I Smell Trouble
"I Smell Trouble" was a 1957 single for Bobby Blue Bland which was a hit for him. It was also a 1964 single for Little Johnny Taylor which became a hit.
Overview
"I Smell Trouble" was a 1957 song written by Don Robey. It was registered in January 1957.[1]
Bobby Bland version
| "I Smell Trouble" | |
|---|---|
| Shellac, 10", 78 RPM by Bobby Blue Bland Bill Harvey Orhestra | |
| A-side | "I Smell Trouble" |
| B-side | "Don't Want No Woman" |
| Released | 1957 |
| Length | 2:33 |
| Label | Duke 167 |
| Songwriter(s) | Robey |
Background
It was reported in the 23 March 1957 issue of The Cash Box that Bobby Bland's "I Smell Trouble" was "Zooming like a comet". According to composer Robey, the B side, "Don’t Want No Woman" was just as good and the DJs had a two-sider to work on.[2] According to the 13 April issue of The Cash Box, Robey was pleased with the money that "I Smell Trouble" was making.[3]
Reception
The record was reviewed in the 16 March 1967 issue of The Billboard. The reviewer noted the style of Bobby Bland coming across, saying that his "clear-toned, florid wailing style rarely has come across with more poignant effect". The well recorded backing which the reviewer called "down home" was also noted.[4]
When the record was released, it had an immediate sales reaction.[5]
Charts
For the week of 20 April 1957, "I Smell Trouble was at no. 10 on the Cash Box Hot, Chicago chart,[6] and no. 1 in Memphis chart.[7] It had also debuted at no. 20 in The Nation's R&B Top 20 chart.[8] Also that week, "Don't Want No Woman" was a "Territorial Tip", one of the chart highlights Rhythm and Blues records that showed regional action but hadn't yet reached the Top 20.[9] It was also at no. 9 on the Cash Box Hot, Dallas chart.[10] "I Smell Trouble" peaked at no. 14 on The Cash Box The Nation's Top 20 for the week of 27 April.[11][12]
Little Johhny Taylor version
| "I Smell Trouble" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Little Johnny Taylor | |
| A-side | "I Smell Trouble" |
| B-side | "True Love" |
| Released | 1964 |
| Label | Galaxy 733 |
| Composer(s) | Robey |
| Producer(s) | Cliff Goldsmith |
Charts
For the week of 17 October 1964, Little Johnny Taylor's version of "I Smell Trouble" debuted at no. 40 in the Record World Top 40 R&B chart.[13] The record was at no. 37 for the week of 7 November.[14][15]
The record also got to no. 41 on the Billboard R&B chart. [16]
References
- ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series - Page 207 I SMELL TROUBLE; w & m Don D. Robey © Lion Pub. Music Co.; 28Jan57 EU463832
- ^ The Cash Box, Volume XVIII-NUMBER 27 March 23, 1957 - Page 42 R&B Ramblings, NEW YORK:
- ^ The Cash Box, Volume XVIII-Number 30 April 13, 1957 - Page 42 R&B Ramblings, NEW YORK
- ^ The Billboard, March 16, 1957 - Page 51 Review Spotlight on ... R&B RECORDS, BOBBY (BLUE) BLAND
- ^ The Cash Box, March 16, 1957 - Page 40 R&B Ramblings, NEW YORK:
- ^ The Cash Box, Volume XVIII-Number31 April 20, 1957 - Page 42 The Cash Box, Music, The Cash Box HOT, CHICAGO, 10 I SMELL TROUBLE
- ^ The Cash Box, Volume XVIII-Number31 April 20, 1957 - Page 43 The Cash Box, Music, The Cash Box HOT, MEMPHIS 1 I SMELL TROUBLE
- ^ The Cash Box, Volume XVIII-Number31 April 20, 1957 - Page 45 THE NATION'S R&B TOP 20, 20 I SMELL TROUBLE, Pos. Last Week —
- ^ The Cash Box, Volume XVIII-Number31 April 20, 1957 - Page 41 The Cash Box, Music, Territorial Tips, DON'T WANT NO WOMAN Bobby Blue Bland (Duke 167)
- ^ The Cash Box, Volume XVIII-Number31 April 20, 1957 - Page 42 The Cash Box, Music, The Cash Box HOT, DALLAS, 9 I SMELL TROUBLE
- ^ The Cash Box, April 27, 1957 - Page 41 The Cash Box, Music, THE NATION'S R & B TOP 20, 14 I SMELL TROUBLE, Pos. Last Week 20
- ^ Cash Box Archives - The CASH BOX Rhythm & Blues Top 20, Week ending MAY 4, 1957, TW 17, I SMELL TROUBLE, LW 14, 2WK —, WKS 3
- ^ Record World, Vol. 18, No. 906 Oct. 11, 1964 - Page 30 TOP 40 R&B, 40 I SMELL TROUBLE
- ^ Record World, Vol. 18, No. 90 Oct. 31, 1964 - Page 21 TOP 40 R&B, 38 I SMELL TROUBLE
- ^ Record World, Vol. 18, No. 90 Nov. 7, 1964 - Page 85 TOP 40 R&B, 37 I SMELL TROUBLE
- ^ MusicVF.com -Little Johnny Taylor songs, Top songs / Chart singles discography, 1964 7 10/1964, I Smell Trouble
External links
- Discogs - Bobby "Blue" Bland* – I Smell Trouble / Don't Want No Woman
- Discogs - Little Johnny Taylor – I Smell Trouble / True Love
- Second Hand Songs - I Smell Trouble
- John Maria Strong channel, Dec 18, 2019 - Bobby Blue Bland - I Smell Trouble (audio)
- Little Johnny Taylor - Topic channel, Aug 23, 2018 - I Smell Trouble (audio)