TRIBUTE FOR THE OLD TOSSER
PHILIP S WOLF | SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA | 11/30/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Tribute Concerts/CD's are a Mixed-Bag, Some are for the Living legends ( Bob Dylan, Neil young ETC) and others are for the Departed (Elvis, George Harrison) Even if the Hearts of the Artists involved are in the Right Place, Do we really need to hear George Michael doing Queen (UUUGH).
In the case of Steve Marriot, fame reached him Twice, First as a Small Face and a few years later with his Band, Humble Pie, for which he is best remembered here in the USA. This Three CD Set brings forth the Entire Concert held 10 Years after his passing ( He parished in an Housefire in 1991).
The Show is Presented in Four Parts, the First Features The Bands 17Black, John's Children and the Mod's Doing Classic's such as "Lazy Sunday", "Wham Bam, Thank You Ma'am" and "Whatacha Gonna Do About It". 17Black is a Small Faces Tribute Band very Popular on the British Pub Circuit and they are Quite Good and Full of the Proper 'Mod' Spirit. Next up is "John's Children" from The Sixties (As they Billed themselves) Getting Groovy on "Lazy Sunday" & "It's Too Late". The Mod's, really Crank out "Sha La La La Lee" the Mid-Sixties Burner, and you can almost Hear the Go-Go Boots, of the Shindig Dancers stompin'. Steve Ellis, joins the Party and he sounds JUST like Steve on his Three Numbers, The Energy level for this Show is Trippin' The Levels way into the Red here, These Guy's are GOOD !
A Houseband Featuring Bobby Tench (EX Jeff Beck, Later-Day Pie), Rick Wills, Zak Starkey and Rabbit give us more Small Faces Hits and a Little taste Of Humble Pie (Black Coffee featuring Debbie Bonham, 30 Days in the Hole with Toby & Molly Marriott).
In the Middle Of Disc Two out comes the Prize; HUMBLE PIE REFORMED !!! Pete Frampton, Greg Ridley, Clem Clempson and Jerry Shirley. Right into "4 Day Creep, Natural Born Bugie, Hallelujah, I Love Her So, Shine On" and a KILLER: " I Don't Need No Doctor" these Five Numbers are the Highlight of the Night Hand's Down. All the Power remains, and the Twin Guitars of Pete & Clem are Outstanding!!! Even without Steve these Four Guys still have their Chop's Down, WIth all respect to Steve, this Band STILL ROCKS. They still remain in a League of their own... Two Hours Of this Band would have been AMAZING !!!
The Final Disc features The All Star Band of: Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher, Ian McLagan, Kenney Jones and Gem Archer. As it's Tuff to follow The Pie they do just fine. Lead Vocals are handled by Paul Weller, Noel, Mac and Steve Ellis with "Here Come The Nice" & "Tin Soldier" as Stand-out tracks. But after only Six Numbers the Show is over and the Rest of Disc Three is a 33 minute Interview of Kenney Jones that is Marred by Poor Audio (You can hear the Sound of a Motor Running throughout, and this is a Tough Listening Experience).
Disc One is 72 Minutes in Length
Disc Two is 63 Minutes Long
Disc Three is 54 Minutes Total ( The Interview takes up 33 Minutes of this Disc ).
NOTE: My copy is Missing many Pages of the Liner Notes, But, I Will Write to John Hellier to see if he can make it Right.
This is a Good Tribute, and Fitting for a Talent as BIG as Steve Marriott's, Except for the Missing Liner Notes and the Horrible Audio Quality of the Kenney Jones Interview it would Rate 4.5 Stars But I do Know I'd Rather Listen to the Original Versions of these Great Songs over these Tribute Versions. The short set By Humble Pie is a 5++.
I was Lucky enough to see Humble Pie at Winterland, San Francisco in May 1973, I will NEVER FORGET....
ROCK ON STEVE...YOU ARE MISSED."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1