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How can one not long for the magical and unrepeatable musical and cultural period of the sixties and seventies? The years of Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Grand Funk, Black Sabbath, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and... Humble Pie!!! Have you ever heard of Steve Marriott and Humble Pie? If you don't know them, you've missed a big slice of hard rock - blues played with passion and a lot of grit!!
The group was formed by guitarist and singer Steve Marriott (ex-Small Faces), guitarist Peter Frampton, bassist Greg Ridley, and drummer Jeff Shirley. The quartet was founded at the end of the sixties and their vibrant sound, heavily influenced by blues, influenced many famous bands that followed. In 1969, they recorded two albums, "As Safe As Yesterday Is" and "Town And Country", the latter containing the single "The Sad Bag Of Shaky Jake". After another interesting and original work, namely the self-titled "Humble Pie", the band achieved success in 1971, with the gritty and famous "Rock On". The group had reached its maturity and was ready to compete with the great names of British hard rock. This album is for me the most beautiful and representative album of the quartet, even though the subsequent "Smokin" is not bad at all. "Rock On" features ten interesting and incredibly engaging songs, reaching the top with its famous singles. The album also featured saxophonist Bobby Keyes and backing vocalists P.P. Arnold, Doris Troy, and Claudia Lennear. The band's style improved, it is more convincing, and it is more incisive, a mighty hard rock with many references to blues and rhythm'n'blues.
The opener is the magnificent "Shine On" which begins with distorted arpeggios and then bursts into the powerful riffs and distinctive voice of Steve. The song is a mix between the Grand Funk of "We're An American" and Ten Years After, while the refrain is embellished with the ringing voices of the three vocalists. "Sour Grain" is an effective rock-blues that seems to anticipate the period of Deep Purple's "Stormbringer" with Coverdale and Hughes. Marriott's performance is, as usual, convincing and perfect, both vocally and guitar-wise. A true lesson in classic hard rock, A GENRE THAT IS STILL 1000 YEARS AHEAD of contemporary "music"!! "79th And Sunset" has a rock'n'roll sound with references to playful and energetic boogie-woogie, while the following "Stone Cold Fever" deserves a separate comment. This track is a classic of the band. The opening riff is very famous, while Steve's raspy voice makes the piece even more energetic and wild. The rhythm section is truly special and heavy, the melodic and dreamy solos oscillate between jazz and Santana's rock while the rest of the track is a crescendo of pure power and technique!! This is an example of the true rock that was around thirty years ago!! "Stone Cold Fever" is something exceptional, when I hear this track, I can't contain myself... and then people say rock is Ligabue, Antonacci, or Grignani!! The GREAT Pino Scotto would say his classic phrase: "It's mind-blowing!!"
"Rollin' Stone" is a Muddy Waters cover, revealing itself as another hit of the album and Humble Pie. This track influenced hits like "Like A Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan and "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" by Jimi Hendrix. "A Song For Jenny" is a delicate and pleasant ballad that Marriott dedicated to his first wife Jenny Rylance, while "The Light" and "Big George" are captivating blues pieces where Steve showcases his raspy voice. "Strange Days" is the longest song on the album, at six and a half minutes, with the vocalist giving us another great performance accompanied by an outstanding and exciting rhythm section. The final track is "Red Neck Jump", a quite enjoyable and relaxing honky tonk, with a cheerful melody reminiscent of "Daydream" by the Lovin’ Spoonful. With this song, Humble Pie concludes "Rock On", one of the great albums in the history of hard rock that should be listened to again and appreciated.
The band would continue its career with the devastating "Rockin' At The Fillmore", containing the hits "Four Day Creep" and "I Don’t Need No Doctor", while in 1972, the great "Smokin" with "Hot' N' Nasty", "C'mon Everybody", and "30 Days In The Hole" would be released. The subsequent works from the mid-seventies, such as "Eat It", "Thunderbox", and "Streets Rats", are the least appreciable albums in their discography. I strongly recommend listening to "Rock On", "Smokin", and "Rockin' At The Fillmore", the most memorable and exciting works of the legendary Humble Pie of Steve Marriott!!
