Customer Reviews

Step Further

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A Step Furthur was Savoy Brown's fourth album, but the third (out of four) featuring the first classic lineup of Chris Youlden, Kim Simmonds, Lonesome Dave, Tone Stephens, Roger Earle, and sometimes Bob Hall (Yes, I know this was Stephen's second album with the band--stay with me here.) A Step Furthur was so titled because the band was trying to break out of the all-traditional blues mode; literally, takiing the music a step furthur. This means the addition of horns and percussion to give the studio tracks a more "orchestral" feel, while still retaining a blues/rock bite. The combination works particularly well in the instrumental "Waiting in the Bamboo Grove," which sounds like a wonderful outtake from an adventure or James Bond spy movie soundtrack. Great horn-guitar interplay! "Life's One-Act Play" is classic Youlden slow blues: ironic, yet burning. Few blues singers employed that combination of feelings (it makes one beg for his solo albums to be rereleased on CD). "Made Up My Mind" is wonderfully rollicking good-time fun, a great album starter. "I'm Tired," of course, is a masterpiece: great singing coupled with great lyrics and an absolutely irresistable opening hook from Kim. ("Where Am I?" is merely the song's percussion-driven rideout (i.e., conclusion). Finally, the Savoy Brown Boogie medley is, unfortunately, live, so we get great band energy pitted against truly awful sound quality. (Yes, that is an uncredited chunk of "Purple Haze" played by Kim in the medley's midsection.) Obviously a great cut live, but not quite as good on vinyl. (There is a better short version on the new Hellbound Train Live compilation.) Still, a very worthy addition to your collection. Make up your mind to acquire it today!

THIS IS THE BOOGIE. FROM SAVOY BROWN, THE BOOGIE! A Savoy Brown fan from the first, I have to say this is my favorite. Yes, Blue Matter (2nd album?) was stellar. Raw Sienna was great too. Street Corner Talking was terrific. But there's something about A Step Further. Cris Youlden's nasal brit voice. The lyrics, the studio engineering... this album is blue. Soulful. And I'll bet a dollar you've never heard it. The bluesy talent harkens back to what they really HAD in Blue Matter. This entire release is veiled in an ether of feeling. Not commercial... you are invited to an insiders-only performance of Savoy Brown. The Savoy Brown Boogie is classic gold. The studio cuts ('Boogie' is live) are some of the very best and truest offerings by Savoy Brown. Excellent guitar by Ken Simmonds and Lonesome Dave. If you missed out on this one, don't feel alone. Deprived maybe. Not everybody gets an invitation to Hernando's Hideaway. Pay special attention to the lead guitar playing seminar by Ken and the crowd mastery of Chris and the warm love of the fans. Well, now I guess the cat's out of the bag. Order it. "But, what else is there in life except to occaisonally enjoy yourself... COME ON NOW BOOGIE TOO! COME ON NOW BOOGIE TOO! COME ON NOW BOOGIE TOO! COME ON NOW BOOGIE TOO! UH! UH! UH! UH! UH! UH! UH! uh u u .."

The studio cuts are as good as I remember. Alas, "Savoy Brown Boogie", the cut I really bought this CD for, while it sounded splendid on the $100 dollar sound system I had back in my youth (haven't heard it for a good 20+ years before buying this CD), turns out to be a muddy and scratchy live recording on the system I have now. And, yet...the "Feels so Good" intro - it's still FEELS SO GOOOD to listen to, mud, scratches and all, even to a no more marijuana allowed ex-hippie grownup. Boogie!

A Step Further by Savoy Brown was released in August, 1969. I purchased this album, on vinyl, on its original release and do no think a year has gone by when I do not listen to A Step Further. I've owned this masterpiece on vinyl, 8-track, cassette, and CD. It is just that good! By the end of this review you might ask yourself, is this a Savoy Brown review? Let me explain.

Despite its many incarnations the Savoy Brown of our mind is the band fronted by singer, Chris Youlden, who is doing who knows what now a days. (I think he made a foray into cabaret singing, God forbid.) Of the 4 Savoy Brown releases featuring Mr. Youlden, A Step Further, is the best of the lot. He penned much of the music on all 4 albums.

The real gift of A Step Further is Youlden's bluesy, soulful voice. This is not to downplay the band's overall genius, Kim Simmonds and the late Lonesome Dave Peverett's guitar playing are exquisite, but without Youlden's vocals, we are only left with an exceptional blues and boogie band.

Just listen to the opening track, MADE UP MY MIND. What you are hearing is Chris Youlden in all his raw blues power, captured even on the album's cover, Youlden cigar in mouth, beat up top hat on head. A little later on one is treated to the classic British Blues tune, I'M TIRED. Youlden lyrically is telling is he is going to go his own way.

The follow up albums to A Step Further, Raw Sienna, and Looking In, live in the shadow of this much better album. Youlden left the band after Raw Sienna, and the classic Savoy Brown line-up, while still fronted by founder Kim Simmonds, melted away after Looking In and became Foghat.

If you need an introduction into the classic age of Savoy Brown look no further than A Step Further. If you can only own one Savoy Brown CD, then buy A Step Further.

a step further is kim, lonesome dave, and the lads puttin' down
pure english bules & boogie. savoy brown boogie recorded live
in detroit shows this bands talent. good listenin' chris youldens
voice and lyrics let you know he lived the blues.
this is the band that left kim to go on and form foghat.
lonesome dave passed in 2001 and will be missed but not forgotten

still bill
motown

The album is great and features the amazing voice and writing of Youlden and Kim Simmonds searing guitar. Life's One Act Play is a lost classic. I could easily hear Ray Charles doing this song and reinventing it for the masses. It's worth the price of admission alone.

There seemed to be a certain pattern back in the late 60's and early 70's that some of the more adventurous bands would cut an album with studio stuff on one side, and one big long jam on the other. Love did it with Da Capo. Usually these had mixed results.

In this case, Savoy Brown kept a continuity from side A to side B and it all went together very well. There is nothing earth shaking here, but all are good songs, blues based, boogie based, whatever. I still favor Street Corner Talking, but this one is still up there on my list.

I found a vinyl copy in a local record store in Las Vegas and burned it to CD. Not sure what to expect, I just remember seeing that album almost 40 years ago and being intrigued by the cover, especially with Chris Youlden sporting that big fat cigar.

All of the songs seemed vaguely familiar so I'm sure I've heard the album before. However, I never really listened to it until now and I like what I hear. Doesn't blow me away, but it sounds good and is something I'll keep the dust off of in my growing stack of CD's.

Great stuff and I highly recommend it for British blues aficionados, or anyone that is interested in that era.

Sometimes I listen to old records of 30 or 40 years ago to find out, to my dismay, that that the music is hopelessly dated, it just doesn't move me like it did back then.
I got this CD after nearly two decades after I last listened to the LP I bought back in 1970 (I still keep it), when I was still in my teens. I'm indeed pleased to confirm this one still boogies as hard as it did back then!
Savoy Brown's "A Step Further", just passed the implacable test of time and lives on!

this particular lineup produced a one of a kind sound. unique vocals,blistering guitar leads and a horn section to die for makes a step further a treasure from the past that should be on every music lovers list!

This is a must have CD for all Savoy Brown fans. Man, it's a must have period! Track 5 is worth the price of the CD alone. One wouldn't go wrong with the Looking In CD either.