Album Summary
Back at the Chicken Shack is an album by Jimmy Smith. It was recorded in 1960 and released in 1963 on the Blue Note label. Smith recorded the album in the same session as his previous album Midnight Special. Fittingly, he wears the same red shirt on both album covers. It was cited in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Reviews
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Date
Dec 10 2021
Author
I don't have anything technical to say about this album. But I will say that I want to have a party. And I want there to be an impending snowstorm and the only people who show up are the ones who will brave the weather. And then the snow starts and we all go outside and marvel at how the snow twinkles in the moonlight. And then we come back inside, pour mugs of mulled wine and put on this album in the low light of winter.
Apr 25 2021
Author
I will be returning to the chicken shack
Jan 28 2021
Author
Nice, must remember it for when I host a dinner party with intellectuals.
Mar 01 2021
Author
This album was perfect for my 2nd covid vaccine fever stupor. I listened to it in the shower while getting my ass kicked by the shot, and boy did it put me in such a peaceful place. I love Jimmy's warm organ sound so much. But you know when rappers say "He got killed on his own track," when a featured artist outshines them on a song? Jimmy's saxophonist killed him big on this album. I felt like that sax dominated this album while his organ playing was kind of relegated to second chair. Not to say he isn't a fantastic organist or bandleader, but I did find myself grooving to this sax in a big way. I really love this sound, and it inspired my to seek out more music like this, so I have to give it points for inspiration.
May 06 2021
Author
Great for summer background. Sittin on da porch. Cookin a nice meal. Do something active but lowkey, turn this bad larry on.
Mar 05 2021
Author
banger banger banger banger banger banger banger banger banger banger banger
Sep 16 2021
Author
I expected to hate this album (I'm not a big jazz fan) but I ended up loving it. The grooves are tight, the musicianship is superb, and the performances are top-notch. The only reason that this didn't get full marks is because a couple of the tracks do drag on a bit. At 45 minutes long and only 5 tracks, this is somewhat inevitable. The really remarkable thing is that most of the tracks DON'T feel like they're too long.
Sep 22 2021
Author
21st September 2021
Listened on the living room speaker while we tidied the flat.
I LOVED this, it sounds like the inside of my head. Bluesy, jazzy, laid back, can fit any mood any time of day.
Jul 08 2024
Author
Points for putting a dog on the cover, and this was inoffensive as background music, but it also didn't do anything for me. I just don't enjoy jazz that much.
2.1
Jul 30 2024
Author
Back at the Chicken Shack
This is probably my favourite of the jazz albums we’ve had so far. With the focus split between organ, sax and guitar and the clear crossover with soul it’s actually very pleasantly listenable.
Back at the Chicken Shack sounds a lot like Green Onions, so I presume this was a big influence on Booker T. However this was recorded in 1960, but wasn’t released until 1963, and Green Onions came out in 1962, so who knows. To my untrained ear they are both 12 bar blues (please correct me!), and feature the hammond so I can see there is a lot in common purely from a sonic point of view, but I presume it may be a consequence of this album being a bridge between jazz and soul and also Booker T being into jazz also. Nevertheless nice song.
When I Grow Too Old to Dream is a very nice melody and is played with quite a nice soft feel. I should dislike the sax, but I actually like it, it doesn’t get too far away from the melody and the organ works very nicely in the back of the mix, kind of anchoring it to the band.
The sax blarps and dominates a little too much Minor Chant, making it a little too close to the stereotypical jazz sound I’m not keen on, although the keyboard is nice.
Messy Bessie I really like, although again the sax is prominent it again feels much more melodic and less obtrusive than Minor Chant, and is only one part of the soloing, rather than the dominant part. The guitar is great, some little bluesy touches and a nice counterpoint to the organ and sax
Overall I liked this, I found it a very nice listen, which isn’t always the case with this sort of album. I’m almost tempted to go 4, and although I will come back to this, I’m not sure how frequently, which I think would put it as a high 3.
🐓🐓🐓
Playlist submission: Back at the Chicken Shack
Jul 04 2024
Author
It’s good but I’m not “moved” by it. Just seems like simple jazz to me.
