Years active 1992-1999 | Active until 1999 | |
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Labels Long Play RecordsOrtTone Past members BenjaminBill TaftBrian HalloranTodd ButlerColeman LewisTim CampionWill Fratesi Albums Heaven on a Popsicle Stick, Another Reason to Fast Similar Opal Foxx Quartet, The Smoke, Jem Cohen, Deacon Lunchbox, The Jody Grind | ||
Smoke was a band from the Cabbagetown neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia that dissolved in 1999 with the death of writer/singer Benjamin. Benjamin was the subject of Peter Sillen and Jem Cohen's documentary Benjamin Smoke (2000).
Contents
History
The group formed during the demise of the Opal Foxx Quartet, starting with Benjamin on vocals, Bill Taft on cornet and banjo, Brian Halloran on cello, and Todd Butler on guitar. Coleman Lewis and Tim Campion later joined on guitar and drums, respectively, followed by Will Fratesi on drums. Their last show was New Year's Eve, 1998. Benjamin died January 29, 1999.
Though many of the band's CDs are apparently out of print, some copies may be currently available at online record stores.
Bill Taft and Will Fratesi went on to form Hubcap City, who are still active in the Atlanta area.
Former guitarist, Coleman Lewis, died from a heroin overdose in May 2014.
Discography
- Pretend
- Dirt
- Hole
- Awake
- Freak (Winn's Song)
- The Trip
- Hank Aaron (lyrics by Dana Kletter)
- Luke's Feet
- Beeper Will
- The Pond
- I Do
- Ballet
- Guilt
- Abigail
- Curtains
- Trust
- Friends
- When It Rains
- Clean White Bed
- Shadow Box
- Dream
- Fatherland
- Train Song
- Debbey's Song
- Chad
- That Look
- I Don't
- Snake
Compilation appearances
- Smoke - Dog
The lineup on this song was Benjamin, Bill Taft, Brian Halloran, and Todd Butler. This CD was a benefit compilation.
- The Rock*A*Teens - Black Ice
- The Continentals - Please, Please
- Pineal Ventana - Dark Cloud
- DQE - Mermaid And The Sailor
- No. 1 Family Mover - Hey Soul
- Bob - Ants
- Velvet Overkill Five - Pillow Talk
- The Goodies - Live On WRAS-FM
- Tweezer - Sucking Midgets
- Marcy - Driver
- Heinous Bienfang - Stay Behind The Cones
- Babyfat - Redd Lobster
- Frontstreet - Scandinavian Pamphlet (Sex Book)
- 17 Years - Doing Wrong
- Smoke - Hamlet
- Benjamin - Big Daddy Story and Other Saucy Tales
- Susie Honeyman - Bus
- Schoolly D - This Old Man
- Smoke - Old Joe Clark
- Calexico - The Man on the Flying Trapeze
- The Waco Brothers - Them Bones
- Giant Sand - Blow the Man Down
- Anne Richmond Boston - What Can the Matter Be?
- D.L. Menard & the Louisiana Aces - J'ai Passe Devant Ta Porte?
- Zydeco Elvis - The ABC Song
- Sally Timms - Hush Little Baby
- New Orleans Klezmer All Stars - Nokas for the Kinder
- The Chiselers - Playmate
- The Rock*A*Teens - She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain
- Moonshine Willy - Skip to My Lou
- Kelly Hogan - The Great Titanic
- The Black Mama Dharma Band - A Frozen Road
- Mekons - Oranges & Lemons
- New Kingdom - John Henry
- Rob Gal - Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
- Blacktop Rockets - Froggy Went A-Courtin'
- Vic Chesnutt - Home on the Range
- The Grifters - The Muffin Man
- Kick Me - Arms
- Smoke - Midnight
- DQE - Ivytwine
- Parlour - The Cold Snap
- Kick Me - Black Coat
- Kick Me - Blue Midnight
- Parlour - Baby Doll
- Bill Taft & Neil Fried - Old West
- Smoke - Pretend
- Palookaville - Seventh Day
- Long Flat Red - Eighty-Six Days
- Railroad Earth - Keep Seeing That Soul
- Kick Me - Lucky Nights
- The Hollidays - Miles Away
Songs
Luke's FeetHeaven on a Popsicle Stick · 1994
Hank AaronHeaven on a Popsicle Stick · 1994
Chad1995