Thunderbox
Encyclopedia
Thunderbox is the eighth rock
studio album
by English
rock group Humble Pie
, released in 1974. It reached #52 on the Billboard 200
album chart in the United States.
song "I Can't Stand the Rain
" once referred to by John Lennon
as the perfect single; "Anna (Go to Him)
" originally written and performed by Arthur Alexander
and "Oh La-De-Da" by The Staple Singers.
Incidentally, the word Thunderbox is a seventeenth century slang word for the toilet which gives an example of Humble Pie's sense of humour. The cover shows a keyhole through which a woman can be seen sitting on a toilet.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by English
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rock group Humble Pie
Humble Pie (band)
Humble Pie was a rock band from England, finding success both in the UK and the US. They are remembered for songs such as "Black Coffee" "30 Days in the Hole", "I Don't Need No Doctor", and "Natural Born Bugie"...
, released in 1974. It reached #52 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
album chart in the United States.
Album profile
Twelve songs appear, six of them covers, Ann PeeblesAnn Peebles
Ann Peebles is an African American singer-songwriter who gained celebrity for her Memphis soul albums of the 1970s on the Hi Records label...
song "I Can't Stand the Rain
I Can't Stand the Rain (song)
"I Can't Stand the Rain" is a song originally recorded by Ann Peebles, and written by Don Bryant, Bernard "Bernie" Miller & Ann Peebles. The song became Peebles' biggest hit when in 1973 it reached #38 on the US Pop Chart and #6 on the R&B/Black Chart. The single also reached #41 on the UK Pop...
" once referred to by John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
as the perfect single; "Anna (Go to Him)
Anna (Go to Him)
"Anna " is a song written and originally performed by Arthur Alexander. His version was released as a single by Dot Records on September 17, 1962...
" originally written and performed by Arthur Alexander
Arthur Alexander
Arthur Alexander was an American country soul singer. Jason Ankeny, music critic for Allmusic, said Alexander was a "country-soul pioneer" and though largely unknown, "his music is the stuff of genius, a poignant and deeply intimate body of work on par with the best of his...
and "Oh La-De-Da" by The Staple Singers.
Incidentally, the word Thunderbox is a seventeenth century slang word for the toilet which gives an example of Humble Pie's sense of humour. The cover shows a keyhole through which a woman can be seen sitting on a toilet.
Track listing
- "Thunderbox" (Marriott, ClempsonClem ClempsonClem Clempson is an English rock guitarist who has played in a number of bands including Colosseum and Humble Pie.-Career:...
) - "Groovin' with Jesus" (MarriottSteve MarriottStephen Peter Marriott , popularly known as Steve Marriott, was an English musician, songwriter, and frontman of several notable rock and roll bands, spanning over two decades...
) - "I Can't Stand the RainI Can't Stand the Rain (song)"I Can't Stand the Rain" is a song originally recorded by Ann Peebles, and written by Don Bryant, Bernard "Bernie" Miller & Ann Peebles. The song became Peebles' biggest hit when in 1973 it reached #38 on the US Pop Chart and #6 on the R&B/Black Chart. The single also reached #41 on the UK Pop...
" (PeeblesAnn PeeblesAnn Peebles is an African American singer-songwriter who gained celebrity for her Memphis soul albums of the 1970s on the Hi Records label...
, Bryant, Miller) - "Anna (Go to Him)Anna (Go to Him)"Anna " is a song written and originally performed by Arthur Alexander. His version was released as a single by Dot Records on September 17, 1962...
" (AlexanderArthur AlexanderArthur Alexander was an American country soul singer. Jason Ankeny, music critic for Allmusic, said Alexander was a "country-soul pioneer" and though largely unknown, "his music is the stuff of genius, a poignant and deeply intimate body of work on par with the best of his...
) - "No Way" (Marriott, Ridley)
- "Rally with Ali" (Marriott, Clempson, Ridley, Shirley)
- "Don't Worry, be Happy" (Marriott, Clempson, Ridley, Shirley)
- "Ninety-Nine Pounds" (BryantDon BryantDon Bryant is an American singer and songwriter.Bryant was staff songwriter for Hi Records. He married soul singer Ann Peebles in 1974.-Discography:Doin' the Mustang...
) - "Every Single Day" (Clempson)
- "No Money Down" (BerryChuck BerryCharles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
) - "Drift AwayDrift Away"Drift Away" is a song written by Mentor Williams and originally recorded by John Henry Kurtz on his 1972 album Reunion. In 1973 the song became Dobie Gray's biggest hit, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100, though it did not enter the charts in the United Kingdom.This song is also a...
" (WilliamsMentor WilliamsMentor Williams is an American songwriter and producer. He is best known for writing "Drift Away", a middle-of-the-road playlist classic performed by Dobie Gray in 1973. He is the brother of famed songwriter Paul Williams.-Background:...
) - "Oh La-De-Da" (Mitchell)
Album credits
- Greg RidleyGreg RidleyAlfred Gregory 'Greg' Ridley was one of the more visible rock bassists in England, and a founding member of the successful rock band Humble Pie...
- bass, vocals - Jerry ShirleyJerry ShirleyJerry Shirley is an English rock drummer, best known for his work with the rock band Humble Pie and appeared on all their albums...
- vocals, drums - Steve MarriottSteve MarriottStephen Peter Marriott , popularly known as Steve Marriott, was an English musician, songwriter, and frontman of several notable rock and roll bands, spanning over two decades...
- guitar, harmonica, keyboards, vocals - Dave "Clem" ClempsonClem ClempsonClem Clempson is an English rock guitarist who has played in a number of bands including Colosseum and Humble Pie.-Career:...
- guitar
- Mel CollinsMel CollinsMel Collins is a British saxophonist and flautist and session musician.He has worked in a wide variety of contexts ranging from R&B and blues rock to jazz, but is perhaps known for his work in progressive rock, as with King Crimson, Camel and the Alan Parsons Project.-Career:Collins has worked...
- horn - Special Thanks to The Blackberries :
- Carlena Williams -vocals
- Venetta FieldsVenetta FieldsVenetta Fields is an American singer best known as session musician for leading rock and pop acts of the 1970s including Pink Floyd, Barbra Streisand, Steely Dan and the Rolling Stones...
- vocals - Billie Barnum - vocals
- HipgnosisHipgnosisHipgnosis was a British art design group that specialized in creating cover art for the albums of rock musicians and bands, most notably Pink Floyd, T.Rex, The Pretty Things, UFO, 10cc, Bad Company, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Scorpions, Yes, The Alan Parsons Project, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, ELO and XTC...
- original album sleeve design
- Arranged and Produced by The Pie
- Recorded at Olics Sound, somewhere east of GuatemalaGuatemalaGuatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
- Editing : Alan O'Duffy