Dec 20 2024
Author
If this is about rooting chickens and Hasil Adkins isn't also on this list, I'm gonna be fuming.
Jun 19 2024
Author
I’m not versed enough in jazz to render an opinion so I’ll give what appears to be a classic 5 stars. I’d only listen to this as background music.
Oct 20 2023
Author
At first I wondered 'why does he keep going back to the chicken shack', but now I do in fact get why he keeps coming back to the chicken shack
Apr 13 2021
Author
Great Jazz album. Loved the guitar and sax especially. Great use of electric organ. Simple yet complex album. Dug it a lot
Jul 01 2025
Author
This cat calls himself "The Incredible" Jimmy Smith, like he's Spiderman or some shit. It's not totally inaccurate.
I first heard this record when I checked the CD out from the library in Aurora while I was in high school. I chose it purely based on the cover, and the name of the record. It's interesting, because this has been in the back of my mind for a while and I've been meaning to give it a listen lately.
It's great. Support your local library while you still can.
Sep 19 2024
Author
Man, an organ in jazz music is a fantastic idea!! This is like soul jazz or jazz-funk. Really hopping music. Excellent for a dinner party.
Favourite songs: Back at the Chicken Shack, Minor Chant, Messy Bessie, On the Sunny Side of the Street
Least favourite songs: if forced to pick, When I Grow Too Old to Dream
5/5
Jan 13 2024
Author
Funky.
Jan 21 2021
Author
You know I be vibing to jazz! Lol makes me feel like I’m in a smoky club
Jun 21 2024
Author
Fine but not amazing
Jun 12 2024
Author
Pretty solid instrumental track, but being an instrumental only project can get boring and feel repetitive at times. The solos can be entertaining and the album doesn’t have any “bad” songs on it, just not interesting or stand out enough to really warrant a spot on the playlist.
Jun 15 2024
Author
Easily the most hilarious album I’ve come across so far, other than that, it’s jazz. Can’t hate it, can’t love it
4.5/10
Oct 16 2025
Author
Had it on while cooking, partner asked me what this album was — so I replied full of newfound, upbeat rhythm: "THE INCREDIBLE JIMMY SMITH BACK AT THE CHICKEN SHACK!"
It may the best thing I've ever said, so 5/5 for that alone.
Very cool jazz, makes you want to put on your shades and click along.
5/5 for the music and album experience.
Jul 26 2025
Author
Better than Coldplay
Jul 14 2025
Author
If the fate of the world ever depends on blowing someone's mind with a B-3 Organ, this would be the recording to reference.
Feb 08 2021
Author
fantastic jazz
Feb 12 2021
Author
just a wonderful album
Jun 16 2024
Author
There have not been many pure instrumental albums so far, and the ones that were close are ones that I wish didn't have the small amount of lyrics they had.
Right off the bat I was finding myself thinking we need more jazz organ. It's a fun album to have in the background. Nice to shuffle about to and reminds me of baseball for some reason.
As it went on, I retracted my thought about needing more as I think this amount is just right. I still like it just fine, but a little goes further than I expected.
I can't say I really distinguished many songs from one or the other on the first listen, but had a good time from start to finish. Some jazz can get a little complicated but this is a nice steady bop for 45 minutes.
Favorite track "Back at the Chicken Shack" (mostly because that's the one I know the title of)
4/5
Jun 12 2021
Author
This record grooves so hard. Just cool, funky laid back tunes carried throughout. Everybody in the group gets their turn, but I really noticed how tight the bass and Jimmy’s keys are on every track. The melodies haven’t stuck with me just yet but it’s definitely something I’ll revisit.
Jan 29 2021
Author
Really chill and easy listening. Surprised at how early this was too, I’m a fan
Feb 08 2021
Author
Pretty damn good Jazz album. Sounds ahead of its time
May 05 2021
Author
What a lovely, funky, jazz album!
Really cool with the organ.
Best track: Minor Chant.
Aug 11 2025
Author
Vibes
Sep 21 2024
Author
Ganske fedt - for jeg læste om ham blev jeg glad fordi Hammond B-3 bare har så distinkt en lyd!
