This Beat Goes On two-fer assembles a pair of Johnny "Hammond" Smith's classic mid-'70s crossover efforts. The creative zenith of Smith's jazz-funk pursuits, Gears pairs the veteran keyboardist with the sibling production duo of Larry and Fonce Mizell, whose shimmering, sun-kissed sensibilities perfectly complement the profoundly deep grooves. Bolstered by fusion all-stars including Harvey Mason, Jerry Peters, and Hadley Caliman, Smith strips his performance of all pretense and artifice, forging lean, sinuous solos that ascend into the stratosphere. Mizell trademarks including wah-wah guitars, danceclub-ready rhythms, and celestial backing vocals further embellish the record's cinematic grandeur. Smith teamed with another sibling production tandem, Wade and Ralph Marcus, for the follow-up Forever Taurus. The handoff is virtually seamless, and for all of the album's commercial appeal, it still boasts the harmonic innovation and melodic beauty of Smith's most persuasive efforts. Rotating between electric piano, ARP synthesizer, and his namesake Hammond organ, Smith contributes some of his fiercest and funkiest solos, riding the crest of sublimely textured grooves as evocative as titles like "Cosmic Voyager," "Walk in Sunshine," and "Ghetto Samba" promise. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide