Reviews

Atlanta Years

Here Comes The Nice Songbook

Under Review

Marriott Memorial Concert

Rockin The Fillmore

Do You Get The Message?

Empire Koln

Look Out

“The Small Faces Under Review” DVD

Oh, for the 1960's. London was swinging, life was good, and the Small Faces
made perfect pop singles!

The idea behind this DVD is simple. Take nine influential Small Faces singles and do a critical review of each, and put each in its place relative to the rich tapestry of the 60's.  It's called "The Small Faces Under Review", and is now available in Humble-Pie.net's Mijit Mall, where you can order it from Amazon.co.uk.

I have only one comment - BUY IT!

It works incredibly well. There is plenty of footage of the group themselves. Granted, this is all the well known footage - but it is really very well edited and pieced together with comments, which keeps a high level of tension and excitement throughout.

The critical reviewers include our own Dave Clark and John Hellier, and many very insightful comments from Paolo Hewitt. Also involved were two journalists who were very close to Steve and the boys, Keith Altham and Chris Welch. Ed Mitchell from "Guitarist" magazine brings insight from a different angle - I.E.: guitar playing - and the whole thing works extremely well.

There's even some great footage of Booker T & the MG's, borrowed from the
"Otis Remembered" DVD. When you layer on top of that the journey the group made from Whatcha Gonna Do About It and Sha La La La Lee to Tin Soldier, Lazy Sunday and The Universal, there is never a dull moment.

Ok- it's a wonder that singles like I've Got Mine are included, while there is no sign of My Minds Eye or Afterglow....but really you could perm any of the Small Faces singles and come up with a winner.

Do yourself a favour - go get this one.

Buy Under Review Online  

“Steve Marriott Astoria Memorial Concert” DVD

"We are the Mods!"

I have so many strong memories from the Astoria on April 20th 2001 - starting with the build up to the gig during the day - with tickets changing hands for 200$ and more...queues stretching 100 yards around the block in early evening for the doors opening, by people who already had the cherished tickets. With the gift of hindsight, this concert could have sold out the Royal Albert Hall...and all of this for a man who had died 10 years previously, and whose most popular years, at least in Britain, were in the Swinging Sixties, thirty five years beforehand.

Also indelibly printed on my brain is the sight of Humble Pie, properly reformed for the first timein thirty years - playing at the Astoria that night - in fact the first time Frampton and Clempson ever played together - and what would turn out to be the only time they would ever play together with bassist Greg Ridley.

And who could ever forget the rapturous reception afforded to the remaining two Small Faces, appearing with Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher and the various members of Oasis, culminating in endless choruses of the Quadrophenia "We are the Mods" refrain from the crowds as they happily exited the Astoria Theatre.

So, it goes without saying, this DVD is a must have. The acts I mentioned above are sparkling. I can even just about forgive Peter Frampton for bringing his voicebox into the Humble Pie set during "Hallelujah I Love Her So" !

But oddly enough some of the real highlights lurk further down the bill Nine Below Zero frontman Dennis Greaves does a lovely version of Steve's last single "Phone Call Away", with backing vocals which are just gorgeous. Simon Honeyboy Hickling lights up the stage with his rendition of "Big Train Stops at Memphis", and Midge Ure's solo acoustic version of My Mind's Eye is just spine tingling.

A special mention, too, for Debbie Bonham who absolutely blistered the stage with versions of "I Can't Stand the Rain", "If You Think You're Groovy" and "Black Coffee".

Poignant, that the Paul Weller / Noel Gallagher set consisted of numbers entirely from 1967...."Become Like You", "I'm Only Dreaming", "Get Yourself Together" and "Here Comes the Nice" and just so so very apt that in raising a collective glass to Steve Marriott, this crowd broke all the bar records at the Astoria venue.

True !

“Performance: Rockin The Fillmore”

Disc and Music Echo - September 4 1971
 
Humble Pie have a double live album out soon, called "Performance", recorded at the Fillmore East. And it should show Britain, apart from those who saw them at Hyde Park in July with Grand Funk Railroad, what they are really like.
 
When you think about it, it's taken them a long time to find out what they are - three years and five albums. But now they know. Steve Marriott ventured last week from his Essex home. He was suffering from a bit of a chill and only felt safe on orange juice. By my round he was on brandy.
 
"We whought we'd do a live album because we're more of a live group. When we started we were more of a recording band but since we've been playing in America (they've done five tours this year) we've become a performing band"
 
And a cheap one too ! Their album will cost only the price of a single album.
 
"America has doen a lot for us, and for me particularly. The audiences are incredible. They are as important on the new album as we are. It's just working hard that's helped us. The last 18 months I had in the Faces didn't do any of us any good because we didn't work; we didn't even rehearse. I just forgot everything. Since we've been playing in America I've realised what I do best and I'm doing it and enjoying it twice as much as before".
 
"It's just what I used to do in '65 - '66 only I like to think I'm better at it. I'm just a rock n roller, that's what I'm best at"
 
Steve, by this time on brandy and coke, reveals that the band were really nervous about the Hyde Park gig. It was the first time they had shown in this country what they are really like. When they formed, unbelievably three years ago, they experimented with all kinds of things, using keyboards and even acoustic sets. But that's all past them now. They're just a raw bawdy rock band. Hyde Park was the first time they did that sort of set in this country - that's why they were nervous.
 
"And it worked. We got a really good response from the crowd. It was great seeing all those Englishmen standing up on their feet. They gave us a real welcome home when we went on stage. And that did our confidence a lot of good."
 
But Humble Pie don't plan to appear in Britain yet. They go back to America again in the autumn.
 
"We owe America something because they turned us into a touring band. But at least we feel confident about appearing in Britain again now. Hyde park was the first time over here for ages"
 
Besides, they are literally based in the Staes now; their offices, Management and agency are there. And it's not only America they're grateful to , but their Manager Dee Anthony too
 
"When we first went there we completely lacked confidence. Our manager told us our act was too long, and told us to drop certain numbers and concentrate on the exciting stuff. And he was right. I reached the stage where I was afraid to wiggle my leg, but then I thought 'why shouldn't I?' It's what I do and now I know how to turn an audience on again."
 

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