Så det var sjovt at finde ud af at det var Jimmy Smith som gjorde orgelet populær i jazzzzz
Sep 04 2024
Author
Difficult for me to rate soft organ jazz. The music gave me warm and fuzzy feelings, and I would love to have this playing in the background as I sipped a glass of red wine next to some candles in a dim restaurant.
Apr 08 2024
Author
If this was playing in a stuck lift I’d be happy to wait to be rescued.
Dec 05 2023
Author
The pretty cool Jimmy Smith.
Sep 10 2025
Author
This is another jazz album. At least it’s not very long.
Jul 05 2024
Author
This was good but it’s hard to me to really listen to something that doesn’t have lyrics or very minimal lyrics.
Feb 15 2022
Author
This was the most boring music I've ever listened to. I would never have listened to it if not for it being on the list. I'm sure there's a good amount of talent and skill involved in the music but I was not left with any positive feelings. I know I'm harsh but it definitely wasn't for me.
Nov 26 2025
Author
Jazzo muzika - pasaka dirbant. Privercia greiciau dirbti pirstukus
Nov 25 2025
Author
No words can describe how much I enjoyed this. Just a chill day 😎
Nov 20 2025
Author
I used to play Jimmy a lot at a restaurant I where I worked, with my friend New Orleans Dave Brown. A lot of other friends worked there, including my wife.
Nov 19 2025
Author
Excellent
Nov 18 2025
Author
Love it, seems like the organ would pair well with Combustication
Nov 14 2025
Author
really liked listening to it in the plane while trying (and failing) to sleep in those uncomfortable seats
Nov 12 2025
Author
very short but a great jazz/blues instrumental!!
Nov 11 2025
Author
Interesting to listen to this on the same day as the Jeff Beck record. A couple of albums filled with brilliant musicians playing blues music. The difference is light years for me. Smith, Burrell, Turrentine, and Bailey take the simplest changes and weave gold. Just incredible grooves that I could ride all day long. An early soul jazz classic and a huge influence in anyone who ever tried to play a B3, most of whom fell well short of being Jimmy Smith
Nov 10 2025
Author
This is one of my favourite albums!
Nov 10 2025
Author
Really nice to listen to some blues for a change. Can't really fault it.
Nov 10 2025
Author
Phenomenal album. Great new listen.
Nov 07 2025
Author
Loved this! So cool and groovy and listenable.
Nov 04 2025
Author
Who knew that a chicken shack could be so cool. Loved it
Nov 03 2025
Author
Superb cool combination of jazz and soul. No one did this better than Jimmy Smith. This is among my favourite jazz records ever and despite rating it 4.0 on RYM, I might give it 5 stars here purely because there's a huge lack of Jazz albums on this list
Nov 02 2025
Author
Well, that was just fantastic!
Oct 30 2025
Author
Bluesy and jazzy. Fantastic as background music or something to listen to intently while staring at the ceiling.
Oct 29 2025
Author
Ah ça c’est le jazz posé et savoureux que j’adore ! Les textures et les grilles sont tellement apaisantes et groovy, et les solos de trompette sont délicieux, avec le clavier qui réhausse le tout comme des petites touches de peinture. Les solos de guitare très chouettes aussi
Ce genre de compo met vraiment en valeur les instruments et leurs matérialités respectives, c’est un régal
J’adore, très contente de mettre des noms sur des univers jazz qui me parlent plus ou moins - après John Coltrane et Charles Mingus, je sais que si j’achète un vinyle jazz Jimmy Smith est un très bon candidat
Un peu gênée de mettre ce premier 5 mais voilà, un album écouté d’une traite sans l’avoir vu passer (et même remis une seconde fois) qui n’a qu’amélioré ma qualité de vie sans discontinuer donc à un moment faut rétribuer
Oct 29 2025
Author
un super moment d'écoute, je suis particulièrement fan de When I Grow Too Old To Dream qui est le produit de plein d'ingrédients jazzy et funky mixés, marinés, qui marchent incroyablement bien. carrément une triple écoute de A à Z, seul défaut : que 4 sons malheureusement. un des aspects de ce type de jazz que j'ai bien apprécié c'est l'absence de passages edgy qu'un saxo trop insistant peut avoir tendance à donner. ici tout passe, on a du relief auquel s'accrocher, des moments plus glissants, un avant-goût d'électro (je blasphème mais bon) avec cet orgue Hammond (je crois). j'allais mettre 4 (pour un 4.75 arrondi), puis je me suis dit qu'il était temps de faire tomber un premier 5!
