Hellbound Train

• Artist: Savoy Brown
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1972 02
• Total Time: 33:14
• Type: Live
• Genre: Rock

Review

Comprising the same lineup as Street Corner Talking, Savoy Brown released Hellbound Train a year later. For this effort, Kim Simmonds' guitar theatrics are toned down a bit and the rest of the band seems to be a little less vivid and passionate with their music. The songs are still draped with Savoy Brown's sleek, bluesy feel, but the deep-rooted blues essence that so easily emerged from their last album doesn't rise as high throughout Hellbound Train's tracks. The title cut is most definitely the strongest, with Dave Walker, Simmonds, and Paul Raymond sounding tighter than on any other song, and from a wider perspective, Andy Silvester's bass playing is easily Hellbound's most complimenting asset. On tracks like "Lost and Lonely Child," "Doin' Fine," and "If I Could See an End," the lifeblood of the band doesn't quite surge into the music as it did before, and the tracks become only average-sounding blues efforts. Because of Savoy Brown's depth of talent, this rather nonchalant approach doesn't make Hellbound Train a "bad" album by any means -- it just fails to equal the potency of its predecessor. But there is a noticeable difference in the albums that followed this one, as the band and especially Simmonds himself was beginning to show signs of fatigue, and a significant decline in the group's overall sound was rapidly becoming apparent. ~ Mike DeGagne, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Doin' Fine	Andy Silvester, Kim Simmonds	Savoy Brown	(2:46)
Lost and Lonely Child	Kim Simmonds	Savoy Brown	(6:00)
I'll Make Everything Alright	Kim Simmonds	Savoy Brown	(3:18)
Troubled by These Days and Times	Paul Raymond	Savoy Brown	(5:43)
If I Could See an End	Paul Raymond, Kim Simmonds	Savoy Brown	(2:54)
It'll Make You Happy	Kim Simmonds	Savoy Brown	(3:26)
Hellbound Train	Andy Silvester, Kim Simmonds	Savoy Brown	(9:07)

Credits

Roy Thomas Baker (Engineer), Dave Bidwell (Drums), Savoy Brown (Main Performer), Anthony Hawkins (Remastering), Paul Raymond (Guitar), Paul Raymond (Keyboards), Paul Raymond (Vocals), Andy Silvester (Bass), Kim Simmonds (Guitar), Kim Simmonds (Harmonica), Neil Slaven (Producer), Dave Walker (Bass), Dave Walker (Vocals), John Tracy (Liner Notes), John Tracy (Coordination), John Tracy (Research), David Anstey (Design), David Anstey (Cover Design)