Posted July 2020
Photo by Juan Junco CroppedThe video to your right is of a recent interview with Kim Simmonds, guitarist and founding member of the legendary British Blues-Rock band, Savoy Brown. It is our second interview with the blues icon. Our first interview took place eight years ago (here).
Savoy Brown will release their exciting new album, “Ain’t Done Yet,” August 28th on Quarto Valley Records. The CD format of “Ain’t Done Yet” can be pre-ordered from your favorite music sources. “All Gone Wrong,” the album’s first single is currently available at http://smarturl.it/3eu4t3.
The new album follows their critically acclaimed 2019 release, “City Night.” Bruce Quarto, QVR founder and CEO said, “Quarto Valley Records is honored to continue working with Savoy Brown on this second QVR release, “Ain't Done Yet,” which is now one of my all-time favorites. It’s full of great energy that is the trademark of all their blues-rock music. Everyone who hears it will immediately agree that Savoy Brown ain't nowhere near done yet.”
“The new album continues the approach I’ve been taking with the band this past decade,” says guitarist/singer/songwriter
Kim Simmonds, who formed the band in 1965 in London, England, and is one of the longest-running Blues-Rock bands in existence. “The big difference with the new album is the multi-layer approach I took to recording the guitar parts. It’s all blues-based rock music. I try to find new and progressive ways to write and play the music I’ve loved since I was a young teenager.”
Simmonds has been the group's guiding hand from the first singles released in 1966 through this newest effort, Savoy Brown’s 41st album. On the new record, Simmonds (guitar harmonica, vocals) is joined by his long-running bandmates Pat DeSalvo (bass) and Garnet Grimm (drums).
“Ain’t Done Yet” was recorded at Showplace Studios, Dover, New Jersey. Simmonds produced the album and worked closely with studio owner and engineer Ben Elliott. It’s a studio he’s used many times before and it has a rich history of blues-rock musicians recording there, including Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, and Leslie West.
“This is the sixth album I’ve made with Ben Elliott since the 1990s, and on previous ones I’ve had various guests join me, including Hubert Sumlin, Lonesome Dave Peverett and Duke Robillard,” continues Kim. “Shortly after making “Ain’t Done Yet,” Ben Elliot died. I have dedicated the new album to him. It will be the last album recorded at Showplace Studios.”
Energetic blues has been the calling card of the band from the beginning, but Simmonds infuses the 10 tracks on “Ain’t Done Yet” with a new spirit and vitality - plus some serious guitar chops - in a variety of styles and roots sounds that transcend the Blues-Rock idiom. “I emphasized song content on the new album, and left room for band improvisation,” he admits. “For instance, there are two acoustic-based songs and also two six-minute songs where I’m able to stretch out on guitar solos.”
“Ain’t Done Yet” kicks-off in high gear with the album’s first radio focus track, “All Gone Wrong”. “I’ve always liked ‘All Gone Wrong,’ and it’s one of my favorites on the album,” declares Simmonds.
The three-piece line-up of Kim Simmonds, Pat DeSalvo, and Garnet Grimm has established itself as the longest-running consistent line-up in the band’s history, now going strong for more than 10 years.
Please give this interview your attention and feel free to share it with your friends!
You can keep up with Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown at SavoyBrown.com.