Oct 21 2025
Author
soul jazz at it's finest
Oct 18 2025
Author
Very nice!
Oct 16 2025
Author
As someone who plays the Hammond, this record hits me right in the soul. The tone, the phrasing, the interplay — it’s everything I love about the instrument. Jimmy Smith and company settle into a pocket so deep it’s impossible not to feel it, whether you’re a jazz fan or not. Back at the Chicken Shack just has a vibe — late night, low lights, a beverage of your choice. It’s warm, unpretentious, and alive.
Oct 11 2025
Author
I too will be Back At The Chicken Shack.
Oct 09 2025
Author
Loved... and I never thought I'd say that about organ music
Oct 07 2025
Author
Muito bom
Oct 07 2025
Author
Really cool walking around music!
Oct 02 2025
Author
Amazing jazzy listen...nice
Oct 01 2025
Author
Oh thank goodness, a perfect hard bop album. What a palate cleanser after a couple of bad albums.
Sep 30 2025
Author
So cool
Sep 30 2025
Author
Oh! What a lovely surprise I found in an album named Back at the Chicken Shack. Jimmy Smith's jazz/R&B combo was soulful, charming, and way too easy to listen to. I loved, loved the organ! The organ is a woefully underused instrument, and Smith using the organ instead of the piano is such a bold choice. The payoff is immediate! The tone completely changes with the organ. On a side note, Stanley Turrentine on the saxophone was freaking fantastic. The guitar by Kenny Burrell helped when Smith's songs were more blues-y, too. A good musician can pick a great backing band.
This is unlike any other jazz music I've heard in 950 albums, so this clearly deserves to be on the list. I just found myself thinking 37 minutes is just too short. Instrumental albums don't often hold my attention, but this one was captivating.
Sep 25 2025
Author
Just straigthforward good music. Love the hammond sound, the fact that the album is not overstaying its welcome (I've had trouble with some of the albums on this list having 15+ songs where a lot of them were obvious fillers).
Listening to this I immediately thought I'd be happy to own this on vinyl. That's a 5 in my book, even if there's nothing exceptionally flashy goingo on.
I think the first song of the album inspired the title music of Transport Tycoon Deluxe? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmL4HoG5ehQ&list=PLB0C4CF334E53E241&index=1
Sep 20 2025
Author
Probably the easiest listen to date for me as new albums I’ve never listened to before goes. Solid. Had it on repeat. Great record to drive to.
Sep 19 2025
Author
Lovely bit of jazz!
Sep 18 2025
Author
Fantastic. Every song had me tapping away
Sep 18 2025
Author
Not what I expected but I liked it.
Sep 16 2025
Author
I LOVE YOU JAZZ!!!!!!!!!!!
Sep 16 2025
Author
Perfect jazz album front to back.
5 outta 5
Sep 15 2025
Author
Just wasn't very interesting. It was just "Alice Cooper Album"
Which doesn't get high marks from me generally.
Sep 15 2025
Author
This is the chillest, grooviest thing of all time. Will be on rotation!
Sep 12 2025
Author
Organ Jazz is tremendous. Marvelous album.
Sep 11 2025
Author
Love Jimmy Smith and this is a classic.
5/ 5
Sep 10 2025
Author
I felt very sophisticated listening to this. A really lovely album. I'm a sucker for an organ and it was well utilised here.
Sep 04 2025
Author
Love the jazzy piano here, will listen more.
Sep 02 2025
Author
"This is pure, unadulterated, jamming fun... so much soul.... so much groove... when it comes to the B3 organ... no one can match the GREAT Jimmy Smith... one of the all time great musicians in world history... five songs... five jams... five grooves... a swingin' band... and one of the great soloists of our time... when you add Stanley Turrentine on tenor... Donald Bailey on drums and Kenny Burrell on guitar... you have an album that should be treasured, revered, memorized, and put in a time capsule... FIVE stars... daddy o... all day..."
