Search - Humble Pie :: Safe As Yesterday

A '60s album from a '70s band

Les Thomassen | Atlanta, GA USA | 06/20/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Humble Pie is rightfully associated with the 1970s. They helped put blues rock in the fore early in the decade. Their best-known songs are shining examples of guitar-driven rock with salty vocals.With this exposure to Humble Pie, it's something of a surprise to hear them on their 1969 release, "As Safe As Yesterday Is." While the 56 minutes of music on the disc offer hints of the sound Humble Pie would become known for, this is very much a `60s album.The album's tone is melancholy overall. Most of the songs are written by singer/guitarist Steve Marriott, with a couple of tunes from Peter Frampton. A cover of Steppenwolf's "Desperation" opens the record with a plodding feel. Use of sitar and flute on a couple of tracks create a sound similar to what's heard on early Traffic recordings. And, there's some prominent organ work.Even at this early stage in its history, Humble Pie uses a trio of lead vocalists - Marriott, Frampton and bassist Greg Ridley. Some nice vocal harmonies are sprinkled through the songs, but just as often the harmonies don't work. In several spots, Frampton seems to be reaching for notes just beyond his range. And unfortunately, the recording is muffled, as if you're listening to an LP where dust has built up on the needle. The bad news - you can't pick up the tone arm and blow the dust away.The strongest evidence here of Humble Pie's ability to rock comes in the closing section of the album's title track. Elsewhere, "Alabama `69" has Marriott apparently relating the sad plight of the black man in the American South. It's a country blues spiritual, complete with jug blowing. "Natural Born Boogie," one of two bonus tracks included on this CD on the Repertoire label, may be the most accessible song on the disc. It features some fun piano lines and sounds a bit like the Beatles' "Get Back" and like T. Rex on "Bang A Gong.""