I Smell Trouble

"I Smell Trouble" was a 1957 song written by Don Robey. It was registered in January 1957.^[1]

It was reported in the 23 March 1957 issue of The Cash Box that Bobby Bland's "I Smell Trouble" was "Zooming like a comet". According to composer Robey, the B side, "Don’t Want No Woman" was just as good and the DJs had a two-sider to work on.^[2] According to the 13 April issue of The Cash Box, Robey was pleased with the money that "I Smell Trouble" was making.^[3]

The record was reviewed in the 16 March 1967 issue of The Billboard. The reviewer noted the style of Bobby Bland coming across, saying that his "clear-toned, florid wailing style rarely has come across with more poignant effect". The well recorded backing which the reviewer called "down home" was also noted.^[4]

When the record was released, it had an immediate sales reaction.^[5]

For the week of 20 April 1957, "I Smell Trouble was at no. 10 on the Cash Box Hot, Chicago chart,^[6] and no. 1 in Memphis chart.^[7] It had also debuted at no. 20 in The Nation's R&B Top 20 chart.^[8] Also that week, "Don't Want No Woman" was a "Territorial Tip", one of the chart highlights Rhythm and Blues records that showed regional action but hadn't yet reached the Top 20.^[9] It was also at no. 9 on the Cash Box Hot, Dallas chart.^[10] "I Smell Trouble" peaked at no. 14 on The Cash Box The Nation's Top 20 for the week of 27 April.^[11][12]

For the week of 17 October 1964, Little Johnny Taylor's version of "I Smell Trouble" debuted at no. 40 in the Record World Top 40 R&B chart.^[13] The record was at no. 37 for the week of 7 November.^[14][15]

The record also got to no. 41 on the Billboard R&B chart. ^[16]