Tear Gas - Piggy Go Getter (1970 uk, excellent progressive rock with psych folk shades, original Vinyl release)

Originally known as Mustard. Their first vocalist Andy Mulvey had previously been with The Poets. However, he was soon replaced by David Batchelor and around the same time Gilson Lavis (their original drummer, who later played with Squeeze) was replaced by Richard Monro from Ritchie Blackmore's Mandrake Root.

This line-up recorded Piggy Go Getter, which made little impact. In 1970 Hugh McKenna took over Batchelor's vocal role and Ted McKenna (ex-Dream Police) relieved Monro on drums. They recorded a second album and tried to establish themselves on the underground scene but were going nowhere with their brand of tired boogie heavy rock, until they teamed up with Alex Harvey in August 1972 to become The Sensational Alex Harvey Band.

Tracks
1. Lost Awakening - 3:46
2. Your Woman's Gone and Left You - 2:37
3. Night Girl (D. Batchelor, Z. Cleminson, C. Glen) - 6:11
4. Nothing Can Change Your Mind - 3:51
5. Living For Today - 3:15
6. Big House - 3:55
7. Mirrors of Sorrow (D. Batchelor, Z. Cleminson, C. Glen) - 3:09
8. Look What Else Is Happening (D. Batchelor, Z. Cleminson, C. Glen) - 5:32
9. I'm Fallin' Far Behind (D. Batchelor, Z. Cleminson, R. Monro) - 3:12
10.Witches Come Today - 3:34
All compositions by David Batchelor and Zal Cleminson unless otherwise stated.

Tear Gas
*David Batchelor - Lead vocals
*Zal Cleminson - Guitar
*Richard Monro - Drums
*Eddie Campbell - Keyboards
*Chris Glen - Bass

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Savoy Brown - Raw Sienna / Looking In (1969-70 uk, great hard blues rock, 2005 BGO remaster)

The "Raw Sienna" a high-water mark by the band, finds them softening their rougher edges and stretching out into jazz territory, yet still retaining a blues foundation. There's not a bad cut here, with enough variety (bottleneck slide, acoustic guitar, horns, and strings) to warrant frequent late-night listenings. "A Hard Way to Go," "Needle and Spoon," and "Stay While the Night Is Young" are especially strong, as are two instrumental numbers.

Unfortunately, leader Kim Simmonds lost his greatest asset when vocalist Chris Youlden quit for an ill-fated solo career after this recording. Youlden had one of the most distinctive voices in British blues, and Savoy would never fully recover from his exit.
by Peter Kurtz

Savoy Brown's blues-rock sound takes on a much more defined feel on 1970's Looking In and is one of this band's best efforts. Kim Simmonds is utterly bewildering on guitar, while Lonesome Dave Peverett does a fine job taking over lead singing duties from Chris Youlden who left halfway through the year. But it's the captivating arrangements and alluring ease of the music that makes this a superb listen.

The pleading strain transformed through Simmonds' guitar on "Money Can't Save Your Soul" is mud-thick with raw blues, and the comfort of "Sunday Night" is extremely smooth and laid back. "Take It Easy" sounds like it could have been a B.B. King tune as it's doused with relaxed guitar fingering. The entire album is saturated with a simple, British blues sound but the pace and the marbled strands of bubbly instrumental perkiness fill it with life.

Even the Yardbirds-flavored "Leaving Again" is appealing with its naive hooks, capped off with a heart-stopping guitar solo. This album along with Street Corner Talking best exemplify Savoy Brown's tranquilizing style.
by Mike DeGagne

Tracks
1. A Hard Way to Go (Youlden) - 2:21
2. That Same Feelin' (Simmonds) - 3:40
3. Master Hare (Simmonds) - 4:52
4. Needle and Spoon (Youlden) - 3:20
5. A Little More Wine (Youlden) - 4:55
6. I'm Crying (Youlden) - 4:19
7. Stay While the Night Is Young (Youlden) - 3:10
8. Is That So (Simmonds) - 7:43
9. When I Was a Young Boy (Youlden) - 3:05
10.Gypsy (Simmonds) - 1:00
11.Poor Girl (Stevens) - 4:08
12.Money Can't Save Your Soul (Peverett, Simmonds) - 5:32
13.Sunday Night (Simmonds) - 5:24
14.Looking In (Peverett, Simmonds) - 5:19
15.Take It Easy (Peverett, Simmonds) - 5:44
16.Sitting an' Thinking (Simmonds) - 2:53
17.Leavin' Again (Peverett, Simmonds) - 8:30
18.Romanoff (Simmonds) - 1:04

Savoy Brown
1969 Raw Sienna
*Chris Youlden - Vocals
*Kim Simmonds - Guitars
*Bob Hall - Piano
*Roger Earl - Drums
*Tony Stevens - Bass
*"Lonesome" Dave Peverett - Guitars
1970 Looking In
*Kim Simmonds - Guitar, Piano
*Lonesome Dave Peverett - Vocals, Guitar
*Roger Earl - Drums
*Tony Stevens - Bass
Guest Musician
*Owen Finnegan - Congas

1967-68  Savoy Brown - Shake Down / Getting To The Point 

1974  Savoy Brown - Boogie Brothers

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