2016 Version. Only live album to feature all original members, a hit-packed set from the band at their peak. New expanded edition of Smokie's The Concert - Live In Essen, Germany 1978 album, featuring bonus tracks, new liner notes and photos.

On their fourth album, Smokie attempt to broaden their country-flavored pop with a few stylistic experiments. The resulting album is successful for the most part. For instance, their European hit "It's Your Life" effectively marries the group's sweet harmonies to a reggae-styled pop melody, and further spices things up by throwing in a surprising Beatles-styled midsection. Another song with a Beatlesque feel is "Sunshine Avenue," a full-on tribute to the Fab Four's psychedelic era that mimics the group's sonic affections from that time (electronically filtered vocals, stately horns, and a rollicking pop melody) and even name-checks Sgt.

The box set contains the first five original studio albums of Smokie: Pass It Around (1975), Changing All The Time (1975), Midnight Cafe (1976), Bright Lights & Back Alleys (1977), The Montreux Album (1978). Originally formed in Yorkshire, England, in 1966, Smokie hit the British pop charts several times during the late '70s with updated psychedelic pop, influenced by the band's stay on Mickie Most's Rak Records as well as the writers of most of the band's hit material, Rak's Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. Vocalist Chris Norman, bassist Terry Utley, and guitarist Alan Silson had played in the Elizabethans, but formed the band Kindness in 1968, with the addition of drummer Pete Spencer. The quartet recorded many singles during the late '60s and early '70s, but failed to show any chart activity until 1975.

The group had eleven UK hits between 1975 and 1978, all of them making the top twenty. In 1980, they had a lesser (top forty) hit with Take good care of my baby, a cover of Bobby Vee's classic. Of their UK hits, four made the top five, these being If you think you know how to love me, Living next door to Alice, It's your life and Oh Carol (not a cover of the old Neil Sedaka song), all up-tempo songs. I like all those songs but my favorites are the ballads - Something's been making me blue, I'll meet you at midnight and Lay back in the arms of someone. Their other essential UK hits are Don't play your rock'n'roll to me, Needles and pins (a cover of the sixties classic) and For a few dollars more.

Originally formed in Yorkshire, England, in 1966, Smokie hit the British pop charts several times during the late '70s with updated psychedelic pop, influenced by the band's stay on Mickie Most's Rak Records as well as the writers of most of the band's hit material, Rak's Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. Vocalist Chris Norman, bassist Terry Utley, guitarist Alan Silson, and drummer Ron Kelly had played in the Elizabethans, but formed the band Kindness in 1970. The quartet recorded many singles during the late '60s and early '70s, but failed to show any chart activity. By 1973, Kelly had left the band and was replaced by Pete Spencer.

At last the long awaited official CD anthology containing a unique audio history of Smokie's blistering career spanning the last 40 years. This box is a fitting tribute to a group who have defied all odds to earn their rightful place amongst those few artists who have helped to shape and define an era. CD package 'GOLD' has entered the German album charts at number 36.

2010 has seen Smokie gain new chart success with an album of brand new material "Take a Minute". It's the twenty first studio album by British rock band Smokie. Released initially in Denmark in August, the album went up to No. 6 in the charts. It finally reached No. 3 and spent eight weeks there. The album was also successful in Norway, where it peaked at No. 6 during a six weeks chart run. Take a Minute was released in Germany on 15 October 2010 and internationally in February 2011. The first single from the album is "Sally's Song (The Legacy Goes On)". The song is a continuation of the story of the other character, Sally, in "Living Next Door to Alice". The second single is "Nothing Hurts Like a Broken Heart".

Originally formed in Yorkshire, England, in 1966, Smokie hit the British pop charts several times during the late '70s with updated psychedelic pop, influenced by the band's stay on Mickie Most's Rak Records as well as the writers of most of the band's hit material, Rak's Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman…