Blue Matter – SAVOY BROWN***

Train To Nowhere/Tolling Bells/She’s Got A Ring In His Nose/Vicksburg Blues/Don’t Turn Me From Your Door/ May Be Wrong/Louisiana Blues/It Hurts Me Too

Blue Matter was the third album from the British blues rock group Savoy Brown which includes a live session recorded in June 1968 at Leicester College. They had a much better track record in the States than back home. (US:82)

“When I was a school kid in the sixties this was one of the most revered of the 'blues' albums that we used to listen to, which sounds as vibrant and exciting now as it did when originally released.”

“Blue Matter feels like a transitional effort. Struggling to find enough time, and good material, Kim and Co. eventually solved the problem by recording three of the cuts live. Still, there is enough meat here to make up a fairly decent effort.”

“Blue Matter has its share of memorable songs, but this is clearly an example where the band was still firmly in the beginning stages and weren't quite inventive enough at this point. Here they're basically copying more original artists such as Cream with their jams and songwriting.”

“Savoy Brown, a really fine concert band, lost a little bit in the translation to disc. This LP has a few truly memorable cuts and got lots of play back in the late 60s. Kim Simmonds played a very spirited lead guitar and the gritty gravely vocals of Chris Youlden defined the group. Louisiana Blues is a particular highlight of the disc.”

“A distinct improvement over Getting To The Point, this one is definitely more rock driven. Concerns about production on side two aside, the live side is much more interesting and harder than the comparatively pedestrian blues rock on side one.”

“Consistent, well played, heart felt blues and boogie, and there’s nothing wrong with that. On Blue Matter you get a mix of studio and live tracks, and indeed, the live tracks stand out. All three cuts are Savoy Brown at their best, because the sound is totally honest. Contrast that with some of the studio cuts, where production takes a slight edge off the authenticity. Kim Simmonds’ underrated guitar talent, keeps that from becoming too much of a distraction.”