Turning Point - Lonnie Smith (1LP Vinyl) [Classic Vinyl Series]

Turning Point by Lonnie Smith.

Recorded on January 3, 1969, "Turning Point" by Lonnie Smith arrives as a snapshot of an organist working at the height of his creative instincts. The date itself feels significant, a session set right at the start of a new year, and the music carries that sense of momentum, of an artist stepping deliberately toward something fresh. Everything here is built around groove and feel, the kind of playing that rewards close listening and repeated spins.

Side A opens with "See Saw," a title that hints at the push and pull baked into the performance, that back and forth motion that defines so much of the best organ jazz. It sets the tone for what follows, inviting you into the record's world without hesitation. From there the mood shifts into "Slow High," a piece whose very name suggests a more languid, spacious approach, room for the notes to breathe and stretch out.

The first side closes with "People Sure Act Funny," a track carrying a wry, knowing quality even in its title. There is warmth and humor implied here, the sort of tune that lets the music talk and comment on the world with a raised eyebrow. It rounds out a first half that moves confidently through shifting tempos and textures.

Flip the record and Side B delivers one of the album's most compelling moments, an interpretation of "Eleanor Rigby." Taking a familiar melody and running it through the language of jazz organ is a bold move, and it speaks to the ambition threaded through this whole session. The song's melancholy and its instantly recognizable shape make it a natural vehicle for reinvention, and it lands as a highlight of the program.

The album closes with its title track, "Turning Point," the piece that gives the whole record its name and its guiding idea. It feels like a statement of intent, a culmination that ties the preceding tracks together and leaves you with a clear sense of where Lonnie Smith was headed. As a closer, it earns its place at the center of the album's identity.

Collectors will note that the runouts on this pressing are etched, a small but meaningful detail for those who care about the physical character of the object in hand. Across its five tracks, "Turning Point" stands as a focused, rewarding listen, a document of a single January day in 1969 that still resonates. For anyone drawn to the deep, soulful voice of the jazz organ, this is a record that delivers on every turn.

Pressing Details:
Recorded January 3, 1969.

Runouts are etched.

Track Listing:
A1. See Saw
A2. Slow High
A3. People Sure Act Funny
B1. Eleanor Rigby
B2. Turning Point

Artist: Lonnie Smith

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: Blue Note

Catalog Number: 5523404

Series: Classic Vinyl Series

Release Year: 2023

Country: United States

Condition: Sealed (New)