SAVOY BROWN (ABO#329)

SAVOY BROWN

FOCUSED

(THE BOOGIE YEARS)

(1966-1981)

Blues-Rockers were dinosaurs by the start of the Eighties and I was a steadfast punk rocker. But knew a harmonica player who was determined to make it as a bluesman (he didn't, nor did any of the others). That's how I became familiar with Savoy Brown. I saw them several times in small clubs with a capacity of no more than 200 people. Thirty years on, I had essentially forgotten about those nights until I made this compilation. I shouldn't have.

Savoy Brown is the mean point between purist blues and rock-blues like Led Zeppelin and Cream. The reason that you should hear this band is their lead guitarist, Kim Simmonds. The working man's John Mayall. An extraordinary talent who replaces band members almost as frequently as others fill up their car.

Their first album was released in the UK in September 1967 but didn't attract much attention. An entirely new band - except Simmonds - was formed for the second album. Chris Youlden became the lead vocalist and he lasted just over two years. His croaking style was one of the defining elements of the group. Some view the four albums that he appeared on (Point, Blue Matter, Step Further, Raw Sienna), to be the band's best work. Rhythm guitarist Dave Peverett took up the lead vocals on their sixth album, 1970's 'Looking In', but was fired/quit seven months later.

An entirely new band - except Simmonds - was formed before their seventh album, 1971's 'Street Corner Talking'. Dave Walker was the new vocalist. He lasted two years and three albums (Street, Hellbound, Lion's Share) in the job. Most people agree that the band's pinnacle had been surpassed by the time Walker left in November 1972.

In the seven years since the band's formation in 1966 until Walker's departure, there had been six bassists, five vocalists and five drummers.

That lack of continuity is probably a contributing factor to why they never reached the upper tier of fame. The band never achieved as much success in their homeland as they did in America, where they promoted their albums with non-stop touring. None of their singles reached the Top 40 in the US or UK. Their most popular album reached #34 on the US album charts. But Simmonds has a strong work ethic, and the band continues to tour in whatever configuration he can put together. They release albums on a steady basis; six in this decade alone. Most of the discarded band members vanished into obscurity, but three of them extracted revenge. When Peverett left, he took the drummer (Roger Earl) and bassist (Tony Stevens) with him. They formed another boogie band - Foghat - and became superstars.

-Burns-

Note : to my request, Burns accepted to enlarge the discography covered by this Baistophe to 1966-1981 while the original Baistophe was only centered on the period of 1966-1974, dropping 3 studio albums. I felt unfair to forget those 3 albums even if these are forgettable ones. Only 3 tracks were saved but I feel this gives a logical finished work. I hope our dear friend Burns will appreciate the new selection and won't blame me to have altered his work.

-Ayah-

Hellbound Train - Savoy Brown
envoyé par Randy_Rowland. - Regardez plus de clips, en HD !