Customer Reviews

Raw Sienna

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Raw Sienna is an important album in that it represents the end of the road for the Chris Youlden blues era and foreshadows the more straight-forward rock era to begin with Looking In. The heroin-for-lunch-bunch loved this album despite the message of moderation set forth in Needle and Spoon. Guess the second part of that song was the part they tuned out. I was fourteen when I first heard the album and side 1 was a little rough for me despite my being partial to a good horn section. It is side 2 that really stands out. Every song is memorable. Listen to the emotion screaming out in the clotted voice of Chris Youlden on I'm Crying, to the mellow seduction of Stay While the Night is Young, and to the instrumental prowess on display on Is That So? When I Was a Young Boy forcefully expresses the regrets and shoulda, coulda, wouldas of many a man. Drummers will appreciate the understated percussion on this side and instrumental aficionados will be spellbound by Is That So? If you own only one Savoy Brown album, that album should be Raw Sienna.

If you like your Blues with a touch of Boogie, and full of intelligent and creative arrangements, then this is the record for you. There is not a bad cut on this album. Unfortunately, this was the last record which the talented vocalist Chris Youlden would perform on with Savoy Brown. However, Youlden and Savoy Brown's outstanding guitarist Kim Simmonds made the most of it. The songs on Raw Sienna vary from a couple of snappy Jazz instrumentals, to some great Blues Boogie, and even include a couple of nice and easy bluesy ballads. The band plays at a consistently high caliber througout the set. Kim Simmonds guitar playing is both entertaining and imaginative, while Youlden shows why he was considered one of the premier vocalists of the British Blues scene. Many future guitarists learned as much from listening to the vastly underated Simmonds, as they did from other British Blues players such as Eric Clapton, Alvin Lee, etc. From the high energy "Needle and Spoon," to the soulful ballad "I'm Crying," through the raucous horn enhanced instrumental "Mister Hare," the listener will be rewarded with an immensely enjoyable musical experience. A must have for any serious record collector, Raw Sienna is one of those "minor masterpieces" which should have garnered more attention than it did at the time. Fortunately for the public it still sells well enough to be stocked in any decent music store. If you don't like this record then you don't like music; period. Do yourself a favor and "get down" with Brown.

With the release of their fifth album, Savoy Brown starts hitting their stride. Raw Sienna is the first of three masterpieces in a row for Kim Simmonds and company, as well as Chris Youlden's finest hour with the band. (So fine, in fact, that he would leave the band soon after for his own solo career.) He and Kim would continue their experiments, begun on the previous album A Step Furthur, with horns and orchestration, and thus continue to expand the vocabulary of blues/rock. Some tracks, such as "Needle and Spoon," swing as well as any produced by jazzman Dave Brubeck, with intense lyrics that undercut the nonstop groove with pain. (Does anyone out there really think this is a prodrug song? Listen again: "You married to H, you know you married for life!") "Hard Way to Go" and "A Little More Wine" would deservedly become concert staples, while "Stay While the Night is Young" finds Youlden at his most romantic and tender. Kim was also beginning to compose some of the most eloquent instrumentals in rock: "That Same Feelin'" continues the 1960's-adventure-movie-soundtrack feel of "Waiting in the Bamboo Grove" from A Step Furthur, while "Is That So" foreshadows the deep introspection of Savoy's next masterpiece, Looking In. Most bands would be lucky to have one album half as good as Raw Sienna; the fact that Savoy Brown climbed so many peaks in their illustrious career shows the desire and the determination of leader Kim Simmonds to constantly reinvent and challange both himself and his fellow musicians.

This album represents the British blues sound in archetypical fashion. Kim Simmonds shows here why he is one of the all time great fretmasters, particularly on cuts like the instrumental 'Master Hare'. As a player, it took me a year to figure out that one tune and wore out my album copy. The disturbingly brilliant 'Needle and Spoon' is seminal in content and sound for this band. And it more than hints at the unfortunate demise of Youlden. Bandleader Simmonds and his Savoy Brown have been doing its thing for some 35 years. The live show Savoy Brown puts on is tremendous. Savoy Brown should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Maybe when Kim gives it all up. I hope not. 'Raw Sienna' is Savoy Brown's most satisfying album.

At a time when rock artists were expanding their vision of rock to include the best elements of Jazz, blues, soul, latino and boogie; Savoy Brown released their own version of rock "fusion" called Raw Sienna. A truly unique blend of the sounds that set the stage for the future of rock. Listening to the album's first track - "Hard Way to Go", you hear the latin influence familiar to Santana. The next song - "Same Old Feeling" - Kim Simmonds guitar along with Chris Youldons vocals will remind you of Hendrix. "Needle and Spoon" - one the the bands very best songs - pounds you through the heroin experience and the last track on the first side of the album "A Little More Wine", will make Gratefull Dead fans smile.

Raw Sienna begins to "mellow out" with "Stay While the Night is Young". Kim Simmond's work on "Is That So?" combines the best elements of blues/jazz guitar with the crispness he is now famous for. Raw Sienna's final song, "While I Was A Young Boy",is lead singer/song writer Youldon's last --- and what a way to say good bye.

I believe I wrote this in 1999 and I am proud to say nothing has changed. It is now 2010 and I still love this album and love Savoy Brown

I bought this album when it was first released in '69, probably because of the spacey cover. It was the sixties after all. No sooner did I pop it on my turntable than I discovered it is an extraordinary, awesome blues masterpiece. Every song is just soooo good. Back in the sixties, there were musical enhancement technologies <g> that I just don't use any more. So it was a real delight to rediscover this old friend, and to learn that the music sounds just as good, if not better than ever. This is one album that passes the test of time. The baritone voice of Chris Youlden is at its best. Kim Simmond's guitar licks are priceless. (I'm finally, after all these years, making some progress on learning them.) If you like Clapton or BB King, or John Mayall, or Peter Green or Canned Heat , then you will LOVE this album.

I don't know where parismcgrath has been hiding (see other reviews) but this is an English band and they became Foghat AFTER being Savoy Brown, but all that aside, this is an absolute must in any collection. A finely wrought opus of the highest order. Too many good tracks to mention. The beauty of it is that it is timeless. It could have been recorded at any time and it would still be brilliant. Buy it!!

THE classic blues/rock recording. The menu leaves nothing to be desired. Each cut is a polished stone that is easily savored again and again. Every tune is so good, it's hard too single one out! Much seems to be made of this band's connection to later bands, but I can find no common monikers. I do know this much: Youldon accepts any and all emails, and responds within days. Now that's pretty cool. This like this recording.

The guys at the loading dock downtown have been urging me to listen to this cd since I was ten. Finally I did and I was not disappointed. I didn't even know what "blues" were. I kept thinking "Blues Clues". Imagine dark, soft, your lover, fine wine, good cough syrup, great smoke; imagine forever. No recording will take you there like this one will. John 10:16. This cd is 16 years older than me, and though clearly ancient, it's immeasurably urgent. The cd you would take with you if "Lost". This stuff will walk with you forever. I almost can't believe it. Thanks you guys at the loading dock. Really thanks.

" Listen Up " It's a matter of fact that Savoy Brown's Raw Sienna is a Great album. Just look at all the five star ratings. There is no way that we can all be wrong. If your a Savoy Brown fan who does'nt have this in your collection than shame on you. Buy it quickly in order to redeem yourself. If your new to Savoy Brown than buy it quickly in order to enlighten yourself and benefit from the sounds of this kick in the [rear] album!! Great guitars,Great drumming,Great vocals,Great horns,Great percussions. " Get The Picture " now " Get The Album " at Amazon. An unbelievable price!! Engage and Enjoy!!