2018 – Panache Records
By Phillip Smith;
Aug. 11, 2018
Savoy
Brown’s latest album, You
Should Have Been There! is a colossal dose of live electric blues. Originally
recorded in February of 2003 at The Yale in Vancouver, this album
features front-man Kim Simmonds joined by guitarist David Malachowski,
bassist Gerry Sorrentino, and drummer Dennis Cotton. Loaded with lots of extended jams, this delightful
six-pack of songs gives a solid hours’ worth of listening.
The record opens with some serious hard-driving blues
with “When it Rains” off the 2003 Strange
Dreams album. Simmonds then dovetails “Where Has Your Heart Gone?” in
quite nicely for an exquisite eleven and a half minutes of intoxicating slow
jam and guitar play. From one of my
favorite Savoy Brown albums, 1970’s Looking
In, we hear the funky blues of “Poor Girl” which spins the tale of a young
woman who’s fled the country life to be surrounded by the bright lights of the
big city which chews her up and eventually spits her out. I love how Simmonds lets loose on
guitar with this one. It’s an absolutely
searing performance. You Should Have Been
There! closes with the ominous 1972 “Hellbound Train” which boasts an
amazing guitar solo from Malachowski.
The energy of this performance certainly transcends
through to the recording. You should have been there. I should have been there. We all should have been there.
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Links
below for PhillyCheeze reviews for Savoy Brown / Kim Simmonds :
Kim
Simmonds and Savoy Brown - Goin’ to the Delta
Kim
Simmonds and Savoy Brown - The Devil to Pay
Kim
Simmonds - Jazzin’ on the Blues
Savoy
Brown - Witchy Feelin’
