Savoy Brown

Part of the late-'60s blues-rock movement, Britain's Savoy Brown never achieved as much success in their homeland as they did in America, where they promoted their albums with nonstop touring. The band was formed and led by guitarist Kim Simmonds, whose dominating personality has led to myriad personnel changes; the original lineup included singer Bryce Portius, keyboardist Bob Hall, guitarist Martin Stone, bassist Ray Chappell, and drummer Leo Manning. This lineup appeared on the band's 1967 debut, Shake Down, a collection of blues covers. Seeking a different approach, Simmonds dissolved the group and brought in guitarist Dave Peverett, bassist Rivers Jobe, drummer Roger Earl, and singer Chris Youlden, who gave them a distinctive frontman with his vocal abilities, bowler hat, and monocle. With perhaps its strongest lineup, Savoy Brown quickly made a name for itself, now recording originals like "Train to Nowhere" as well. However, Youlden left the band in 1970 following Raw Sienna, and shortly thereafter, Peverett, Earl, and new bassist Tony Stevens departed to form Foghat, continuing the pattern of consistent membership turnover. Simmonds collected yet another lineup and began a hectic tour of America, showcasing the group's now-refined bluesy boogie rock style, which dominated the rest of their albums. The group briefly broke up in 1973, but re-formed the following year. Throughout the '80s and '90s Simmonds remained undeterred by a revolving-door membership and continued to tour and record. Their first album for the Blind Pig label, Strange Dreams, was released in 2003. Steel followed in 2007 from Panache Records.

from Wikipedia:

Savoy Brown, originally known as the Savoy Brown Blues Band, are a British blues rock band, formed in 1965, in Battersea, South West London. Part of the late 1960s blues rock movement, Savoy Brown never achieved as much success in their homeland as they did in the United States, where they promoted their albums with non-stop touring.

Career

The band was formed and led by guitarist Kim Simmonds, whose dominating personality led to a myriad of personnel changes. Others have attributed the constant lineup adjustments to the "creative accountancy" employed by the band's manager, Harry Simmonds, brother of Kim.

The original line-up included singer Bryce Portius, keyboardist Bob Hall, bassist Ray Chappell, drummer Leo Manning and harmonica player John O'Leary (O'Leary appeared on record with the band on its initial recordings for Mike Vernon's Purdah label). Portius was one of the first black blues musicians to be a part of a British rock band. This line-up appeared on the band's 1967 debut album, Shake Down, a collection of blues covers. Two albums followed in 1968, Getting to the Point, and Blue Matter.

In 1969 a single, "Train to Nowhere", was released with a vastly different line-up, including singer Chris Youlden, who, with Simmons, took over primary songwriting duties for the band, on A Step Further that year. It was viewed by some as the last gasp of the blues scene in the United Kingdom. They developed a loyal core following in the United States, due to songs such as "I'm Tired", a driving, melodic song from the album. They were one of the bands that UK Decca (US London/Parrot) stuck with through the lean times until they started selling records (it took four or five albums until they started to sell in the U.S.) In the late 1960s and 1970s, the band managed to penetrate the Billboard Hot 100. Superstardom perpetually evaded them, perhaps in part because of their frequent line-up changes, but despite that, Hellbound Train (1972) was a Top 40 album for them in the U.S. In January 1974, the British music magazine, NME reported that Stan Webb was joining Savoy Brown, following the break-up of Chicken Shack.

While the band is still active today, touring the world and recording regularly, only Simmonds has stayed since the beginning. Guitarist "Lonesome" Dave Peverett, bassist Tony Stevens, and drummer Roger Earl went on to form Foghat. Original member and harmonica player John O'Leary is still active on the British blues circuit with his band Sugarkane. Another singer, Dave Walker, would later join Fleetwood Mac and Black Sabbath. Their bassists included Andy Pyle, who played with Mick Abrahams from Jethro Tull in Blodwyn Pig then later with The Kinks and Gary Moore. Andy Silvester had played with Wha-Koo and Chicken Shack. Savoy Brown also provided an outlet for keyboardist and guitarist Paul Raymond, who later went on to join UFO. Drummer Bill Bruford played three live gigs between 12 and 15 January 1968, but was then fired for "fiddling about with the rhythm".

Savoy Brown contributed the song "A Man Alone" for the soundtrack to the movie Kickboxer 2.

In 2008, "Train to Nowhere" was used in, and figured as a clue, in the TV series CSI: NY, in Season 4, Episode 10 - “The Thing About Heroes”.

Their first album for Blind Pig Records, Strange Days, was released in 2003. The band released another record Steel in 2007. Their most recent album,the highly acclaimed "Voodoo Moon" , is on Ruf Records in 2011.

Albums

Shake Down – 1967Getting to the Point – 1968Blue Matter – 1969 - U.S. #182A Step Further – 1969 - U.S. #71Raw Sienna – 1969 - U.S. #121Looking In – 1970 - UK #50; U.S. #39Street Corner Talking – 1971 - U.S. #75Hellbound Train – 1972 - U.S. #34Lion's Share – 1973 - U.S. #151Jack the Toad – 1973 - U.S. #84Boogie Brothers – 1974 - U.S. #101Wire Fire – 1975 - U.S. #153Skin 'n' Bone – 1976 - U.S. #206Savage Return – 1978 - U.S. #208Rock 'n' Roll Warriors – 1981 - U.S. #185Greatest Hits - Live in Concert – 1981Just Live (recorded 1970) – 1981Live in Central Park (recorded 1972) – 1985 (Relix Records RRLP 2014)Slow Train – 1986 (Relix Records RRLP 2023)Make Me Sweat – 1988Kings of Boogie – 1989Live and Kickin' – 1990Let It Ride – 1992Bring It Home – 1994Live at the Record Plant (recorded 1975) – 1998The Bottom Line Encore Collection (live, recorded 1981) – 1999The Blues Keep Me Holding On – 1999Looking from the Outside - Live '69 & '70 – 2000Jack the Toad - Live 70/72 – 2000Strange Dreams – 2003You Should Have Been There – 2005Steel – 2007Too Much Of A Good Thing - 2009Voodoo Moon - 2011

Membership timeline

(†) denotes member is deceased.