Humble Pie. As Safe As Yesterday Is.
Crooks and conman flourished in the Wild West of 60s pop. Deals and legs were broken, royalties went unpaid, shenanigans abounded. So it wasn’t too surprising when Humble Pie’s debut album mysteriously “went missing” somewhere between London and New York. Their label, Immediate, just months from bankruptcy, couldn’t afford not to release the record. Panicking, they replaced the lost master with a much-played listening tape that, in quality terms, was about level with the Welsh women’s rugby squad against Canada last weekend. Consequently, the LP’s muffled sound robbed it of its vitality and punch; it didn’t make the Top 30.
Formed by Stevie Marriott (Small Faces) and guitar legend Peter Frampton (The Herd) in 1969 with bassist Greg Ridley (Spooky Tooth) and 17-year-old drummer Jerry Shirley, “the Pie” were the original supergroup. Now, a newly-found and remastered safety reel does justice to their botched debut, adding clarity and sparkle to their blend of heavy blues, hard rock and rustic folk. They open with a cover of Steppenwolf’s slow blues number Desperation, followed by Peter Frampton’s trippy rocker Stick Shift, and Marriott’s Buttermilk Boy. Curated by Frampton and Jerry Shirley, this new expanded CD edition has six extra tracks including hit single, Natural Born Bugie and Ian McLagan’s Growing Closer. Marriott’s propulsive Zeptoe Through The Tulips is one of four bonus outtakes from the original recording sessions. English rock history has been well served and lovingly restored. The album is also available on black, and limited-edition gold, vinyl from nicerecords.co.uk
Suede. Antidepressants. Their glorious 10th album comes packed with sweat-sodden angst, attitude and burning ambition to be more, and mean more, than the rest. Passion is weaponised in propulsive anthems like the euphoric Disintegrate – the Stooges meet Bowie. We get spikey riffs, emotional grit, echoes of post-punk goth and the dreamy downpour of June Rain.
Apollo Junction. What In The World. A triumph of BritPop nostalgia and handsome hooks. The Leeds five-piece blossom on uplifting tracks like Entangled and the equally buoyant Settle Down featuring Briana Corrigan (The Beautiful South). They’re at their most driving on the noughties-style indie rocker Every Journey From Here. We Don’t Dream The Dream, they say. It’s time they did. It’s coming true.
Sabrina Carpenter. Man’s Best Friend. Her confident 7th album cements Sabrina’s claim to superstardom. Working again with producer Jack Antonoff and writer Amy Allen, she delivers a strong set of playful synth-pop songs infused with humour and a spurt of introspection. Stand-outs include groovy banjo-tinged Manchild with lines like ‘Did you just say you’re finished? Didn’t know we started.’
Toyah. Chameleon – The Very Best Of Toyah. This new comp packs in Toyah Wilcox’s Top Tens (It’s A Mystery, I Want To Be Free, Thunder In The Mountains) plus other hits and fan favourites like Jungles Of Jupiter, Race Through Space, and Angel & Me. Available as a 28-track 2xLP and 40-track CD it’s a fine reminder of Toyah’s versatility, lisp, and unique appeal.