Raw Sienna / Looking In

This was the second Savoy Brown record I bought back at the time of its release . The first one being , A Step Further. Their vocalist at this time was the talented Chris Youlden . Chris had a deep , soulful sound to his voice , bit like Long John Baldry . He was a superb front man as is portrayed on the live album , A Step Further . Chris , alongside Kim Simmonds , were the songwriters of some excellent songs . This Blues album is unusual insofar , as it has a fair amount of Strings and brass , which bands can produce in the studio , but not live back then. I have purchased this double offering as I still have my vinyl collection , but it is more convenient format CD and can play in the car . Quality album this , one you will be pleased to own . The other , Looking In , is not up to the standard achieved , by its predecessor . Dave Peverett handled the vocals after Chris left and He was a hard act to follow . The vocals by Dave I find a bit too high and almost " shouty " for my liking . Very good value to get these 2 albums on one CD for a tenner . Savoy Brown these days are a 3 piece band and a very good one at that , with original founder member and lead guitarist Kim Simmonds guiding the band to continued success .

Raw Sienna is the best recording by the classic Savoy Brown line-up, a great album and ahead of its time. 'Hard Way To Go' is one of Chris Youlden's finest songs, and the rest of it packs a hefty, walloping punch courtesy of the extra brass and a good deal of piano playing. Every track is strong, good or satisfying on some level - great guitar tones and playing - the whole band is very focused, and everything locks together nicely.Some might argue that the addition of brass and strings chokes it somewhat, but I think the opposite; they never made another record like this one, and it's a heck of a good record too. No filler, although on Youlden's "Needle and Spoon" the singer's histrionics are possibly a bit overdone...but on this track Simmons's guitar tones are fat and juicy and he puts down a short, honkin' bluesy solo that is well-timed, outstanding and as original as anything Clapton or Page did. It's all good, the lead playing, the excellent rhythm guitar of 'Lonesome' Dave Peverett, the rhythm section - "Stay While The Night Is Young" is a fine example of how rapidly and how well British musicians of that era had assimilated their influences and created something new from that inspiration. Wonderful record, and well recorded for the time; that Decca sound!This album was a very strong answer to the question facing many English bands at the time; what do we do next, after the blues boom has run its course? Unfortunately it didn't continue like this, as Youlden rightly wanted to pursue a more soul-influenced direction and so quit the band for a solo career, while Simmonds et al set course for American stadiums and boogieland. A great pity, as 'Raw Sienna' is tremendously strong and IMHO a stone classic. If there had been 1 or 2 more Savoy records like this...history might have been made.It's also worth noting that that the only English drummer of the time whose playing style naturally came anywhere near John Bonham's was Savoy's Roger Earle. Very audible, that. Next came....Foghat!I can't enthuse over 'Looking In' though, now; dear oh dear!! This has aged horribly and, coming after 'Raw Sienna' in this set (and chronologically), sounds exactly like a band which has lost its lead singer, songwriter and sense of direction. Lonesome Dave (R.I.P) struggles manfully to fill the gap but it's an uphill struggle and the material, even at its best, just isn't anywhere near as good as anything on its predecessor - in fact it's almost laughable. Played well enough, but pretty tedious and completely forgettable.Savoy Brown continued to record and went through a lot of vocalists (just look at the album personnel listings), but they never found another singer like Chris Youlden, and he never broke through despite a good start with 2 solid solo recordings. He is one of England's finest and most neglected singers, and 'Raw Sienna' is incontrovertible evidence of that.Verdict; bargain! Get it for 'Raw Sienna' alone. I'd give that 5 stars but knock off one for 'Looking In'.

Last four tracks don't play

Two classic late sixties / early seventies British blues rock albums. On balance the greater creativity is to be found on Raw Sienna which benefits greatly from Chris Youlden's singing and songwriting. Excellent value for money.

Raw Sienna is my all time favorite Savoy Brown album. I love Chris Yolden. He wrote great songs and his voice was excellent always.

probably the 2 best albums savoy brown ever recorded cd played perfect. great price for this item

Le meilleur line-up de Savoy Brown, "Kings of the Boogie" britanniques produisnat un matériel original, audacieux et inspiré quoique puisant à de bonnes sources . Instrumentaux de Kim Simmonds (écoutez la course du lièvre dans un étonnant "Master Hare") et titre personnels de Chris Youlden illuminés par les meilleures parties de guitare de ce groupe .Réduits à quatre dans "Looking in", menés autant par la guitare de Kim Simmonds que par la voix de Dave Peverett, Savoy Brown domine son sujet dans un album pas moins brillant même s'il est moins original .Pas de "hit" encore cette fois mais peu importe car le plaisir et le respect s'imposent toujours à l'écoute de ces maîtres réunis pour la dernière fois .

Son dos discos míticos. De una calidad extraordinaria.No deben de faltar en la colección de los verdaderamente entendidos de la música de los años 60 y 70.

60年代から活動するバンドが、70年に発表した5thと6thの2in1CDです。 現在もリーダーのキム・シモンズ(g)を中心にバンドは存続してますが、やはり全盛期は本作を発表した頃の70年代でしょうか。 5thの“RAW SIENNA”は、2ndから参加してる看板シンガーのクリス・ユールデン在籍最後の作品です。黒人顔負けの渋くブルージーな声で、バンドに貢献して来たユールデンは、メイン・コンポーザーでもあり、本作でも全9曲中6曲を提供しています(残り3曲はシモンズ作) 全体にユールデン作はボーカルがメインで、シモンズ作(2)(3)(8)はインストがメインと分けられます。 特に、(7)と(9)はユールデンの歌が堪能できます。 また(3)は、ブラスやストリングスのアレンジも秀逸で、(8)とともにシモンズのギターが素晴らしく、アルバム中出色の出来です。6stの“LOOKING IN”は ユールデンが脱けたので、ロンサム・デイヴ・ペヴェレット(g、Vo)がボーカルを担当してます。知ってる人には、今更ですが、シモンズ以外の三人(デイヴ、トニー・スティーヴンス(b)、ロジャー・アール(Ds))は本作発表後に脱退して、FOGHATを結成します。 後に全米で成功するFOGHATのプロトタイプとも言える本作ですが、あくまでリーダーはシモンズであるため、FOGHATの必勝パターンである疾走感あるブギーは少なく、ロンサム・デイヴのボーカルも持ち前の豪快さ全開というより(ユールデンを意識したのか)やや抑え気味な気がします。 とはいえ、(11)や(14)(17)のように、FOGHATを思わせる曲も収録されてます。 それに対してシモンズは(13)で絶品のギターを披露してます。 様々な要素がある本作は、結果的に全米39位とバンド最大のヒットを記録します。 しかし、皮肉な事にそれに自信を得たデイヴらは前述の通りに脱退します。 一人残されたシモンズは、バンドを立て直しますが…それはまた別の機会に… 本CDはバンド全盛期の二作品が一度に味わえるお得な一枚ですので、オススメします。