonnie Liston Smith - Golden Dreams 4:52
10 Lonnie Liston Smith - Journey Into Space 2:31
Renaissance [1977]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith And The Cosmic Echoes - Space Lady 6:45
02 Lonnie Liston Smith And The Cosmic Echoes - Mardi Gras (Carnival) 6:10
03 Lonnie Liston Smith And The Cosmic Echoes - Starlight And You 5:24
04 Lonnie Liston Smith And The Cosmic Echoes - Mongotee 5:52
05 Lonnie Liston Smith And The Cosmic Echoes - A Song Of Love 4:12
06 Lonnie Liston Smith And The Cosmic Echoes - Between Here And There 2:38
07 Lonnie Liston Smith And The Cosmic Echoes - Renaissance 4:59
Live! [1977]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith - Scorceress 6:06
02 Lonnie Liston Smith - Prelude 3:04
03 Lonnie Liston Smith - Expansions 8:26
04 Lonnie Liston Smith - My Love 4:43
05 Lonnie Liston Smith - Visions Of A New World (Phase 2:22
06 Lonnie Liston Smith - Visions Of A New World (Phase 6:12
07 Lonnie Liston Smith - Watercolors 4:50
08 Lonnie Liston Smith - Sunset 8:28
A Song For The Children [1978]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith - A Song For The Children 7:04
02 Lonnie Liston Smith - A Lover's Dream 4:40
03 Lonnie Liston Smith - Aquarian Cycle 4:25
04 Lonnie Liston Smith - Street Festival 4:40
05 Lonnie Liston Smith - Midsummer Magic 6:05
06 Lonnie Liston Smith - Nightlife 4:48
07 Lonnie Liston Smith - A Gift Of Love 4:41
08 Lonnie Liston Smith - Fruit Music 6:00
Exotic Mysteries [1978]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith - Space Princess 7:02
02 Lonnie Liston Smith - Quiet Moments 3:51
03 Lonnie Liston Smith - Magical Journey 4:58
04 Lonnie Liston Smith - Exotic Mysteries 4:27
05 Lonnie Liston Smith - Singing For Love 5:26
06 Lonnie Liston Smith - Mystical Dreamer 5:30
07 Lonnie Liston Smith - Twilight 1:19
08 Lonnie Liston Smith - Night Flower 5:59
Loveland [1978]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith - Sunburst 4:09
02 Lonnie Liston Smith - Journey Into Love 5:10
03 Lonnie Liston Smith - Floating Through Space 4:35
04 Lonnie Liston Smith - Bright Moments 6:47
05 Lonnie Liston Smith - We Can Dream 5:03
06 Lonnie Liston Smith - Springtime Magic 4:20
07 Lonnie Liston Smith - Loveland 3:32
08 Lonnie Liston Smith - Explorations 6:27
Love Is The Answer [1980]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith - In The Park 4:09
02 Lonnie Liston Smith - Love Is The Answer 4:39
03 Lonnie Liston Smith - Speak About It 5:49
04 Lonnie Liston Smith - Bridge Through Time 3:55
05 Lonnie Liston Smith - On The Real Side 5:42
06 Lonnie Liston Smith - The Enchantress 4:50
07 Lonnie Liston Smith - Give Peace A Chance (Make Love Not War) 5:58
08 Lonnie Liston Smith - Free And Easy 3:02
Dreams Of Tomorrow [1983]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith - A Lonely Way To Be 4:26
02 Lonnie Liston Smith - Mystic Woman 4:32
03 Lonnie Liston Smith - The Love I See In Your Eyes 3:29
04 Lonnie Liston Smith - Dreams Of Tomorrow 4:08
05 Lonnie Liston Smith - Never Too Late 5:13
06 Lonnie Liston Smith - Rainbows Of Love 4:08
07 Lonnie Liston Smith - Divine Light 3:28
08 Lonnie Liston Smith - A Garden Of Peace 3:08
