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The Legendary Buster Smith is the debut and only solo album released by saxophonist Buster Smith, recorded and released in 1959. The album features five original compositions by Smith, alongside versions of “September Song” by Kurt Weill and “Organ Grinder’s Swing” by Will Hudson.

In 1959, after several years of suggestion by Atlantic Records, alto saxophonist Buster Smith put together a band to perform a session of Jazz pieces. The album was recorded in a single studio session on June 7, 1959 and was released the next month on August 15. The lineup featured mostly Dallas based musicians, including Smith’s own brother Boston Smith.

The album was digitally remastered, remixed and produced in 1999 and released for the first time on compact disc on October 19 of that year (Wikipedia).

AllMusic Review by Steve Leggett:
Alto sax player, arranger, and composer Buster Smith recorded sparingly during his career and this seven-track set, recorded in a single session on June 7, 1959 and released by Atlantic Records a month or two later, was the only album Smith did as a bandleader. It’s a low key, pleasant affair featuring five original Smith compositions, including the lightly swinging “Buster’s Tune” and the odd, wonderfully disjointed “King Alcohol,” as well as versions of Kurt Weill’s “September Song” and Will Hudson’s “Organ Grinder’s Swing.” Smith’s brother, Boston Smith, played piano at the session. Following a car accident in the early ’60s, Smith was unable to continue playing sax and picked up the bass guitar, gigging regularly with various combos on bass in the Dallas area until his death in 1991 (http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-legendary-buster-smith-mw0000248513).

Track listing:
“Buster’s Tune” – 3:35
“E Flat Boogie” – 6:53
“September Song” (Maxwell Anderson, Kurt Weill) – 3:52
“King Alcohol” – 4:34
“Kansas City Riffs” – 5:17
“Late Late” – 7:42
“Organ Grinder’s Swing” (Will Hudson) – 6:35

All compositions by Buster Smith except as indicated.

Personnel:
Henry “Buster” Smith – alto saxophone and guitar
Eddie Cadell – tenor saxophone
Leroy “Buster” Cooper – baritone saxophone
Charles Gillum – trumpet
Clinton Smith – trombone
Herman Flowers – piano
Boston Smith – piano
Josea Smith – bass
Robert Cobbs – drums

Recorded: June 7, 1959

Released: August 15, 1959

Fort Worth, Texas
Label: Atlantic (1959)
Koch: (1999)