Hellbound Train by Savoy Brown (Vinyl record album review)

Album name: Hellbound Train

Group name: Savoy Brown

Year: 1972

Number of discs: one

Label: Parrot

Collection: Brenner / Gessner

Who owned it: my father

Buy it on Amazon: $19.78

My review

Level of familiarity before listening

I have no familiarity at all with Savoy Brown or this record.

What I expected

I mentioned this record to my father and he said that it would be something to do with the blues, and also that “Savoy” was pronounced with an emphasis on the first syllable.

What it was actually like

This was a pretty strong electric blues and rock record with great percussion and guitars throughout, and I even thought that the piano was used judiciously.

Several of the songs sounded like they clearly ought to have been performed live, such as Doin’ Fine, which was pretty tight and had a good piano solo, and It’ll Make You Happy, which I thought was the most fun song.

I’ll Make Everything Alright sounded the most like I was eating in a barbecue restaurant.

Lost and Lonely Child was slower, with more organ, and I liked the keyboard and electric guitar.

Troubled by These Days and Times was the least bluesy and the closest to a piano ballad.

The title track Hellbound Train was 9:07 long jam, starting with a heartbeat sound effect, and hinting at an almost techno sound, but turned into a solid hard rock song that ended extremely suddenly.

Grade

4/5: would listen again