Our ‘Albums That Changed the World’ series continues with the recordings that most influenced Ted Smith, owner and operator of Grand Rapids’ Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill concert venue.
From Elvis Presley to The Who: Ted Smith reveals some of his favorite albums and artists for Local Spins. (Photo/Anna Sink)
EDITOR’S NOTE: All of those involved in the music business can trace their inspiration to key recordings that influenced their careers. Writer Ross Boissoneau today showcases music that changed the world for Ted Smith, of the Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill, a venue on Grand Rapids’ West Side that has long catered to national touring acts and local favorites. Scroll down for a Spotify playlist of his picks.
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill owner Ted Smith has been doing his part to keep the Grand Rapids music scene alive and vibrant for decades.
He’s brought in bands to the late, lamented Reptile House, The Intersection and the Orbit Room, and he is now an event manager at Van Andel Arena, besides operating the unique nightspot on Butterworth Avenue SW for 14 years.
“I’ve been a music fan since I was a little kid,” he says. By the mid-80s, while he was in the U.S. Army, he appropriated a small kitchen area and began playing music while providing the likes of chili dogs and burgers to the crowd.
Fast forward to opening Tip Top Deluxe. He says he enjoys being able to provide live music for those like him who enjoy the experience. And running Tip Top Deluxe means he can provide live shows for fans like himself, while enabling artists he enjoys to make a living.
“One of the highlights for me is Tip Top Deluxe is personal. I can bring in acts I personally love,” he says.
That doesn’t mean they’re all the same. One night, it might be the bluesy ramblings of Duke Tumatoe, another That Beatles Thing, or the garage cabaret of The Claudettes. What virtually all the acts have in common – besides finding a fan in Smith – is a connection to the roots of rock ‘n’ roll.
“My tastes can be eclectic, but they’re all kind of rootsy,” says Smith. “That Americana genre is what I’ve settled into.”
View listings of upcoming Tip Top shows online here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064861351135&sk=events
1. The Who, “Who’s Next” (1971) – When we first got cable TV I discovered the Who. I was riding my bicycle to Believe in Music on 28th Street (to buy it). It was that really cool rock and roll. I saw the movie The Kids Are Alright. They epitomized rock and roll: Keith Moon’s excesses, they were all different characters.
Listen: “Won’t Get Fooled Again”
2. Echo & The Bunnymen, “Songs To Learn & Sing” (1985) – It was the mid-80s. I was in Germany in the army and this was alternative rock from England. It was the coolest band of the 80s. They were compared with early U2 – in their Vegas residency U2 covered Echo & the Bunnymen. It’s got really great songs – “The Killing Moon” and “Bring On The Dancing Horses” are great 80s anthems. I traveled in 2008 to see them at the Royal Albert Hall in London with a symphony.
Listen: “The Killing Moon”
3. Elvis Presley, “The Great Performances” (1990) – It’s got his first song. “My Happiness” is the first song he wrote. It’s unlike anything else. It’s not what people think of with Elvis Presley. The biggest thing about Elvis is though he became the first rock ‘n’ roll star and the biggest, deep down I think he was shy. His (swivel hip) legs was just nervousness. He just loved music and wanted to make music; he faced his fear.
Listen: “My Happiness”
Currently Loving: Theo Lawrence, “Pickin’ and Singin’” (2023) – He’s from France, now based in Austin. It’s ’60s style country, like Buck Owens, Marty Robbins or Ray Price. He’s got a fantastic band. His sound is not Nashville, but very early, sophisticated ’60s country.
Listen: “Trail of Signs”
ALBUMS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD: Ted Smith’s Playlist on Spotify
Copyright 2025, Spins on Music LLC
