There isn't much of anything on the internet about Eugene Smith and The Warm Up Band, although a comment on this guestbook refers to them as a "bar band." The Warm Up Band consisted of bandleader Eugene Smith (vocals, tenor guitar, harmonica and kalimba), Ted Grimes (trumpet, vocals and piano), John Judge (lead guitar and vocals) and Carl Rabinowitz (bass, vocals and acoustic guitar), with help on this LP from session musicians Jack Procher (drums), David McMorrow (keyboards), Matt Zimbel (percussion) and David Carty (percussion).

This album, entitled Warmin' Up, was recorded in 1981 at Studio 306 in Toronto, produced by The Warm Up Band with engineers Brian Mitchell and Bob Cobban (who also worked with The Cowboy Junkies), and released on what I would guess was the band's own label, Warm Up Records. Stylistically, the record is all over the place. "Higher And Higher," which is probably a bit longer than it needs to be, has kind of a funk/prog groove thing going on. "You Are What You Are," my favourite track here, is an offbeat ballad on which the band sings accompanied only by Smith's kalimba. "Walk Away" is an easygoing reggae-tinged number that brings to mind the smooth '70s soul of Jerry Doucette. And "Peace Of Mind" is another curveball, an acoustic country-gospel tune with gorgeous work on guitar and harmonica.

Higher And Higher
You Are What You Are
Walk Away
Peace Of Mind