Wet Willie
Keep on Smilin'

In Alabama, deep in the heart of Dixieland, a certain Lewis Ross decided in 1969 to form a band and try to make it big in the music world (and who wasn’t doing that at the time?). He hired Jimmy Hall for vocals, who could also play the harmonica and saxophone, and brought along his brother Jack Hall on bass. Adding a guitarist, Rick Hirsch, and a keyboardist, John Anthony, the band was complete. And what a band.

Noticing that the rhythm section was a pleasure to listen to, they decided to play a cheerful yet fast-paced genre that was becoming more popular than ever at that time: southern rock, but with the grit of soul and the cheerfulness of funk.

The desire of Ross and company to make it was immediately noticed, and the five signed a contract with Capricorn Records, a legendary southern record label that unfortunately went out of business long ago. Later, they added the "Williettes," two backing vocalists, to give their sound a more attractive touch.

Their first self-titled album was released in 1971, and along with their second, "Wet Willie II," achieved a relative success, perhaps because the sound still felt slightly immature.

The success was heralded by "Drippin' Wet," the fantastic and historic live album that magically captured the grit and talent of the group in handling the stage.

And in 1973 came their well-deserved success with the release of the album "Keep On Smilin'," which remains to this day the band's classic, the most complete and in some ways the best.

The guitar that opens with "Country Side OF Life" provides a delightful intro to what begins the album, a funky ballad in honor of the southern lands, and an essential prologue to what the album will offer you.

"Keep On Smiling" is the diamond of the album: thanks to this fabulous song, the Wet Willie band entered the coveted American chart. Deservedly, I would add, because the title track is truly fabulous, brilliant enough, with top-notch guitar and mandolin, a voice perfectly in tune with the vocal line, the bass playing at just the right level, and the wild harmonica solo, in short, the right ingredients to make a song magical.

John Anthony also claims his share of the spotlight, and in "Trust In The Lord" the honky-tonk style piano is certainly not missing, highlighted above all by the fantastic solo executed with style.

Gradually, we move into the heart of the album, where R'n'B and white soul become more alive; the singer gives way to the backing vocalists to take up the saxophone, while the drums seem to merge with the bass: we're talking about "Soul Sister," and I would say the title is anything but out of place. An acoustic guitar introduces one of the calmer moments of the album "Alabama," a sweet ballad that evokes the much-loved hometown and creates that simple atmosphere that only a twelve-string guitar associated with an acoustic and a warm, fantastic voice can provide.

But the atmosphere turns funky again with "Lucy Was In Trouble," and is pushed to the extreme with "Soul Jones," executed in yet another intertwining of instruments, and as always, the result is excellent.

A new turn is noticeable with "Don't Wait Long," a sweet and slow melody that fully captures the prototype of a slow southern song, where the Williettes once again do an excellent job, and Anthony's Moog subtly recalls Emerson, Lake And Palmer, produced by the same producer, by the way.

The closing of the album is surely the strongest piece: "In Our Hearts," an instrumental, is a crazy piece, a right finale where every instrument seems to go its own way hinting at jazz and fusion and slightly immersing its roots in psychedelic music. It's easy to see that the bass spins crazily, the keyboards are played almost with violence, and the saxophone seems to spit blood. A great finale for an excellent album.

Later on, the sound of Wet Willie changes slightly, and the group members change as well.

In 1980, Jimmi Hall embarked on a solo career, and you can hear him on Jeff Beck's "Flash," where he serves as the lead singer.

And once there were Wet Willie today there are even two: the classic Wet Willie led by Jimmy Hall, and The Wet Willie Band, where a certain Ric Seymour is the lead vocalist. You're simply spoiled for choice.