Savoy Brown - Hellbound Train (Bluesrock UK 1972)

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Source: Japan SHM-CD Remaster

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.

Hellbound Train begins slow and runs that way with but a minor speed change for the first 5 plus minutes, but it allows all the band members to enjoy the spotlight without losing any of the quality of the song. With the late Dave Bidwell’s symbols keeping the time we get a heavy dose of Paul Raymond’s organ. Paul’s biggest claim to fame came after he left the band and joined UFO. 

Dave Walker voice fits in so well with the mood and tone of the song during this slow time and helps build the song up. Walker’s voice picks up around the 5:30 mark and the band members follow suit. 

The biggest surprise is for a song from the early 70’s we get way past the 6 minute mark and you haven’t heard from Kim Simmonds but that is soon to change. 

For the rest of the song Kim leads the band through this guitar blazing jam session that comes to a MAJOR halting end that will catch you off guard the first time that you hear the song. But by far makes up the final reason for why it’s a ride on the Hellbound Train that takes you to your abrupt ending in hell.

Personnel
★ Kim Simmonds – guitar, harmonica, vocals
★ Paul Raymond – guitar, keyboards, vocals
★ Andy Silvester – bass
★ Dave Walker – vocals
★ Dave Bidwell – drums

01. "Doin' Fine" (Andy Silvester, Kim Simmonds) – 2:46
02. "Lost and Lonely Child" (Simmonds) – 6:00
03. "I'll Make Everything Alright" (Simmonds) – 3:18
04. "Troubled by these Days and Times" (Paul Raymond) – 5:43
05. "If I Could See an End" (Raymond, Simmonds) – 2:54
06. "It'll Make You Happy" (Simmonds) – 3:26
07. "Hellbound Train" (Silvester, Simmonds) – 9:07

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