Smoke (American band)

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).

This article is about an American band of the 1990s. For the English band active in the 1960s and 70s as The Smoke, see The Smoke (British band).
Not to be confused with Smokie (band).
Smoke
OriginAtlanta, Georgia, United States
GenresPunk, blues, folk, rock
Years active1992-1999
LabelsLong Play Records
OrtTone
Past membersBenjamin
Bill Taft
Brian Halloran
Todd Butler
Coleman Lewis
Tim Campion
Will Fratesi

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.[1]

Discography
  • Pretend 7" (1993, Colossal Records)
  1. Pretend
  2. Dirt
  • Heaven on a Popsicle Stick CD (1994, LongPlay Records)
  1. Hole
  2. Awake
  3. Freak (Winn's Song)
  4. The Trip
  5. Hank Aaron (lyrics by Dana Kletter)
  6. Luke's Feet
  7. Beeper Will
  8. The Pond
  9. I Do
  10. Ballet
  11. Guilt
  12. Abigail
  13. Curtains
  • Another Reason To Fast CD (1995, LongPlay Records)
  1. Trust
  2. Friends
  3. When It Rains
  4. Clean White Bed
  5. Shadow Box
  6. Dream
  7. Fatherland
  8. Train Song
  9. Debbey's Song
  10. Chad
  11. That Look
  12. I Don't
  13. Snake

Compilation appearances
  • ? CD (1992)
  1. Smoke - Dog

The lineup on this song was Benjamin, Bill Taft, Brian Halloran, and Todd Butler. This CD was a benefit compilation.

  • Radio Oddyssey Volume 2: The Georgia Music Show CD (1997 Altered Records/Ichiban)[2]
  1. The Rock*A*Teens - Black Ice
  2. The Continentals - Please, Please
  3. Pineal Ventana - Dark Cloud
  4. DQE - Mermaid And The Sailor
  5. No. 1 Family Mover - Hey Soul
  6. Bob - Ants
  7. Velvet Overkill Five - Pillow Talk
  8. The Goodies - Live On WRAS-FM
  9. Tweezer - Sucking Midgets
  10. Marcy - Driver
  11. Heinous Bienfang - Stay Behind The Cones
  12. Babyfat - Redd Lobster
  13. Frontstreet - Scandinavian Pamphlet (Sex Book)
  14. 17 Years - Doing Wrong
  15. Smoke - Hamlet
  16. Benjamin - Big Daddy Story and Other Saucy Tales
  1. Susie Honeyman - Bus
  2. Schoolly D - This Old Man
  3. Smoke - Old Joe Clark
  4. Calexico - The Man on the Flying Trapeze
  5. The Waco Brothers - Them Bones
  6. Giant Sand - Blow the Man Down
  7. Anne Richmond Boston - What Can the Matter Be?
  8. D. L. Menard & the Louisiana Aces - J'ai Passe Devant Ta Porte?
  9. Zydeco Elvis - The ABC Song
  10. Sally Timms - Hush Little Baby
  11. New Orleans Klezmer All Stars - Nokas for the Kinder
  12. The Chiselers - Playmate
  13. The Rock*A*Teens - She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain
  14. Moonshine Willy - Skip to My Lou
  15. Kelly Hogan - The Great Titanic
  16. The Black Mama Dharma Band - A Frozen Road
  17. Mekons - Oranges & Lemons
  18. New Kingdom - John Henry
  19. Rob Gal - Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
  20. Blacktop Rockets - Froggy Went A-Courtin'
  21. Vic Chesnutt - Home on the Range
  22. The Grifters - The Muffin Man
  1. Kick Me - Arms
  2. Smoke - Midnight
  3. DQE - Ivytwine
  4. Parlour - The Cold Snap
  5. Kick Me - Black Coat
  6. Kick Me - Blue Midnight
  7. Parlour - Baby Doll
  8. Bill Taft & Neil Fried - Old West
  9. Smoke - Pretend
  10. Palookaville - Seventh Day
  11. Long Flat Red - Eighty-Six Days
  12. Railroad Earth - Keep Seeing That Soul
  13. Kick Me - Lucky Nights
  14. The Hollidays - Miles Away

References
  1. "January to June 2014". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  2. "Radio Oddssey, Vol. 2: The Georgia Music Show". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  3. "Rudy's Rockin' Kiddie Caravan;". Bloodshotrecords.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  4. "Hidden Tracks;". Daemon Records. Archived from the original on 2007-10-31. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
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