SAVOY BROWN BLUES BAND/SHAKE DOWN LK 4883 (-67) UK MONO

  Savoy Brown's debute album under a slightly different name with a setting consisting of Kim Simmonds and Martin Stone on guitars , basist Ray Chappell, drummer Leo Mannings and singer Brice Portius. Bob Hall (Groundhogs) plays piano on three tracks. Produced by legendary blues producer Mike Vernon and engineered by well known studio man Gus Dudgeon. It didn't sell a lot and Kim Simmonds soon dissolved the band, shortened the name and gathered a new line-up for the follow-up   https://monolover.blogspot.com/2012/04/savoy-browngetting-to-point-lk-4935-68.html . Reading reviews on this first trial on the net it's always compared to their later stuff and always coming out short. I think that's unfair. It is a debute and though under a similar name it is from a different band. Listening to this mono now I hear a heavy and dirty collection of blues covers, well performed with very good guitars. Sometimes slightly reminding of the Bluesbreakers classic. Brice Portius vocals might sound a little too schooled and neat for the blues, but he is a good singer and it kinda works. There's even a garage quality here showing much of it probably was recorded live in the studio with just few overdubs. I like it a lot and if you're not too stuck in the band's later fashions you might too. Sixties issues also in Japan and New Zealand. EU 1990 remastered CD on Deram (820 921-2). Premiere UK had ridged label as shown here in a laminated cover.  (SÄVX*)