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Savoy Brown - The Blues Keep Me Holding On 1999

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Release Date: 1999
Label: Mystic Music & Entertainment 
Genre: BluesRock
Time: 48:33
Size: 292 MB



Savoy Brown, featuring the legendary blues/rock guitar-flash, Kim Simmonds have produced their finest record to date with "The Blues Keep Me Holding On." Savoy Brown was quite frankly, among the top echelon in the British blues scene during the ‘60s. In 1966, the band was recording singles for the Purdah label which led to the "Shakedown" album—a classic and collectible in vinyl, I might add. In the early ‘70s, Chris Youlden left the band along with Dave Peverett, Roger Earle, and Tony Stevens—the latter three formed their own band Foghat. As a group, Foghat was quite successful. In the same breath, Simmonds rebuilt his band and went platinum! What I enjoy most in Simmonds is his staying power and dedication; which becomes quite apparent, when you lend your ear to this—his latest with an all new and upscale Savoy Brown. There are eleven tracks total and Simmonds penned six of them. The five covers were well chosen, and in all probability a good introduction to songs that you wouldn’t normally hear. The band does an outstanding job on the Willie Dixon classic "Little Red Rooster,"—my personal favorite of the five. The Simmonds/Peterson song, "Going Down To Mobile" is the first track and again—a personal favorite on the original scores. Savoy Brown is a tight, three-member happening with Kim Simmonds on lead guitar and vocals, Nathaniel Peterson on bass and vocals, and Tommy Compton (formerly with Johnny Winter) on drums. Take the band with an all-star guest list, including Duke Robillard on guitar and you have yourself a first class seat on the "A Train,"—don’t forget the disc! Highly recommended.
Originally called the Savoy Brown Blues Band, this group can rightly take credit for cutting the farewell anthem of the 1960s British blues boom, in the form of a modern blues aptly titled "Train to Nowhere." Historically as well as musically, this song remains a sad reminder that by the time of its 1969 release as a single, most original blues were no longer commercially viable in Britain, as more and more blues clubs closed their doors for good.
?Within four years of the bands formation, however, they had become a major league live act in America. At home in Britain, they weren't so lucky, and never really broke out of the club scene despite founder/guitarist Kim Simmonds's (b. December 5, 1947; Newbridge, South Wales) persistence as the band's only continuous member.
Today, critics believe that one reason for Savoy Brown's inability to gain a foothold in Britain was its high personnel turnover, but these frequent lineup changes also led to some noteworthy ensembles. Many consider that the recordings featuring Chris Youlden's rich vocals and songwriting augmented by Kim Simmonds's jazz-tinged, fluent blues guitar, were Savoy Brown's finest work; this being especially so on such late-1960s cuts as "She's Got a Ring in His Nose and a Ring on Her Hand" (a classy swing-blues) and the completely different and desolate groove of "Mr. Downchild." The early-1970s also saw some interesting personnel changes including a collaboration with Chicken Shack's Stan Webb (when the band also was known as the Boogie Brothers).
Early in his life, Savoy Brown guitarist Kim Simmonds was heavily influenced by his older brother Harry (christened Henry). Harry Simmonds had started listening to music when he was about thirteen, especially to Bill Haley. He later became interested in R&B and blues, particularly the music of James Brown, Ike and Tina Turner, Jimmy Reed, Otis Rush and Muddy Waters. He often purchased American imports from The Swing Shop, a small record store located in Streatham, Southwest London, which was also a hangout for Jo Ann Kelly.

I've always been a Savoy Brown fan, from the days of SHAKE THEM ON DOWN and BLUE MATTER to STREET CORNER TALKING. I think that Englishmen like Kim Simmonds, along with the likes of John Mayall and Eric Clapton, have had (oddly) a much better feel for and ability to interpret American blues than white Americans themselves (with a few exceptions such as Paul Butterfield). THE BLUES KEEP ME HOLDING ON carries on the SAVOY BROWN tradition of a pure feeling for, and ability to express and interpret American blues. On this album, I think the best tracks are those on which Kim sings (as well as plays guitar), esp. "That's All I Want Baby" and "Mississippi Steamboat"--which are inspired! Some of the best work this band has done. Kim (and pals) are in gear, and, as usual, headed in the right direction. If you're a SAVOY BROWN fan, you will like this album; if you're new to the band, check it out (or other CD's like GETTING TO THE POINT and STREET CORNER TALKING). 
*Eric T. Dean



Tracklist:
01. Going Down To Mobile (3:51)
02. She's Leaving (4:31)
03. That's All I Want Baby (3:20)
04. The Blues Keep Me Holding On (3:48)
05. Bad Shape (6:23)
06. Mississippi Steamboat (4:34)
07. Ain't No Need To Worry (2:47)
08. Headline News (4:40)
09. Little Red Rooster (7:40)
10. When You've Got A Good Friend (3:14)
11. Everybody Says They Want It (3:40)



Savoy Brown ist Kim Simmonds. Ähnlich wie Stan Webb mit Chicken Shack verbunden bleibt, so ist es auch Kim Simmonds und Savoy Brown. Geboren am 05.12.1947 in Newbridge South Wales machte er bereits im Alter von 18 Jahren die Pubs mit seiner Gitarre unsicher.
Vom Blues angesteckt durch seinen Bruder Harry lernte er mit 13 Jahren Gitarre. Einer seiner Vorbilder war Chuck Berry. Mit 15 war Schulschluss und ein Job in London wurde angenommen. In einem Plattenladen lernte er den Harmonikaspieler John O'Leary kennen. Diese zwei, der Bruder von Kim, Harry Simmonds, Leo Manning, Brice Portius und Ray Chappell taten sich zusammen und spielten ihren Blues.
Später kam der Keyborder, Trevor Jeavons dazu, der aber schon bald von Bob Hall abgelöst wurde. Hall tourte Savoy Brown bei den Groundhogs, die wiederum John Lee Hooker auf dessen England Tour begleiteten. Beeinflusst wurden sie, wie so viele in den 60er Jahren, von Alexis Korner. 1966 gründete Kim Simmonds in dieser Besetzung die Savoy Browns Blues Band.