Reviewer Dr. Wesley Britton: Dr. Britton is the author of four non-fiction books on espionage in literature and the media. Starting in fall 2015, his new six-book science fiction series, The Beta-Earth Chronicles, debuted via BearManor Media.
In 2018, Britton self-published the seventh book in the Chronicles, Alpha Tales 2044, a collection of short stories, many of which first appeared at a number of online venues.
For seven years, he was co-host of online radio’s Dave White Presents where he contributed interviews with a host of entertainment insiders. Before his retirement in 2016, Dr. Britton taught English at Harrisburg Area Community College. Learn more about Dr. Britton at his WEBSITE
Musician: Savoy Brown
Audio CD (November 8, 2011)
Label: RUF RECORDS
ASIN: B005DYOJIM
Click Here To Purchase Voodoo Moon
Musician: Savoy Brown
Audio CD (November 8, 2011)
Label: RUF RECORDS
ASIN: B005DYOJIM
It wasn’t until their seventh studio album, Street Corner Talking (1971), that I discovered the British blues of Savoy Brown. Before and after this nugget, they were never high-fliers on the U.S. charts, but “Tell Mama” hooked me--and I wasn’t alone. Most folks I knew had Looking In or Raw Sienna or Street Corner Talking in their collections and these albums all sounded different. The reasons were obvious for those who looked at the credits on the covers. They were never the same.
While rooted in American
blues, the continual line-up changes in Savoy Brown has meant the
fluid guitar work of Kim Simmonds has been the only constant in the
group. 45 years ago their first album, Shake Down, was a collection
of covers of songs by the likes of Willie Dixon and John Lee Hooker;
celebrating their anniversary, the new incarnation of Savoy Brown
takes the music full circle. However, the lyrics demonstrate this
band has its own blues to sing.
The nine original tracks on Voodoo Moon feature Simmonds on electric guitar, Joe Whiting (vocals/sax), Pat DeSalvo (bass), and Garnet Grimm (drums). While it’s not surprising anymore to hear a new release was largely recorded in a home studio, in this case Simmonds’ White Cottage Studio in upstate New York, it’s more than appropriate Voodoo Moon was shaped by a stripped-down band in very basic surroundings. Likewise, it’s more than appropriate Voodoo Moon was released by RUF Records—Moon is rough alright. It’s also raw and ragged in the best senses of those terms—just the way the electric blues should be.
For example, the set opens
with the rough-edged shuffle, “Shockwaves,” followed by the more
melodic “Natural Man” in which Whiting asks to be taken
just as he is. The lyrics describe a man who ain’t got no Mojo, is
no rolling stone, isn’t running with the devil, and is not bad to
the bone. Perhaps it’s not fair to compare one blues outfit with
their peers, but this collection makes obvious nods to their
contemporaries and influences. For example, the group rocks out on
“She's Got the Heat” evoking the slide work of folks like Johnny
Winter. “Look at the Sun” and the instrumental “24/7” are
reminiscent of the sax sections of John Mayall’s early
Bluesbreakers. It’s easy to see why “Voodoo Moon” is the title
track as it’s a rocker that reminds one, this reviewer at least, of
another British blues band of the ‘60s called Savoy Brown.
Then there’s the very basic blues of “Too Much Money” (ain’t no such thing, you know), the haunting “Round and Round,” and the albums finale, “Meet the Blues Head On.” The last track is almost the one song that doesn’t fit the flow as it pushes the blues base into a ‘70s arena rock anthem—gotta stand up and be strong to meet the blues. O.K.—maybe the lyrics are the very best way to end a collection that’s almost a blues primer.
And lovers of the blues are the folks who this album was made for. You don’t need to know the name Savoy Brown or have heard a single note from their past releases to enjoy this blues fest. I’ll admit the vocals are competent but not likely to garner much interest from Grammy folks. As always, there’s a guy on guitar who has never gotten his full due but keeps true to his roots and is well worth new appreciation. His name is Simmonds, Kim Simmonds. Sho nuff—tell mama it’s time to turn up the heat again.
Click Here To Purchase Voodoo Moon