The "Raw Sienna" a high-water mark by the band, finds them softening their rougher edges and stretching out into jazz territory, yet still retaining a blues foundation. There's not a bad cut here, with enough variety (bottleneck slide, acoustic guitar, horns, and strings) to warrant frequent late-night listenings. "A Hard Way to Go," "Needle and Spoon," and "Stay While the Night Is Young" are especially strong, as are two instrumental numbers.
Unfortunately, leader Kim Simmonds lost his greatest asset when vocalist Chris Youlden quit for an ill-fated solo career after this recording. Youlden had one of the most distinctive voices in British blues, and Savoy would never fully recover from his exit.
by Peter Kurtz
Savoy Brown's blues-rock sound takes on a much more defined feel on 1970's Looking In and is one of this band's best efforts. Kim Simmonds is utterly bewildering on guitar, while Lonesome Dave Peverett does a fine job taking over lead singing duties from Chris Youlden who left halfway through the year. But it's the captivating arrangements and alluring ease of the music that makes this a superb listen.
The pleading strain transformed through Simmonds' guitar on "Money Can't Save Your Soul" is mud-thick with raw blues, and the comfort of "Sunday Night" is extremely smooth and laid back. "Take It Easy" sounds like it could have been a B.B. King tune as it's doused with relaxed guitar fingering. The entire album is saturated with a simple, British blues sound but the pace and the marbled strands of bubbly instrumental perkiness fill it with life.
Even the Yardbirds-flavored "Leaving Again" is appealing with its naive hooks, capped off with a heart-stopping guitar solo. This album along with Street Corner Talking best exemplify Savoy Brown's tranquilizing style.
by Mike DeGagne
Tracks
Raw Sienna 1969
1. A Hard Way To Go (Chris Youlden) - 2:21
2. That Same Feelin' (Kim Simmonds) - 3:40
3. Master Hare (Kim Simmonds) - 4:52
4. Needle And Spoon (Chris Youlden) - 3:20
5. A Little More Wine (Chris Youlden) - 4:55
6. I'm Crying (Chris Youlden) - 4:19
7. Stay While The Night Is Young (Chris Youlden) - 3:10
8. Is That So (Kim Simmonds) - 7:43
9. When I Was A Young Boy (Chris Youlden) - 3:05
Looking In 1970
10.Gypsy (Kim Simmonds) - 1:00
11.Poor Girl (Tony Stevens) - 4:08
12.Money Can't Save Your Soul (Dave Peverett, Kim Simmonds) - 5:32
13.Sunday Night (Kim Simmonds) - 5:24
14.Looking In (Dave Peverett, Kim Simmonds) - 5:19
15.Take It Easy (Dave Peverett, Kim Simmonds) - 5:44
16.Sitting An' Thinking (Kim Simmonds) - 2:53
17.Leavin' Again (Dave Peverett, Kim Simmonds) - 8:30
18.Romanoff (Kim Simmonds) - 1:04
Savoy Brown
1969 Raw Sienna
*Chris Youlden - Vocals
*Kim Simmonds - Guitars
*Bob Hall - Piano
*Roger Earl - Drums
*Tony Stevens - Bass
*"Lonesome" Dave Peverett - Guitars
1970 Looking In
*Kim Simmonds - Guitar, Piano
*Lonesome Dave Peverett - Vocals, Guitar
*Roger Earl - Drums
*Tony Stevens - Bass
Guest Musician
*Owen Finnegan - Congas
