Review: B.J. Smith - Dedications To The Greats Vol. 4: Don't Be Cruel ft. Joe Harvey-Whyte & Tamar Osborn (NuNorthern Soul)

Friend of NuNorthern Soul, B.J. Smith returns with the Balearic release of the year with the help on Joe Harvey-Whyte on steel guitar and jazz star Tamar Osborn on flute: 'Don't Be Cruel' as you've never heard it before and the only version you'll want to hear in the future!

As regular readers will know, NuNorthern Soul have been so hot this year with two remix versions of Tambores En Benirras' 'Ondas Horizontales' remixed (see review HERE and remix 2 from the beginning of the month HERE), Roots Artefact's 'Different Perspecitive' (see review HERE) and George Koutalieris' 'Seasons' inbetween (see review HERE). 

But what label head honcho Phat Phil didn't tell us was what he was playing in addition to all this during his 10 hour DJ set at the World Famous Pikes Ibiza!  Could it have been a version of 'Don't Be Cruel'; the international hit made famous by Elvis (Presley; kids, ask your grand parents) and covered by the lesser well known country star, Billy Swan who had a few international hits himself?

So, on this long running/intermittent series 'Dedications To The Greats' that's included notably Mos Def and The Pharcyde (see Phil's blog post HERE for futher info) what has Smith, Harvey-Whyte and Osborn done to such a standard track that's ingrained into the mindset of millions to make it sound incredible!

Well, first off, that mammoth near 14 minute 'Mother Earth Version' is dreamy in the excess with the slide guitar leading from start to finish where the white isle meets the desert disco: well desert chill-out zone at least.  What's really impressive, there's hardly any vocal and no chorus line to speak of.  As they say, "familiar yet transformed, timeless yet utterly his own".

You do get more of a vocal on the 'Earth Hear Version' that features award winning Tamar Osborn (aka Tamar Collocutor, also see HERE) on flute.  But even then you don't get your first "Don't be cruel, to a heart that's true" vocal until nearly the middle of the 12 minute track! 

And talking of taking your breath away, why would they stop there as there's also an instrumental as a 'Root Heart Version' with Joe and Tamar dueling in a caress type way: bet it would also be fantastic as a rockin' battle!

If you're familiar with the Flying Mojito Bros. (see HERE), their 'cousins', the Flying Burrito Bros or Hank Wangford's steel guitar side-kick, BJ Cole (Ed. what is it with all these BJs?) you'll know how haunting an instrument the pedal steel/side guitar can be and in a seemingly increasing cruel world, it's great to hear something as beatiful as this.

Did someone say, "Brilliant"?

BUY LINK / PRE ORDER: Dedications to the Greats Four 'Don't Be Cruel' featuring Joe Harvey-Whyte | B.J. Smith

Artist: B.J. Smith - Dedications To The Greats Vol. 4

Title: Don't Be Cruel ft. Joe Harvey-Whyte & Tamar Osborn

Release date: 31st October, 2025
Label : NuNorthern Soul
Catalog Number : NUNSDTTG004V
Format: Limited Edition 12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp