Savoy Brown

 

Lineup around 1974-75

Kim Simmonds – gtr – Paul Raymond – kybds, gtr, vcls  – lan Ellis – bs, vcls  –
Tommy Farnell – drms

Classic example of British band which has enjoyed massive U.S. following while remaining unlauded at home. Formed 1967 as Savoy Brown Blues Band, Kim Simmonds being the one constant in group’s succession of personnel permutations.

First three albums, with Chris Youlden replacing original vocalist Bryce Portius on (2), were blues in form, though (3) introduced brass. However Savoy never hit it so big as contemporaries Fleetwood Mac and Ten Years After, and, when British blues boom began to wind down, group edged sideways into blues-boogie so beloved of the American rock market, which is where they then began to concentrate their activities.

As result, rose to headline status in U.S.- though each tour brought revibed line-up. Youlden left before (6), this featuring personnel of Simmonds, Lonesome Dave (vcls, pno), Roger Earl (bs), Tone Stevens (drms). Last three shortly broke away to form Foghat.

In 1971 Simmonds assembled new band with Dave Walker (vcls) and Paul Raymond, Andy Silvester (bs), Dave Bidwell (drms) from various editions of Chicken Shack. Silvester replaced by Andy Pyle 1973.

Despite continuing U.S. interest, Savoy disbanded for brief period around Christmas 1973 until Simmonds changed his mind at prospect of uniting with Stan Webb (gtr, vcls), ex-Chicken Shack leader, and Miller Anderson, ex-Keef Hartley Band and own Hemlock outfit. Eric Dillon (drms), James Leverton (bs), from Hemlock, completed new outfit-Savoy Brown Boogie Brothers – which ended in disarray after one album (11).

Simmonds soldiered ever on into boogie wastelands with current line-up as above, in which Paul Raymond returned to fold. Group still retained firm U.S. following; (12) and (13) not released U.K.

(1) Shake Down (Decca 1967)
(2) Getting To The Point (Decca 1968)
(3) Blue Matter (Decca 1969)
(4) A Step Further (Decca 1969)
(5) Raw Sienna (Decca 1970)
(6) Looking In (Decca 1970)
(7) Street Corner Talking (Decca 1971)
(8) Hellbound Train (Decca 1972)
(9) Lion’s Share (Decca 1973)
(10) Jack the Toad (Decca 1973)
(11) Boogie Brothers (Decca 1974)
(12) Wire Fire (London Imp 1975)
(13) Skin’n’Bone (London imp 1976)