Customer Reviews

Hellbound Train

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Had the great fortune to see the latest version of Savoy Brown last night in Folsom CA. and they played Hellbound Train despite the absence of a keyboard player. That performance brought back memories of the Album itself which I've been playing all morning. Although there are a good half dozen Savoy Brown albums worth owning, Hellbound Train has got to be the best and most consistent of the lot. Starting with Doin Fine the pace never lets up. Do yourself a service and grab hold of this piece of Rock/Blues/Boogie and enjoy.

I bought this CD to replace my vinyl copy because I love the music but when the last song (Hellbound Train) was re-edited into a cop out fade out ending which shortened the song by almost 2 minutes I was dissapointed. Whoever did this did't get what it was all about. Aside from this, it is a good album but not as good as the original. I wish they would have faithfully reproduced this album.

First... WOW. A couple of Kim Simmonds classics together, remastered no less! Some nice liner notes too... although author unknown. You know about Hellbound Train, with the title track and Lost & Lonely Child headlining a short (under 35 min) but impressive release. It's getting your hands on a remastered Wire Fire that's the treat. Since the list of songs from that LP is missing here, and since it's WRONG on the CD itself, here it is;
08. Put Your Hands Together 4:57
09. Stranger Blues (not "Strangest Blues" as listed on the package) 3:30
10. Here Comes the Music 5:50
11. Ooh What a Feeling (title missing altogether on the cd package) 6:54
12. Hero to Zero 5:14
13. Deep Water 4:30
14. Can't Get On 4:41
15. Born Into Pain 6:30

Length wise, the double-cd is 76:25.

The cuts off of Wire Fire are incredibly hot; deserving of the front cover photo by Buddy Rosenberg & Bob Levy. If you are lucky enough to find the LP (this is why God made ebay), the back cover is a smokin' amp next to the guitar player stand-in (who ever Warner is?).
Having only heard the music off a beat up 1975 stereophonic London LP release, this remastered release was A GIFT. Just the final song Born Into Pain will put you into tears of joy. But throw in Stranger Blues, Hero to Zero, and Deep Water, and you have one heck of an album.
Band members were; Kim Simmonds (lead guitar), Paul Raymond (keyboards, guitar, vocals), Andy Silvester (bass), and Tommy Farnell filling in for the much-missed Dave Bidwell (drums).
Get this double cd, or the standalone Wire Fire. Most these songs you can't get off "greatest hit" type collections, and you'll be amazed at what you've been missing.
4.5 stars... the editing has some blank spots, the packaging is a touch shabby, a couple weak songs surrounded by blues classics.
If you can still catch Kim live, do yourself a favor. I seen him every year in Colorado Springs a while back, and recently met a very good friend of his in Chicago. Kim signed a giant "Jack the Toad" poster I had drawn by a local artist, and it's one of my favorite pieces of art in my music room. God Bless Kim Simmonds & all the music he's put out!

By 1972, Savoy Brown had existed as a band for half a dozen years. They had released several excellent albums, including three undisputed masterpieces in a row: Raw Sienna, Looking In, and Street Corner Talking. Starting with this album, the magic begins to fade, almost imperceptibly at first. Like many musicians, Kim and Co. were doubtless listening to the radio, tuned in to the most popular bands of the time. At the start of the seventies, Elton John and the new singer/songwriter movement held sway over the airwaves. To make a long story short, Savoy Brown incorporated some of these low-key, introspective grooves into the songs that make up Hellbound Train. In fact, close your eyes and listen to "Troubled by These Days and Times," and you would swear that the Rocket Man himself, not Dave Walker, was warbling the vocals. "Doin' Fine," the jaunty little ditty that opens the set, and the more thoughtful "Lost and Lonely Child" would fit right in on Elton's Honky Chateau album. However, Kim Simmonds was starting to lose touch with his writing muse, and while the first six cuts on the album are pleasant, even likeable, they are not strong enough to stand on their own merit. Then comes the unforgettable title track. Starting slow, the drums setting up the sound and motion of train wheels, the bass churning along, gathering speed, then comes the vocal. Dave Walker lets the passion build gradually, then falls back as the song speeds along. Then outstanding solos by organist Paul Raymond and Kim's fabulous guitar figures push the train into overdrive. Abruptly, the track fades out. In the original version, the song was suddenly cut off, the shock of arriving in hell. Why the change? One guess (and this is only a guess): the record company was probably getting too many CD's returned because the consumer thought they were defective and wondered what happened to the rest of the song! Thus, the fadeout. Overall, a decent effort, but not among the band's best. The three albums named above are where the would-be Savoy Brown fan should start his collection.

Ok, this was my very first SB album. I purchased it soon after the original release. It wasn't until later that I found their earlier work such as Street Corner Talking (my favorite). HT is a perennial LP and a must-have for any fan of early British Blues-rock. The album is a little dark (they way it was intended). Put it on, play it, and play it again.

Like other reviewers I rate Savoy Brown's "Hellbound Train" very highly. It's not quite as great as "Raw Sienna" for example but compared to just about anything else, that's a small complaint. If you're into Hendrix, Cream, and early Zep, this is for you. Several reviewers noted that the original ending to the title track, "Hellbound Train", is faded out on the CD version instead of the original dead stop ending on the original LP. That original ending is available on the "Savoy Brown Millenium Collection" that is widely available. What I love about this album is that the bass is so upfront on the songs. Electric guitar lovers will feast on this album. While the title track is very heavy blues rock,almost proto heavy metal, several songs are far more upbeat and/or bluesy. "Doin' Fine" and "I'll Make Everything Alright" are also great blues boogie tunes excellent for dancing to. The real bonus to me is the organ on most of the songs is classic Hammond B-3 style similar to Steve Winwood's early work. Anyone interested in playing "classic rock" live in a bar type setting should check this album out for inspirations. Savoy Brown ranks easily with the best Free, Spooky Tooth, Humble Pie, Faces, etc. Yeah this is English white boy derivative blues but it's just too good. They deserve a wider audience, even now, and it would be so great if their early albums could be given the upgraded reissue treatment.

It wasn't until years later that I heard Kim Simmonds explain that Hellbound Train was his anti-war ode to Viet Nam. It is a haunting, spellbinding journey that builds to a climax that leaves you stunned. The guitar work is incredible and Kim Simmonds is one of the most underrated guitar players and song writers I ever heard. He is also a very gracious and approachable person if you ever get the chance to talk to him. Savoy Brown is one of the cornerstone British blues groups of all time. I like the jazzy sound of some of their songs which is very reminiscent of Alvin Lee and Ten Years After. Hellbound Train is my favorite of all their albums. They are still touring so try to see them if you can.

One of the better listening albums of all time. To me, the easier the sound, the better. And it doesn't get much better than this. Kim Simmonds was once compared to Clapton. Not a fair comparison at all. Apples and oranges. No one does it like Clapton but Kim has a style that fits this band to a tee, especially this album. Without him, there's no Savoy. So pop in the disc and ENJOY!!!!

this is a classic blues album. there is not one stone left unturned by savoy brown on this one. from the fun-time opening track "DOIN' FINE" to the hard driving finale "HELLBOUND TRAIN" savoy brown takes you on the most enjoyable ride to hell you'll ever have.

I've remembered this music since it's release as an album. The music gets my heart pounding and takes me back to my college days when life was much simpler without pagers, cell phones, etc. Turn up the volume and go back in time!