In the Mood for Pickin'

Musicians
Smiley Bates: flat top guitar

Songwriting
'Flat Top Chimes' written by Smiley Bates
'Newfoundland Reel' written by Smiley Bates
'Charlie’s Boogie' written by Smiley Bates

Publishing
Two Brothers Music-BMI

Artwork
Cover photo by 7th House

Liner notes
When Smiley’s first flat top guitar instrumental was released, Marathon felt, and rightly so, that the recording was one of the finest on the market. It was realized of course that country instrumental albums aren’t exactly block busters in the sales department, but Smiley and the old flat top changed all that. The album turned out to be a runaway success.

Since then, “the kid from Kirkland Lake” has been keeping himself busy in the recording studios and with stage and TV appearances. There was that night in Wheeling, West Virginia, when Mr. B. had our country cousins from south of the border hollerin’ for more. He didn’t disappoint them. Bates, as the saying goes, “tore the house down”.

Along the way Smiley slowed down long enough to accept the Marathon gold plaque award for continued top sales in a long list of best selling albums. Another honour recently bestowed upon him was when the monthly publication, “World of Country Music” informed him that their readers had voted Smiley Bates as one of the top three instrumentalists in Canada!

Since the success of that first album, it was only natural to follow up with Volume II of flat top pickin’. Since no one can top Smiley, the only thing the man had to do was top himself! — and this he has done on, “In The Mood For Pickin”. A dazzling display of musical dexterity in flat top fingering.

Congratulations Smiley on the awards and on another smash album.

Notes
Fantastic Flat Top Guitar Instrumentals Vol. II
Distributed in Canada by Marathon Music Incorporated
Look for “The Sound Of Canadian Country” sign
Stereo
MMS 76004
© 1973