Comprising the same lineup every bit Street Corner Talking, Savoy Brown released Hellbound Train a twelvemonth later. For this effort, Kim Simmonds' guitar theatrics are toned downwards a fleck in addition to the residuum of the band seems to live a niggling less bright in addition to passionate amongst their music. The songs are even then draped amongst Savoy Brown's sleek, bluesy feel, but the deep-rooted blues essence that then easily emerged from their lastly album doesn't rising every bit high throughout Hellbound Train's tracks. The championship cutting is most definitely the strongest, amongst Dave Walker, Simmonds, in addition to Paul Raymond sounding tighter than on whatever other song, in addition to from a wider perspective, Andy Silvester's bass playing is easily Hellbound's most complimenting asset. On tracks similar "Lost in addition to Lonely Child," "Doin' Fine," in addition to "If I Could See an End," the lifeblood of the band doesn't quite surge into the music every bit it did before, in addition to the tracks drib dead exclusively average-sounding blues efforts. Because of Savoy Brown's depth of talent, this rather nonchalant approach doesn't brand Hellbound Train a "bad" album past times whatever way -- it exactly fails to equal the say-so of its predecessor. But at that topographic point is a noticeable departure inwards the albums that followed this one, every bit the band in addition to peculiarly Simmonds himself was start to exhibit signs of fatigue, in addition to a pregnant turn down inwards the group's overall audio was chop-chop becoming apparent.
It wasn't until years afterward that I heard Kim Simmonds explicate that Hellbound Train was his anti-war ode to Viet Nam. It is a haunting, spellbinding journeying that builds to a climax that leaves y'all stunned. The guitar run is incredible in addition to Kim Simmonds is ane of the most underrated guitar players in addition to vocal writers I ever heard. He is too a real gracious in addition to approachable somebody if y'all ever instruct the peril to speak to him. Savoy Brown is ane of the cornerstone British blues groups of all time. I similar the jazzy audio of some of their songs which is real reminiscent of Alvin Lee in addition to Ten Years After. Hellbound Train is my favorite of all their albums. They are even then touring then assay out to encounter them if y'all can.
Savoy Brown in addition to Hellbound Train. In 1971 they gave us Street Corner Talking amongst their biggest in addition to perhaps exclusively radio play hitting Tell Mama. For the follow upward album inwards 1972 Kim Simmonds in addition to the band gave us Hellbound Train, amongst no radio play, never used on boob tube shows or movies. This would brand us tell that their must exclusively live a Highway to Hell.
For all the misery that hell is suppose to be, exercise y'all cry upward that nosotros would live able to exactly only move downwards the highway for iii minutes 2o seconds or would the devil arrive lastly longer similar ix minutes in addition to some change. Heavy metallic is all nearly the wearing clothing in addition to banging music but when y'all spotter in addition to heed to stories nearly “The Crossroads” what music is e'er playing? Blues guitar! When your atomic number 82 guitarist has been compared to the legend Rory Gallagher, in addition to tin play some of the best blues guitar on the planet, the tabular array starts to lean heavily towards at that topographic point beingness a educate going downwards versus traveling downwards the highway.
Hellbound Train begins dull in addition to runs that way amongst but a nestling speed alter for the initiative off v addition minutes, but it allows all the band members to relish the spotlight without losing whatever of the character of the song. With the slow Dave Bidwell’s symbols keeping the fourth dimension nosotros instruct a heavy dose of Paul Raymond’s organ. Paul’s biggest claim to fame came after he left the band in addition to joined UFO. Dave Walker vox fits inwards then good amongst the mood in addition to note of the vocal during this dull fourth dimension in addition to helps construct the vocal up. Walker’s vox picks upward some the 5:30 score in addition to the band members follow suit. The biggest surprise is for a vocal from the early on 70’s nosotros instruct way past times the half-dozen infinitesimal score in addition to y'all haven’t heard from Kim Simmonds but that is before long to change. For the residuum of the vocal Kim leads the band through this guitar blazing jam session that comes to a MAJOR halting destination that volition grab y'all off guard the initiative off fourth dimension that y'all withdraw heed the song. But past times far makes upward the lastly argue for why it’s a ride on the Hellbound Train that takes y'all to your needlelike ending inwards hell.
On the U.S. of A. LP, the championship rail on Side two ends abruptly, every bit if to add together dramatic finality. On most cuttings, the vocal ends exactly every bit the cutting is brought to the runoff groove. On the U.S. of A. CD, the vocal is faded out.
Track listing
"Doin' Fine" (Kim Simmonds, Andy Silvester) – 2:46
"Lost in addition to Lonely Child" (Kim Simmonds) – 6:00
"I'll Make Everything Alright" (Kim Simmonds) – 3:18
"Troubled past times these Days in addition to Times" (Paul Martin Raymond) – 5:43
"If I Could See an End" (Kim Simmonds, Paul Martin Raymond) – 2:54
"It'll Make You Happy" (Kim Simmonds) – 3:26
"Hellbound Train" (Kim Simmonds, Andy Silvester) – 9:07
Personnel
Savoy Brown
Kim Simmonds – guitar, harmonica, vocals
Paul Raymond – guitar, keyboards, vocals
Andy Silvester – bass
Dave Walker – vocals
Dave Bidwell – drums
EmoticonEmoticon