Silhouettes [1984]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith - Warm 3:09
02 Lonnie Liston Smith - If You Take Care Of Me 5:06
03 Lonnie Liston Smith - Silhouettes 4:36
04 Lonnie Liston Smith - Summer Afternoon 5:48
05 Lonnie Liston Smith - Enlightenment 4:51
06 Lonnie Liston Smith - City Of Lights 5:12
07 Lonnie Liston Smith - Once Again Love 5:01
08 Lonnie Liston Smith - Just Us Two 4:16
Rejuvenation [1985]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith - Rejuvenation 8:35
02 Lonnie Liston Smith - Island In The Sun 6:06
03 Lonnie Liston Smith - London Interlude 5:37
04 Lonnie Liston Smith - The Eternal Quest 5:16
05 Lonnie Liston Smith - A Frozen Lake 4:55
06 Lonnie Liston Smith - Girl In My Dreams 5:41
Love Goddess [1990]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith - Love Goddess 5:48
02 Lonnie Liston Smith - Obsession 4:49
03 Lonnie Liston Smith - Heaven 7:30
04 Lonnie Liston Smith - Monks Mood 3:04
05 Lonnie Liston Smith - Star Flower 6:12
06 Lonnie Liston Smith - Giving You The Best That I Go 4:47
07 Lonnie Liston Smith - Dont Write Checks That Your B 4:51
08 Lonnie Liston Smith - Dance Floor 5:45
Make Someone Happy [1989]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith - Satin Doll 4:05
02 Lonnie Liston Smith - Make Someone Happy 5:46
03 Lonnie Liston Smith - Close Your Eyes 3:40
04 Lonnie Liston Smith - I Can't Get Started 4:44
05 Lonnie Liston Smith - Speak Low 4:23
06 Lonnie Liston Smith - Wives And Lovers 4:00
07 Lonnie Liston Smith - Cary Paul And Louisa 4:16
08 Lonnie Liston Smith - Duke's Place 4:26
Magic Lady [1991]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith - Color My Love 4:38
02 Lonnie Liston Smith - Serious 4:30
03 Lonnie Liston Smith - Dream Lover 5:05
04 Lonnie Liston Smith - Let's Spend The Night Together 5:01
05 Lonnie Liston Smith - Summer Love 5:03
06 Lonnie Liston Smith - Get Here 4:19
07 Lonnie Liston Smith - Good Love 5:14
08 Lonnie Liston Smith - Magic Lady 5:08
09 Lonnie Liston Smith - Give Peace A Chance 3:25
10 Lonnie Liston Smith - Quiet Moments 4:36
Watercolors [1991]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith - Watercolors 4:52
02 Lonnie Liston Smith - Sunset 4:03
03 Lonnie Liston Smith - Starlight And You 5:10
04 Lonnie Liston Smith - My Love 5:35
05 Lonnie Liston Smith - Expansions 6:00
06 Lonnie Liston Smith - A Song Of Love 4:01
07 Lonnie Liston Smith - Renaissance 4:41
08 Lonnie Liston Smith - Devika 5:12
09 Lonnie Liston Smith - Summer Nights 5:00
10 Lonnie Liston Smith - Aspirations 4:20
11 Lonnie Liston Smith - Colors Of The Rainbow 3:48
Transformation [1998]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith - Transformation 4:56
02 Lonnie Liston Smith - Queen Of Hearts 5:33
03 Lonnie Liston Smith - Beautiful Girl 5:58
04 Lonnie Liston Smith - Angels Of The Night 6:19
05 Lonnie Liston Smith - Moon Beams 4:28
06 Lonnie Liston Smith - Nubian Nights 4:36
07 Lonnie Liston Smith - Caribbean Sunrise 4:49
08 Lonnie Liston Smith - Space Princess 4:24
09 Lonnie Liston Smith - Quiet Moments 4:37
10 Lonnie Liston Smith - A Chance For Peace (Give Peace A Chance) 4:45
Explorations, The Columbia Recordings CD1
01 Lonnie Liston Smith - Space Princess 7:05
02 Lonnie Liston Smith - Quiet Moments 3:53
03 Lonnie Liston Smith - Magical Journey 4:59
04 Lonnie Liston Smith - Exotic Mysteries 4:28
05 Lonnie Liston Smith - Singing For Love 5:28
06 Lonnie Liston Smith - Mystical Dreamer 5:31
07 Lonnie Liston Smith - Twilight 1:19
08 Lonnie Liston Smith - Night Flower 6:01
09 Lonnie Liston Smith - Sunburst 4:09
10 Lonnie Liston Smith - Journey Into Love 5:10
11 Lonnie Liston Smith - Floating Through Space 4:35
12 Lonnie Liston Smith - Bright Moments 6:47
13 Lonnie Liston Smith - We Can Dream 5:03
14 Lonnie Liston Smith - Springtime Magic 4:20
15 Lonnie Liston Smith - Loveland 3:32
16 Lonnie Liston Smith - Explorations 6:27
Explorations, The Columbia Recordings CD2
01 Lonnie Liston Smith - In The Park 4:19
02 Lonnie Liston Smith - Love Is The Answer 4:46
03 Lonnie Liston Smith - Speak About It 5:56
04 Lonnie Liston Smith - Bridge Through Time 4:00
05 Lonnie Liston Smith - On The Real Side 5:45
06 Lonnie Liston Smith - Enchantress 4:56
07 Lonnie Liston Smith - Give Peace A Chance (Make Love) 6:05
08 Lonnie Liston Smith - Free & Easy 3:12
09 Lonnie Liston Smith - A Song For The Children 7:04
10 Lonnie Liston Smith - Lover's Dream 4:44
11 Lonnie Liston Smith - Aquarian Cycle 4:26
12 Lonnie Liston Smith - Street Festival 4:43
13 Lonnie Liston Smith - Midsummer Magic 6:08
14 Lonnie Liston Smith - Nightlife 4:49
15 Lonnie Liston Smith - A Gift Of Love 4:44
Cosmic Funk & Spiritual Sounds [2012]
01 Lonnie Liston Smith - Expansions 6:05
02 Lonnie Liston Smith - A Chance For Peace 5:20
03 Lonnie Liston Smith - Beautiful Woman 6:51
04 Lonnie Liston Smith - Shadows 6:20
05 Lonnie Liston Smith - Sunbeams 3:53
06 Lonnie Liston Smith - Golden Dreams 4:47
07 Lonnie Liston Smith - Astral Traveling 5:28
08 Lonnie Liston Smith - Devika (Goddess) 5:14
09 Lonnie Liston Smith - Meditations 4:20
10 Lonnie Liston Smith - Vision Of A New World (Phase I) 2:09
11 Lonnie Liston Smith - Vision Of A New World (Phase Ii) 3:41
12 Lonnie Liston Smith - Cosmic Funk 5:35
13 Lonnie Liston Smith - Get Down Everybody (It's Time For World Peace) 4:22
14 Lonnie Liston Smith - Desert Nights 6:42
15 Lonnie Liston Smith - In Search Of Truth 7:09
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I worked in a cd store in the 90s in Richmond and Lonnie Liston Smith was friends with the owner. I met him several times over the years and he was a very nice man. Thank you for this post!
ReplyDeleteThanks, BigDogDave.
DeleteI am pleased to hear that; it comes though his music.
Cheers.
A very impressive collection, thank you Butterboy.
ReplyDeleteSo good to listen to, Bob Mac.
DeleteIt's worth the journey.
Cheers.
MERCI one of my favorite Artist ! Great Post again !
ReplyDelete;°)
Hi Tchouley,
DeleteYou're welcome.
Cheers.
Oh man, what a haul. Have seen him live about 4 or 5 times. Great performer. Many thanks, BB!
ReplyDeleteI am glad this is of interest to you, pmac.
DeleteCheers,
Wow -- I've been a big fan since I heard Expansions in the early 80s and still only have about half of these. THANKS Butterboy!
ReplyDeleteHi MrDave,
DeleteI am glad to hear there is more music for you to dig into.
I feel that Lonnie Liston Smith gets overlooked. I always enjoy listening to his music.
Cheers.