Canada's Smiley Bates was one of those true-country bolts from the blue, an unreconstructed hard-country hick singer who reveled in insanely depressing, over-the-top sad songs, stuff that was worthy of Porter Wagoner. He was also a highly-regarded picker, as seen in his steady stream of instrumental and bluegrass-oriented albums. Here's a quick look at his work
Smiley Bates "The Early Years" (2006)
Smiley Bates "All New Recordings" (Banner Records) (LP)
Smiley Bates "5-String Banjo Bluegrass" (Marathon Records, 1968) (LP)
Smiley Bates "Fiddler's Dream" (Marathon Records, 1968)
Smiley Bates "Golden Guitar" (Paragon Records, 1968)
Smiley Bates "Flat Top Guitar Instrumentals" (Paragon Records, 1969) (LP)
Smiley Bates "Songs From The Heart" (Paragon Records, 1969)
Smiley Bates "Songs Of Life" (Marathon Records, 1971)
Smiley Bates "My Mother" (Paragon Records, 1971)
Smiley Bates & Eddie Poirier "Hey, Mr. Banjo!" (Marathon Records, 1972)
Smiley Bates "Path Of Memories" (Marathon Records, 1973)
Smiley Bates & Eddie Poirier & Rose Poirier "The Best Of Bluegrass" (Heritage Music, 1974) (LP)
Smiley Bates "In The Mood For Pickin' " (1974) (LP)
Smiley Bates "Country Tears" (1974)
Smiley Bates "True Stories From Life's Other Side" (Marathon Records, 1974)
Smiley Bates "The History Of Sadness" (Marathon Records, 1974)
Smiley Bates "The Best Of Smiley Bates" (1977) (LP)
Smiley Bates "Lullabyes And Legends" (Cheyenne Records, 1978)
Smiley Bates "20 Great Country Hits" (The Great Canadian Music Company, 1980)
Smiley Bates "An All-New Recording" (Banner Records, 1981)
Smiley Bates "Country From The Heart" (Diamond Records, 1982)
Smiley Bates "A Proud Canadian" (Diamond Records, 1983)
Smiley Bates "Smiley Sings Hank Snow" (Diamond Records, 1983)
Smiley Bates "House Of Shame" (Condor Records, 19--?)
Smiley Bates "Instrumentally Yours: Flat Top Guitar Instrumentals" (Condor Records, 1983) (LP)
Smiley Bates "A Million Miles Of Country" (Condor Records, 1984)
Smiley Bates "Sing Me A Sad Song" (1989)
Smiley Bates "Bent River Boogie" (1994)
Smiley Bates "Book Of Memories" (1994)
Smiley Bates "Good And Country" (1994)
Smiley Bates "Nova Scotia Queen" (1994)
Smiley Bates "Portrait Of Stone" (Condor Records, 1995-?)
Smiley Bates "The Soul Of Country" (Condor Records, 1995-?)
Smiley Bates "Goin' Home" (1996)
Smiley Bates "Dust On The Bible" (1996)
