Savoy Brown Blues Keep Me Holding On CD

Give Savoy Brown credit for carrying on when most of their peers have packed it in. There aren't many blues-rock bands from the late '60s still performing and recording, so it is noteworthy that they're still active. And from the sounds of The Blues Keep Me Holding On, they probably give a pretty good concert, too. Unfortunately, they don't make very interesting albums. The Blues Keep Me Holding On is a predictable mix of standards ("Going Down to Mobile," "Little Red Rooster"), contemporary covers, and new songs, all given straight-ahead arrangements and clean production. There are moments were the band starts cooking, but by and large, it all comes across as a bit flat. Longtime fans may want to consider adding it to their collection, since it isn't a bad listen, but less dedicated listeners probably will want to stick with the original albums or check out Savoy Brown in concert. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Recorded at Showplace Studios, Dover, New Jersey.

Personnel: Nathaniel Peterson, Jr., Kim Simmonds (vocals, bass guitar); Duke Robillard (guitar); Paul Oscher (harmonica); David Maxwell (piano); Roger Earl, Tom Compton (drums).

Recording information: Showplace Studios, NJ.

Photographers: Debbi Lyons; Rita Weigand; Michael Canavan.

Savoy Brown: Kim Simmonds (vocals, guitar); Nathaniel Peterson (vocals, bass); Tom Compton (drums).

Additional personnel: Duke Robillard (guitar); Paul Oscher (harmonica); Dave Maxwell (piano); Leo Lyons (bass); Roger Earl (drums).

Blister Pack

Down Beat (7/00, p.74) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Kim Simmonds continues to stay in the fray, joining up with bassist Nathaniel Peterson and drummer Tom Compton for this album...switching off on lead vocals...and the untiring rock warrior's guitar most always gets the job done..."
Dirty Linen (4-5/00, p.76) - "...starts unassumingly with a lazy harp/slide ramble, 'Going Down To Mobile'....The songs are mostly Simmonds originals with a couple Willie Dixon nuggets....Simmonds and his buddies do blues-rock righteously enough to do them proud."