Savoy Brown

City Night

Quarto Valley Records

Savoy Brown, the British blues band, was formed by Kim Simmonds in London, in 1965. Their first album, released in the United Kingdom, was 1967’s “Shake Down”. They began to achieve success in the U.S. with the release of their seventh album 1971’s “Street Corner Talking”. The band mixed extended length covers with originals and they scored with the single “Tell Mama”. The following year they followed up with their most successful album “Hellbound Train”.

Simmonds who has been called “the godfather of British blues-rock” also has albums under his own name. This however is Savoy Brown’s 40^th album which has to be a milestone as the band has delivered more music then any other blues-rock band. Simmonds, guitar and vocals; is once again joined by the rhythm section that has been with him since 2009: Pat DeSalvo, bass; and Garnet Grimm, drums. All of the songs have been written by Simmonds who is also Producer. The album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Ben Elliot in Dover, N.J. at his Showplace Studios.

Simmonds has toured and seen more of the world than any of his peers. He asks “Am I getting lazy in my old age?” The answer is found in the opening track “Walking On Hot Stones” with its blistering guitar and relentless rhythms, courtesy of DeSalvo and Grimm; sounds like a law firm. Once again, we enjoy Simmonds’ gritty vocal, as he sings “Troubles in the day, worries at night, looking for an angel, bring me some light, stand up to a fire, live straight to the bones, I’m rockin’ and rollin’, walkin’ on hot stones”.

“You turned me away, when I was down…it’s too late now it’s Payback Time” has an almost ska beat. “Neighborhood Blues” features the lyric “so tired of loosing, living in this neighborhood, the best that’s going on, ain’t doin’ me no good…buildings falling down…ain’t no jobs around…politicians shake your hand and talk…I’m getting out.”

On the title track Simmonds celebrates the joys of urban life “sure do like the city life”. “Hang in Tough” is a Bo-Diddley styled tune “Mary had two jobs…three kids at home…when you’re best ain’t good enough, got to hang tough”.

Simmonds best is good enough. When asked about retiring Simmonds responds “No, I’m not ever retiring! I’m on this train ’till the end…” Let’s ride.

Richard Ludmerer