I, as well, would concur with the recommendation to dig into his classic Blue Note recordings. There is one Verve recording in particular that shouldn't be disregarded...his 'Organ Grinder Swing' release.
Mosaic records put out a great box set of his Blue Notes recordings. It's out of print, but well worth finding on the used market. Also, if you like Smith, you might want to check out the work of Larry Young. He recorded a series of Blue Note LPs with Grant Green (guitar).
Yeah I also agree that the Blue Note releases are his most consistent. "Groovin' at Small's Paradise" is a great live 2-CD set. The Rudy Van Gelder remaster is terrific.
"Angel Eyes" on Polygram is one his better later releases from 1995 with great supporting cast most notably Roy Hargrove and Christian McBride.
And of course "Dot Com Blues" but I like "Angel Eyes" better.
I agree with the above, the Blue Note lps fom the 1950s and 60s are exceptional. I would also recommend "Back At The Chicken Shack", "The Sermon", "Prayer Meeting" and two of my all time favorites with Stanley Turrentine, Grady Tate and Kenny Burrell, "Formost" and "Foremost Returns" and of course "Dot Com Blues" from 2001 was a killer.
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