Townsend Records

Johnny Hooper

Smile

CD £12.99

December 8, 2008

This will be CD number 10 in his prolific career as a great saxophonist, recording artist and entertainer. We asked Johnny about some of the tracks he has chosen:

Johnny first heard Junior Walker’s version of ‘Walk In The Night’ 30 years ago whilst waiting for a taxi on a cold rainy night in Newport, his home town. “There was an 8-track playing in the waiting room” he says “and I heard this amazing tune by Junior Walker. Well, it took so long for the taxi to arrive that the 8-track went on a second loop and by the time I heard it again I loved it.” When Johnny had the opportunity to record this song, composed by Johnny Bristol, he was thrilled with the finished track. “It has turned out to be one of my favourite tracks on the album – the more modern arrangement by Carl (Simmonds) is tremendous and Hywel Maggs’ guitar solo is amazing”.

The title track ‘Smile’ was co-written by Charlie Chaplin. “It’s a song I’ve always loved and Carl’s string arrangement on this version is outstanding!”

‘The Way You Look Tonight’ is a classic standard written by Jerome Kern and covered by many, including Fred Astaire, “but I really like the Michael Bublé arrangement” says Johnny.