Customer Reviews

20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was pleased that the Cd started with the band's first UK hit single , "Natural Born Woman" .This is essential blues music for me , being a classic rock fan , and no blues purist.The band used the best of both: Progressive Blues , integrated with the modern -for-the-time Rhythm and Blues Rock that was known at the time as "Rock". "Big Black Dog" is the rarity - previously only released as a B side vinyl single in Europe and non-U.S. countries.It stands with the rest of the repertoire strongly."Stone Cold Fever" is likely their strongest number , featuring Steve Marriott's feverishly electrifying vocals( clearly one of the best male vocalists of the century) and tasteful harmonica. Peter Frampton's lead guitar is one of the most original and unique stylings from the 70's on this song- a mixture of Wes Montgomery style Jazz and Claptonesque Blues."Rolling Stone" is an equal performance both of them .The rest of the album is a wise selection of Hits and Covers, like "Black Coffee"( Ike and Tina Turner), "I Don't Need No Doctor"( Ashford and Sompson), and "Ninety Nine Pounds"(D. Bryant).Bassist/ Vocalist Greg Ridley is one of the best Bassists in the feild , who always played it like a real bass - soul music style.His roots were obviously , like Steve , deep in Mowtown and Stax.His vocals are a treat , a growly and manly personna that was a perfect foil for Marriott's over-the-top-too-soul-to-be-white charisma.The arrangements were original and entertaining - often a verse each from Marriot, Ridley and Frampton ( "Shine On" featuring Peter)The collection wouldn't reflect the demeanor of the band if it didn't include the Live numbers, Like "...Doctor", and for 12 songs, I will say this is a good testimony of the band for those too young to have known them before and old fans alike.

First: Even though the Pie was just redone a couple years ago for the "Hot 'N Nasty" collection, this CD sounds even better. I don't know who's doing all the remastering now, but the Pie [and recent James Gang remasters] sound better than they have in years!

Even the selction was made with some care, including the "probably not best of" songs 'Four Day Creep' and 'Big Black Dog' alongside Pie classics like 'Hot N Nasty', '30 Days in the Hole', 'Stone Cold Fever' and the powerful live take of 'I Don't Need No Doctor' just reinforces how strong this band was. This is a CD you can just groove right along with all day long. Lots of air guitar predicted.

My gripes are only the inclusion of 'C'Mon Everybody' (just never did it for me) and 'Rollin' Stone.' I would have liked liked 'Buttermilk Boy' and maybe one more track from "Eat It" or "Rock On." But that's just MY 2 cents worth.

Great starting point for beginers, great for reintroducing yourself to one of the 'lost' English blues/soul bands (Re: influence on the Black Crowes) or a great gift for an uncle (or your Dad) for raiding his record collection back in the day.

All of the songs on this collection are great--not a lemon in the bunch. But with only 52 minutes of music, it's an inadequate offering. There is so much else that could have been added including: Get Down To It, Honky Tonk Woman, I Can't Stand the Rain, 99 Pounds, Road Runner, Good Booze and Bad Women, Every Single Day, The Fixer, Anna and many others. Also, the 20 second introduction to I Don't Need No Doctor was chopped off.

With the release of both anthologies Millennium and Hot 'N Nasty, music fans should be able to restore Humble Pie to their rightful niche in rock history as one of the founding fathers of seventies hard rock. The tragedy is that Steve Marriott, until the day he died, wanted to be an r and b/soul singer instead. This explains the presence of the Blackberries; though they are luscious background singers (especially on "Black Coffee" their one cut included here), their straight rhythm and blues vocals often clashed with the Pie's harder rocking sound. Thankfully, the band's hard rock material, not the later blue-eyed soul Pie, is featured here: "Four Day Creep," "Hot 'N Nasty," the underrated "Big Black Dog," and "30 Days in the Hole" (complete with memorable rehearsal introduction) are all included here, plus a fantastic cover of the Muddy Waters classic "Rollin' Stone" that proves that hard rock and blues can and do indeed mix to perfection. "Shine On" is a great Peter Frampton cut, but his best number is of course "I Don't Need No Doctor," still a staple of his live performances today. It really rocks the Fillmore and proves that he and Steve enjoyed a special chemistry together that neither could fully replicate alone. Enjoy this tasty slice of pie with a cup of strong, fresh-brewed black coffee! Bottoms up!!!

This is a good sample of the classic metal group Humble Pie.
If you like this there are some other heavy groups similer to this with their own Millenium collection: Wishbone Ash, Savoy Brown, Cream, Steppenwolf, Deep Purple. If you enjoy heavy metal from the late 60's and early 70's, you will love these compilations. Humble Pie was a British band that tried to play as loud and hard as possible. They were very good and when the group featured Peter Frampton on lead guitar, they could give any heavy group of the time a run for their money (including Led Zeppelin).

Always heard of Humble Pie, saw their album covers but never remembered any songs from them. So I thought I would try this album out. Some songs on this album drag a little in my opinion like the first track - Natural Born Boogie. However - 30 days in the hole, black coffee, hot and nasty, and the third track absolutely rip. As for the last track - I don't need no doctor - this is the best song on the album and an incredible cover of this song. Steve Marriott owns this track and his vocals are awesome. Worth the purchase.

In my opinion this compilation of Humble Pies music covers it all.This English band has got to be one of the best to ever hit the airwaves in the early 70's.Rock,Blues and Soul all rolled into one.Sit back and enjoy,because your feet will be a stompin!

The Humble Pie CD is excellent. Just as it was described on the web. Thanks Amazon for helping me find the good old music of my era.

That's some kick-A** Classic CD of Humble Pie just one jam going into another good jam. This Classic Album is so good that when you listen to it it's already done.....They left some timeless masterpiece...