J. Smith (song)

Infobox Single | Name = J Smith
Type = EP


Artist = Travis
Album = Ode to J. Smith
B-side = "Get Up", Sarah"
Released = 30 June 2008
Format = 10"
Genre = Indie
Length = 3:03
Label = Red Telephone Box
Producer = Emery Dobyns
Writer = Healy, Travis
Last single = "My Eyes" (2007)
This single = "J. Smith" (2008)
Next single = "Something Anything" (2008)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Ode to J. Smith
Type = studio
prev_track = "Chinese Blues"
prev_no = 1
this_track = "J Smith"
track_no = 2
next_track = "Something Anything"
next_no = 3

"J. Smith" is the first song to be released from Travis' sixth studio album Ode to J. Smith, which is due for release later this year, though it is not the official first single. The song was released on a limited edition vinyl EP (with 1000 copies) on 30 June 2008. The song reached #1 in the UK Indie charts on July 6 [ [http://www.travisonline.com/news/j-smith-tops-the-uk-indie-chart/ Travisonline ] ] . Something unexpected due to the low amount of vinyls pressed.

ongs

J. Smith

Fran Healy (singer) explained on Travis' official website about the writing of "J. Smith". He says, "(The riff) came from nowhere. The strange thing was, I knew immediately these chords were important in some way... When Neilly (drummer) arrived I played the chords and he played along and instantly played the pattern. It is the best drum line Neilly has ever done... Dougie, (bassist) then picked up the bass line like he'd been practising it all week... There isn't a bit of fat on the song. Every note, every beat, is perfect." He also adds that Paul McCartney and Luke Pritchard both complimented the song when they first heard it.

B-sides

"Get Up" is the seventh track from the album Ode to J. Smith. It may have been included as a preview of the album [ [http://www.travisonline.com/board/view.php?t=8365#149145 Speculation on forum] ] .

"Sarah", according to a fan on the official forum, was written by Healy and keyboardist Björklund, and is "melancholic". Healy did not have the skill to play the piano line, but Björklund has enabled the song to be recorded.

Accidental Announcements

Although the songs from Ode to J. Smith were previewed in a series of live shows in February 2008, the studio recordings were not intended to be heard until official releases. However, KWRC, an American radio station, played the track on air several times, and copies of the song were made and distributed, which Healy consented to on the official forum [ [http://www.travisonline.com/board/view.php?t=7995#141145 Healy's response to J Smith mp3] ] .

Also, the J Smith EP was revealed by online retailer Recordstore on 5 June 2008 when it began selling its quota of 200 copies of the 1000 pressed. The information was discussed on the band's official forum within hours [ [http://www.travisonline.com/board/view.php?t=8365 Official forum] ] , although Healy posted on the forum that evening that they had not intended Recordstore to announce the information and that it was planned to gradually release the information to increase excitement [ [http://www.travisonline.com/board/view.php?t=8370 Fran Healy's response] ] . The 200 copies had sold out by 14:30 the next day.

Comparisons to Good Feeling

Because J Smith is a return to some of the rawness and "rockiness" of their debut Good Feeling, the band have connected the two releases in certain ways. The cover art of the J Smith vinyl was designed by Fran Healy to resemble the artwork of the All I Want to Do Is Rock vinyl, which he also designed. The band have resurrected the Red Telephone Box record label, which they created to release All I Want to Do Is Rock on, and are using this to release the J Smith EP [ [http://www.travisonline.com/board/view.php?t=8370 Comparisons with early Travis] ] .

References