Official Disclaimer: What you are about to read may cause extreme excitement and require the use of a napkin to prevent excessive drooling.

When a journalist, writer, fan or really anyone sits down with an artist, you never quite know what you’re going to get. Musicians and other artists tend to not think like the rest of the world and that is what sets them apart; it’s what makes them great. Good or bad, drunk or sober, the insight is fascinating.

To truly tap into the thoughts of an artist the person speaking with them must be equally open-minded. And if you were to make a list of the “Best Interviewers” it would be a prestigious one and you’re sure to find Howard Smith’s name. The Oscar winning director, broadcaster and The Village Voice journalist was incredibly gifted and had a knack for getting down-to-earth, very real conversations with those he interviewed.

And now, music fans everywhere are about to gain unprecedented insight to the most iconic individuals in music history. It is not just the fact we’re getting never before released conversations with the likes of Mick Jagger, Jerry Garcia, Janis Joplin, Pete Townsend, Arlo Guthrie and Jim Morrison (just to name a few), it is that we get to hear, for the first time ever, these conversations with Howard Smith.

The one-hundred-plus interviews, compiled by Ezra Bookstein and Smith’s Son Cass, are being put together for the first time, more than forty years after they were recorded. The Smith Tapes will be released every three weeks via iTunes and a limited edition, hand numbered box set. And through, what we consider to be the most important Kickstarter campaign we have ever seen, you can help bring these to light.

Ever wonder what the Rolling Stones were thinking in the days before Altamont? Want to know why Jim Morrison said “Hey listen Man, this has been one of the most exciting interviews I’ve ever participated in“? We even get the response to Smith stating “…and it’s not a comment on your music, but it seems to bother a lot of women’s lib people, that you’re, kind of, so up front sexually…” to Janis Joplin.

We can’t stress enough how important this collection is, not just to music fans, but fans of any media and even history fans. This set is nearly as iconic as those it interviews. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “fan of interviews,” this will fascinate you to no end. It is unscripted, uncensored and very real. Check out the kickstarter page for more info!

UPDATE: The Smith Tapes have been successfully funded!

©2012 Masaki Koike & The Smith Tapes