Savoy Brown

Savoy Brown is a British blues band formed in the 1960s.

Career

Originally known as the Savoy Brown Blues Band, their 1969 single "Train to Nowhere" (with singer Chris Youlden), was viewed by many as the last gasp of the blues scene in Great Britain. Although Savoy Brown never reached much acclaim in their home nation, they developed a loyal core following in the United States, due to songs such as "I'm Tired" (from their album, "A Step Further"), a driving, melodic song. 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 4 or 5 albums until they started to sell in the US). 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 lineup changes, but despite that, "Hellbound Train" was a big album for them in the US.

While the band is still active today, only Kim 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 The John O'Leary Band. Savoy Brown's first album, "Shake Down", featured lead vocalist Bryce Portius. Portius was one of the first black blues musicians to be a part of a British rock band. Another singer, Dave Walker, would later join Fleetwood Mac and Black Sabbath. Their bassists included Andy Pyle, later with The Kinks, and Andy Sylvester, also with Chicken Shack.

Savoy Brown also provided an outlet for the keyboardist and guitarist, Paul Raymond, who later went on to join UFO. Other notable members include Jeff Howell, who went on to play with Foghat and the Outlaws before returning to central New York, where he is considered the best carpet installer in Ithaca.Fact|date=January 2008

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

Albums

*"Shake Down" – 1967
*"Getting to the Point" – 1968
*"Blue Matter" – 1969
*"A Step Further" – 1969
*"Raw Sienna" – 1969
*" Looking In" – 1970
*"Street Corner Talking" – 1971
*"Hellbound Train" – 1972
*"Lion's Share" – 1973
*"Jack The Toad" – 1973
*"Boogie Brothers" – 1974
*"Wire Fire" – 1975
*"Skin 'n' Bone" – 1976
*"Savage Return" – 1978
*"Rock 'n' Roll Warriors" – 1981
*"Greatest Hits - Live In Concert" – 1981
*"Just Live" – 1981
*"Live In Central Park" – 1985 (Relix Records RRLP 2014)
*"Slow Train" – 1986 - (Relix Records RRLP 2023)
*"Make Me Sweat" – 1988
*"Kings Of Boogie" – 1989
*"Live And Kickin"' – 1990
*"Let It Ride" – 1992
*"Bring It Home" – 1994
*"Live At The Record Plant" (recorded 1975) – 1998
*"The Bottom Line Encore Collection" (live) – 1999
*"The Blues Keep Me Holding On" – 1999
*"Looking From The Outside - Live '69 & '70" – 2000
*"Jack The Toad - Live 70/72" – 2000
*"Strange Dreams" – 2003
*"You Should Have Been There" – 2005
*"Steel" - 2007

Members at various times (1966-1981)

*Kim Simmonds - guitar, vocals
*Bryce Portius - vocals
*Martin Stone - guitar
*Ray Chappell - bass
*Leo Mannings - drums
*Bob Hall - keyboards
*Dave Peverett - guitar
*Tony Stevens - bass
*Roger Earl - drums
*Chris Youlden - vocals
*Rivers Jobe - bass
*Paul Raymond - keyboards
*Dave Walker - vocals
*Dave Bidwell - drums
*Andy Sylvester - bass
*Andy Pyle - bass
*Jackie Lynton - vocals
*Ron Berg - drums
*Eric Dillon - drums
*Stan Webb - guitar
*Miller Anderson - guitar, vocals
*Jimmy Leverton - bass
*Ian Ellis - bass, guitar
*Tom Farnell - drums

External links

* [http://www.savoybrown.com/ Savoy Brown website]
* [http://www.johnolearyband.com/ John O'Leary Band]
* [http://www.wirz.de/music/youldsc.htm Illustrated Chris Youlden discography]
* [http://musicchain.net/tag/Savoy%20Brown MusicChain - Savoy Brown]