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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Make Up Your Mind To Buy This Album!!!, September 18, 2003
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!
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Heart and Soul of Savoy Brown., April 23, 1999
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 .."
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Savoy Brown At Its Zenith, July 19, 2006
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.
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