SAVOY BROWN
VOODOO MOON
RUF RECORDS 1173
SHOCKWAVES–NATURAL MAN–TOO MUCH MONEY–SHE’S GOT THE HEAT–LOOK AT THE SUN–24/7–ROUND AND ROUND–VOODOO MOON–MEET THE BLUES HEAD ON
Legendary British blues-rock band Savoy Brown has been a viable force on the popular music scene since their beginnings in 1966. Guitarist Kim Simmonds remains at the helm, and, to celebrate the band’s 45th anniversary, they have signed with Ruf Records and have just released “Voodoo Moon.” It is nine all-original, brand-new cuts from Kim that place emphasis on the song moreso than is normally associated with the blues-rock genre’. Simmonds himself, believes that these are some of his best works since his younger days, when a racially-mixed group of lads laid the groundwork for the British blues movement of the Sixties.
This group finds Kim on guitar, with Joe Whiting on sax and vocals, Pat DeSalvo on bass and Garnet Grimm on drums. Over the course of their illustrious history, they have shared the stage with legends such as Cream and John Lee Hooker, and that “endless boogie” permeates the lead off tale of a lover so good that she sends “Shockwaves” up and down your spine! A man who “don’t have a mojo” and who’s not “bad to the bone,” begs his lover to take him for what he is, just a “Natural Man.” This one name-checks just about every blues cliche’ ever contrived and is a very cool song. “24-7 is a righteous, jammin’ instrumental which makes good use of Joe Whiting’s sax. And, the set closes with a spot of good advice to those who find themselves overwhelmed at times, “don’t run and hide-Meet The Blues Head On.”
Our favorite was an easy choice. Kim breaks out the Elmore James slide licks over the tale of another red-hot mama, with a “come and get it look in her eyes,” “She’s Got The Heat.”
Savoy Brown was there at the very beginning of the British Invasion, and forty-five years down the road, remain a viable force on the contemporary blues scene. “Voodoo Moon” is a set that is definitely keeping the blues alive!!! Until next time, Sheryl and Don Crow.
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