Sep 02 2025
Author
Excellent.
Sep 02 2025
Author
Yes. So good. Perfect rainy Sunday vibes right here.
Sep 01 2025
Author
Loved it!
Aug 27 2025
Author
nice soundtrack to make a pot of beans to
Aug 22 2025
Author
I LOVE jazz music. This was my speed for sure. Like the addition of the guitar. Great fillers while the rest of the band maintained tempo. Bass was on point as well. Finally, the addition of the organ was great. If anyone has every played Fallout (especially Fallout New Vegas’s DLC old world blues) this album fits right in.
Aug 19 2025
Author
Loved this jazz
Aug 19 2025
Author
Jazzy! Lots of organ.
Aug 18 2025
Author
🐔 Rating: 4.8 / 5
🎷 Short Review:
Feels like midnight fried food for your soul.
Jimmy Smith’s Hammond B3 is so smooth it should be illegal. Stanley Turrentine’s sax? It doesn’t play—you melt into it.
Aug 10 2025
Author
Loved it
Aug 09 2025
Author
Dug.
Aug 05 2025
Author
Loved it! Perfection! This is the kind of album I am doing this for. I think my favourite is 'When I Grow Too Old to Dream'.
Aug 03 2025
Author
back at the chicken shack - cool introduction into the groove, building up excellently into the latter half of the song
when i grow too old to dream - lovely, i could INSTANTLY tell Stanley Turrentine on the sax is singing a melody originally written for vocal performance, and he does so beautifully!!
minor chant - groovy asf and i just LOVE the drum solos, amazing job by Donald Bailey
messy bessie - 12 minutes of mastery, AMAZING guitar work by Kenny Burrell
on the sunny side of the street - beautiful way to close out the album
and of course, amazing work all around by the incredible Jimmy Smith on the legendary Hammond organ!! very pleasant listening experience, this record is very much worthy of its placement on this list :)
Aug 02 2025
Author
Bon! Je regrette mon 5 étoiles d’hier!
Sans renier mon appréciation de Café Bleu, cet album de Jimmy Smith est un délice! Déjà juste le titre et j’étais vendu!
Ensuite 5 titres pour 43 minutes c’est vraiment mon genre d’album.
De l’orgue et des cuivres qui crée ce sentiment de chaleur réconfortante.
Le seul bémol; pourquoi avoir présenté cet album le 1er août? Je m’imaginais plutôt le 4 janvier, hang over des fêtes à cuisiner de l’osso buco au chalet, verre de Barolo à la main! (Je me suis amusé à demander à Chat GPT de résumer l’album en une phrase culinaire:
C’est une session cuisinée à feu doux, mais avec des ingrédients puissants.
Bref 6 étoiles et maintenant enregistrer dans mes favoris!
Aug 02 2025
Author
Lorsqu'il est question de jazz et d'orgue Jimmy Smith est mon homme. Belles passes de Kenny Burrell et de Stanley Turrentine.
Aug 02 2025
Author
Grand fan des blues mineurs, Minor Chant m'enchante. Me fait penser à d'autres grand comme Mr. P.C.
Je connaissais de nom ce M. Jimmy Smith, virtuose de l'orgue jazz, mais il est pas disons au top du "canon" dans les albums jazz qui ont fait école. Ça me fait me demander ce que le reste de ce palmarès nous réserve en terme de Jazz. Où seront Parker, Jarrett, Monk, Hancock, Miles, Coltrane, Bill Evans, Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Metheny, etc etc?!
Bien hâte d'aller lire sur le band derrière, le saxophoniste me fait penser à Dexter Gordon des débuts ou Sonny Rollins de The Bridge (ah oui un autre album qu'il faudrait dans le 1001). Et la section rythmique est très smooth, présente comme un roc imperturbable sans trop de fioritures, typique du hard bop des 60s. Il y a un guitariste qui double parfois l'orgue côté section "harmonique" est-ce nécessaire ? Et c'est un guitariste un peu vieux jeu on dirait, peut-être le faible du band.
Jul 29 2025
Author
Love jazz organ Jimmy Smith is the man.
Jul 23 2025
Author
Smooth, great