TRACKLIST:
1) - Shine On
2) - Sour Grain
3) - 79th And Sunset
4) - Stone Cold Fever
5) - Rollin' Stone
6) - A Song For Jenny
7) - The Light
8) - Big George
9) - Strange Days
10) - Red Neck Jump
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Shine On (03:04)
Find it hard to see you in the dark
I looked around--you were beside me
Don't you realize it's hard to dream without your helping hard to guide me
This could be the one, if you will be my sun
Shine on!
'Cause I need someone around me when I'm down
Shine on! Shine on!
Shine on me! Shine on you! Let it shine on!
Shine on!
Look about and tell me what you see
Noise and dirt and plastic people
'Cause love is clean and ours has been a bluer shade of jade there than that's provided
Take me on a ride girl!
Right there by my side, Lord!
Shine on!
Shine on me! Shine on you! Let it shine on!
Shine on! Shine on!
All I have to do in let it shine on!
Shine on!
Shine on!
Shine on me! Shine on you! Let it shine on!
Shine on! Shine on!
All I have to do in let it shine on!
Shine on!
Let it shine on! Shine on me! Shine on! Shine on you!
Shine on! Shine on!
02 Sour Grain (02:42)
Well Shakey Jack is 103
Still strong as Hickory
Swigs of mountain dew was his release
I know his only fear was country vulgar cold and clear
Throughout the day he'd booze and keep the peace
He knows the best way to success
Is a proud fierce woman and a jar of whiskey
Someway however you can
It's all right by me
Well I'd stake my claim but my mule got lame
How lucky can a poor boy be
Don't you know that some bum
Stole my pig pet
Don't ask me how he gets in this fix
But I'd sure like to play some licksy game
'Cause I earn my pay and park it all on me
There's my brown dog barking
There's my landlord humming
Soh! Yerr! Someway whatever you name
Its all right by me
Well I'd cut my corn
But my leg got torn
How lucky can a poor boy be
Soh! Yerr! Someway whatever you name
Its all right by me
Well I'd cut my corn
How lucky can a poor boy be
03 79th and Sunset (03:02)
Well this yellow haired snake sits snug as a bug
Got more angle than a toby jug
Star lock hair pins, honey has faults
Shows her legs when opportunity knocks
Underneath her red sweater
She's a big-deal go-getter
There'll be some dramas inside your pajamas tonight
Yer there's red eyed Ruby with her built up hips
She's got nut crushing boobs and jam tart lips
Says her angle is connections downtown L.A.
When you know she's just a hustler from the boys' brigade
Well she's the same old number
She just looks like your mother
There be salutations on you humble frillations tonight
She's young. She's wealthy, she's far from healthy
She does it up in Beverly Hills
She wears a foam back bra, she drives her Daddy's car
Has appeal to bend your will
Oh! Nymphomanic nimrod, thigh-high boots
Beat the hungry minions she planned
Keep on trucking--think of all the fun you had
Well you know there's such a lot of good ways to be bad
04 Stone Cold Fever (04:09)
Oh! Stone cold fever, yerr!
So hard to see
I've got trouble in my back bone
Since that lonesome day
Oh! Yerr!
Tried too hard, I heard you speak
Somethings wrong--only me
I've been washed, as long as my hair
What do I do? If it ain't no dream nightmare
Yerr!
Yerr! One, Two, Yerr! One, Two
06 A Song for Jenny (02:36)
Where you goin' now, flower?
Scarf around your head
Walking in the morning mist
While I lay still in bed
When I woke up this morning
The sky was old and grey
I'm wonderin' how you think of me
When I'm so far away
There's icy fingers in the air
I feel them on my cheeks
It amazes me that I'm still here and you're still there
'Cause I ain't been home in weeks
Ain't been home in weeks (Ooh)
Ain't been home in weeks (Find my way home)
Ain't been home in weeks (Ooh, hey)
Ain't been home in weeks
Oh yeah (Come 'ere)
Ooh-ooh (Singin')
Oh yeah
Ooh-ooh
Well, my head needs air conditionin'
My eyes are plain and pearled
Today, it's Albuquerque, tomorrow
It's the world
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