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"…Jam Tart Lips…"
Humble Pie's ‘rawk’ sound
properly emerged with their self-titled July 1970 debut album for Herb Albert’s
A&M Records - “Humble Pie”. Step two came with the appropriately titled
“Rock On” in March of the following year only to be hammered home with the
force of a mallet in November 1971 when they joined the pantheon of huge Rock
bands with their storming “Performance – Rockin’ The Fillmore” double live
album – the record that broke them everywhere.
Although both the studio
albums “Humble Pie” and “Rock On” laid the foundations for their rightly
praised live performances – they’re unfairly forgotten now in the mists of
receding time. And for such a huge band – their CD reissues from this Classic
Rock period seem to be all based overseas – namely Japan.
"Rock On" was
originally UK released on A&M Records AMLS 2013 in March 1971 (May 1971 in
the USA on A&M Records SP 4301) – their fourth studio album and the British
band's first charting in the USA eventually peaking at a decidedly humble
No.118. "Rock On" had a straightforward 10-track CD reissue in the
USA on A&M/Rebound 314 520 240-2 (Barcode 731452024022) in the Nineties –
yet I'd argue that the stunning 24-bit Digital Remaster carried out in Japan in
2007 (and used ever since) is a whole different sonic ballgame.
But in 2018 - I calculate
there are now no less four Japanese release dates for SHM-CD reissues – and I’d
like to sort out what’s what. "Rock On" by HUMBLE PIE first appeared
14 February 2007 in Japan on Universal/A&M UICY-93220 (Barcode 4988005459749)
in a 5" Mini Album Sleeve Repro – part of their 'Paper Sleeve Collection'
Series. Like its 1970 "Humble Pie" predecessor (the first in that
series) - "Rock On" aped the original UK gatefold sleeve artwork in
all its cops-on-motorbikes gatefold glory. It too came with a Japanese worded
booklet (dated 25 Dec 2006) and an outer OBI strip (the matt gatefold). Perhaps
most importantly though - it had a new 2007 24-bit Remaster. But - as is the
habit in Japan with these 'supposed' limited editions – they seem to get
reissued every two or three years and that’s what’s happened here.
22 April 2009 saw the second
Japanese SHM-CD version on Universal/A&M UICY-94067 (Barcode 4988005555168
that also used the 2007 remaster (another paper-sleeve series).
Third came 22 December 2010
using the 2007 Remaster – a SHM-CD in a jewel case on Universal/A&M
UICY-22094 (Barcode 4988005638960). There were only four titles in this series
-“Humble Pie”, “Rock On”, “Performance” and “Smokin’”.
And now this fourth outing – "Rock On" by HUMBLE PIE reissued 23 November 2016 on Universal/A&M Records
UICY-77978 (Barcode 4988031188118) – the latest version again using that
HIDEAKI NISHIMURA Remaster from 2007). If you cut and paste any of the above
barcodes into Amazon’s search bar – you will get the issue you want (check them
because prices can fluctuate wildly – and not in a good way).
A SHM-CD doesn't require a
special CD player to play it on (compatible on all) nor does it need audiophile
kit to hear the benefits. It's a new form of the format that picks up the
nuances of the transfer better (top quality make). I own about 25 of them and
they're uniformly superb. Let's get to the music (38:48 minutes):
1. Shine On [Side 1]
2. Sour Grain
3. 79th And Sunset
4. Stone Cold Fever
5. Rolling Stone
6. A Song For Jenny [Side 2]
7. The Light
8. Big George
9. Strange Days
10. Red Neck Jump
HUMBLE PIE was:
STEVE MARRIOTT – Guitars,
Harmonica and Lead Vocals
PETER FRAMPTON – Guitars,
Keyboards and Lead Vocals
GREG RIDLEY – Bass, Guitar
and Lead Vocals ("Big George" only)
JERRY SHIRLEY – Drums and
Keyboards
Guests:
BOBBY KEYS – Saxophone on
"Big George"
BJ COLE – Pedal Steel Guitar
on "79th And Sunset" and "A Song For Jenny"
CLAUDIA LENNEAR, DORIS TROY,
P.P. ARNOLD and ALEXIS KORNER – Backing Vocals on “Sour Grain” and "A Song
For Jenny" (Alexis Korner on "Big George")
Like those other great
British bands Free and Led Zeppelin – Humble Pie produced the most brilliant
Classic Rock albums in 1970 and 1971 with what seemed like effortless ease.
Both their own "Stone Cold Fever" and the Muddy Waters cover of
"Rolling Stone" (from "Rock On") would feature prominently
on the November 1971 double-live monster “Performance – Rockin' The Fillmore” –
the LP that broke them worldwide.
