Personnel: Jimmy Smith (organ); Stanley Turrentine (tenor saxophone); Kenny Burrell (guitar); Donald Bailey (drums).

Producer: Alfred Lion.

Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna.

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on April 25, 1960. Includes liner notes by Ira Gitler.

This disc, along with MIDNIGHT SPECIAL and HOME COOKIN', is one of the truly classic albums Smith recorded for Blue Note. Introducing Stanley Turrentine on tenor sax, whose warm, old-school playing blends perfectly with the oozing grooves of Smith's Hammond, BACK AT THE CHICKEN SHACK also features regular sidemen Kenny Burrell on guitar and beatkeeper Donald Bailey. Smith's innovative concoction of soul, jazz and blues does not disappoint: from the down- home vibe of the title track, through the infectious, loping theme of Turrentine's composition "Minor Chant, to the 32-bar blues that frames spectacular solos in "Messie Bessie."

Smith's ambidextrous magic dazzles as always, and the spotlight shines with particular brightness on Turrentine, who establishes himself as a serious talent on this session. There's also a version of "Sunny Side Of The Street," not included on the original LP. This is classic Smith with all the requisite flair and cool. It's a keeper.

Q (Magazine) (p.133) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Smith's funky Hammond organ still sounds killer, his ecstatic fusion of R&B and jazz with bluesy gospel a whip-smart invention."