Search - Sweet Smoke :: Just a Poke

Better than Ten Years After, BB&A or Led Zeppelin

09/08/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"On of the best mixture of rock, blues, progressive and jazz realized so far. All the instruments are worth listening individually."

Sweetness Defined!

Richard M Huff | Iowa, USA | 01/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First bought this as an album in 73-74 while in Germany as a GI. We all loved it then and now since I've turned- on my friends here in the states they all love it. I know of 2 others that have ordered it through Amazon since I got it on disc a couple months ago through Amazon. This album will bring you up when down, mellow you when needed and thoroughly blow your mind. Full of surprises and fantastic solos. Sweet, sweet, sweet; thank you for making this available Amazon!"

Great psychedelia, with nice jams

BENJAMIN MILER | Veneta, Oregon | 04/10/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sweet Smoke is often thrown in the Krautrock bunch, when in reality, they were American. The band came from New York City, but they moved to Germany. The band consisted of lead guitarist/vocalist Marvin Kaminowitz, rhythm guitarist/vocalist Steve Rosenstein, bassist Andy Dershin, drummer Jay Dorfman, and saxist/flutist Michael Paris. These guys were Jewish, and it's ironic that they moved to a country where just a generation before (WWII-era), Jews were obviously less than welcomed. But being the late '60s/early '70s, the guys from Sweet Smoke didn't feel uncomfortable being in Germany, which shows how much things had improved there since the end of WWII (not to mention giving us all these great prog, Krautrock, and electronic acts). This group was basically a psychedelic group with jazzy overtones, influenced by the West Coast scene, but there are some touches that makes them not just another American band. Just a Poke, originally released in 1970 on EMI/Columbia (if I'm not mistakened, the album also received a French and Dutch release), is their first album. The album only consisted of two side-length cuts. The track listenings are a bit messed up, as it's commonly believed the album starts with "Baby Night" and ends with "Silly Sally", when in fact, it's the other way around. I own the original LP, which the back cover states that side one was "Silly Sally" and "Baby Night" was side two, although to confuse matters, the record label states the opposite. The back cover of the LP is correct. "Silly Sally" starts off almost medieval-sounding, complete with recorder. It starts off pretty mellow, with vocals, from Marvin Kaminowitz. Eventually the music picks up, and goes in to an extended guitar jam, before going in to an uncredited cover of the Doors' "Soft Parade", before going back to a variation of the opening theme. "Silly Sally" has a bit of a more bluesy feel, where they put a bit more emphasis on rhythm. The band then turns to an In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida like drum solo, then they go in to percussion overdrive. So, while Sweet Smoke is often thrown in the Krautrock bunch, there is really nothing musically in common to say Can, Ash Ra Tempel, Amon Düül II, early Tangerine Dream, Neu, Faust, etc. But this is still a nice gem of jazzy psychedelia worth having!"