"Rock On" opens
with a fantastic Peter Frampton written moment – "Shine On" – with PF
on Lead Vocals. Sporting a wicked riff worthy of The Who's "Who's
Next" (which would arrive in August 1971) - its organ and guitar pairing
is bolstered by a trio of great female vocalists. The Tina Turner luscious
Claudia Lennear famously had "Brown Sugar" written about her on The
Rolling Stones "Sticky Fingers" album - Soul Heroine Doris Troy was
now over on the prestigious Beatles Apple label and P.P. Arnold of "First
Cut Is The Deepest" fame on Immediate Records would have to wait decades
for her comeback. Frampton would make a huge feature of the "Shine
On" song on his "Frampton Comes Alive" specially priced
juggernaut double-album in 1976. Next up is Marriott growling to spectacular
effect on the boozy "Sour Grain" – a straight up rocker. "79th
And Sunset" is a lewd barroom stroller – Marriott casually discussing
red-eyed Ruby in downtown LA with her "...nut-crushing boobs and jam-tart
lips..." where he informs us there’s such a lot of good ways to be bad (BJ
Cole gets a Pedal Steel Guitar solo towards its end). Swagger boys, swagger.
Side 1 ends on a great
double-whammy - the raucous "Stone Cold Fever" – a rocker with a
Funky break half way through and you can so hear why it was used as Track 3 on
Side 1 of "Performance..." – followed by the Rock Blues of
"Rollin' Stone" – English boys paying fitting tribute to their Chess
Records hero Muddy Waters. Marriott wrings the emotional neck out of "Rollin'
Stone" – singing it with fantastic (echoed) gusto - warbling on the
Harmonica in-between licks and that huge Bass line. I don't know if its
Frampton or Marriott who provides the final Jimmy Page-esque solo on “Rollin’
Stone” just before they go into that fantastic (and uncredited) rocking break –
slipping in the "she's so fine" lyrics and riff to The Righteous
Brothers "My Babe" (a forgotten London 45 for the clean-cut American
duo issued in November 1963 - written by Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield).
Humble Pie takes a snippet of it and nasty-rocks-that-sucker-up - and man does
it work! Foghat (more Brit rockers done-good in the USA) would return to
"My Babe" on their equally cool "Fool For The City" album
in October 1975 on Bearsville Records. Hell - their version might as well have
been Humble Pie. Whichever version you dig - "Rollin' Stone" is a
highlight on this album.
Side 2 opens on an
unexpected moment of Acoustic Guitar and Pedal Steel sweetness “A Song For
Jenny" – the three ladies giving it some soulful backing vocals too. It's
a love letter from on the road that works so well. Frampton gets Funky as he
complains of someone stealing his axe in "The Light" – singing about
waiting and worrying and living in fear (Marriott does a great counter vocal
doing the chorus). Bassist Greg Ridley wrote and sings Lead Vocals on "Big
George" - another Faces-sloppy song about dodgy geezers with size ten feet
(Bobby Keys of Rolling Stones fame helps out on Saxophone thereby sealing the
song's boozy credentials). And I'd swear that's the mighty Alexis Korner from
C.C.S. giving it some backing vocals just as the song fades out.
"Strange Days"
actually feels like The Doors who of course had an album by the same name –
Marriott freaked out by FBI stools mixing with drug dealers – both flogging
their wares and slavery. It has a Soulful-Rock feel despite those Bluesy drum
whacks, echoed vocals, dirty-sounding guitars and Little Feet funky piano
fills. I love it. The album ends of a giggling bop-shoo-waddy boozer of a tune
– broken bottles and barroom pianos playing out "Red Neck Jump" – an
invite to stomp and hang it all out.
November of 1971 would see
the band take flight and destroy all comers with the mighty “Performance –
Rockin’ The Fillmore” – the kind of live double you go absolutely nuts about
(to this day just looking at its sleeve makes me weak at the knobbly knees).
“Smokin’” from 1972 and the underrated double-album "Eat It" from
1973 still had many moments of HP magic - but after that it all seemed to
plunge downhill fast in a blizzard of drugs, tantrums and health issues. Best
we remember them in their glory moments...and "Rock On" is one of
them.
At roughly a twenty-spot or
a wee bit more (in the right places) - these 2016 Japanese SHM-CD reissues can
be pricey I know. But if you’re a fan – seek them out – both sonically and
visually - they’re so worth it…
PS: Titles in the 23
November 2016 Japanese SHM-CD Reissue Series:
1. "Humble Pie"
(1970) – Universal/A&M UICY-77977 (Barcode 4988031188101)
2. "Rock On"
(1971) – Universal/A&M UICY-77978 (Barcode 4988031188118)
3. "Performance –
Rockin' The Fillmore" (1971, Live 2LP Set onto 1CD) – Universal/A&M
UICY-77979 (Barcode 4988031188125)
4. "Smokin'"
(1972) – Universal/A&M UICY-77980 (Barcode 4988031188132)
5. "Eat It" (1973)
– Universal/A&M UICY-77981 (Barcode 4988031188149)
6. "Thunderbox"
(1974) – Universal/A&M UICY-77982 (Barcode 4988031188095)
7. "Street Rats"
(1975) – Universal/A&M UICY-77983 (Barcode 4988031188156) – 11 Tracks
8. "Street Rats – UK
Version" (1975) – Universal/A&M UICY-77984 (Barcode 4988031188163) –
15 Tracks
