Town and Country (album)
Encyclopedia
Town and Country is rock
outfit Humble Pie
's second studio album
, released in November 1969 (see 1969 in music
).
featured on acoustic guitar and Steve Marriott
featured on keyboards. Two of the more memorable tracks were a cover of the classic Buddy Holly
song "Heartbeat
" and the notable Marriott composition "Every Mother's Son". Most, if not all, of the material dates back to recordings in the spring and early summer of 1969, when the Pie recorded more than two albums' worth of material — legal wrangling with Frampton's old management had delayed a release until August — before striking out on the road over the last half of the year. Like the band's early live shows, "Town And Country" was an eclectic mix of acoustic ballads, country-rock, folk and blues; concerts at this time typically featured a long (and sometimes laborious) 'unplugged' set, followed by more conventional electric set. It was after this album that Humble Pie forged their trademark "heavy" sound — and would continue in that vein until disbanding in 1975
.
The album was produced by Glyn Johns' brother, Andy Johns, who also worked for Olympic Studios.
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...
outfit 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"...
's second 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...
, released in November 1969 (see 1969 in music
1969 in music
-Events:Perhaps the two most famous musical events of 1969 were concerts. At a Rolling Stones concert in Altamont, California, a fan was stabbed to death by Hells Angels, a biker gang that had been hired to provide security for the event...
).
Album profile
An interesting anomaly in the Humble Pie oeuvre, Town And Country finds the band in a gentler mood than their first album. Immediate Records rushed it into UK shops in the fall of 1969 to try to get up the charts before the company went bankrupt, but with no promotional money to back it, it quickly sank without a trace. The record didn't even make it into the US at the time, even though the band was on its first American tour when the album was released. All four members contributed songs, with Peter FramptonPeter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
featured on acoustic guitar and Steve Marriott
Steve Marriott
Stephen 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...
featured on keyboards. Two of the more memorable tracks were a cover of the classic Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
song "Heartbeat
Heartbeat (Buddy Holly song)
"Heartbeat" is a rockabilly song written by Bob Montgomery and Norman Petty and recorded originally by Buddy Holly in 1958. The B side of the single was "Well.....
" and the notable Marriott composition "Every Mother's Son". Most, if not all, of the material dates back to recordings in the spring and early summer of 1969, when the Pie recorded more than two albums' worth of material — legal wrangling with Frampton's old management had delayed a release until August — before striking out on the road over the last half of the year. Like the band's early live shows, "Town And Country" was an eclectic mix of acoustic ballads, country-rock, folk and blues; concerts at this time typically featured a long (and sometimes laborious) 'unplugged' set, followed by more conventional electric set. It was after this album that Humble Pie forged their trademark "heavy" sound — and would continue in that vein until disbanding in 1975
1975 in music
-January–April:*January 2 - New York City U.S. District Court Judge Richard Owen rules that former Beatle John Lennon and his lawyers can have access to Department of Immigration files pertaining to his deportation case....
.
The album was produced by Glyn Johns' brother, Andy Johns, who also worked for Olympic Studios.
Track listing
- "Take Me Back" - (FramptonPeter FramptonPeter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
) – 4:52 - "The Sad Bag of Shaky JakeThe Sad Bag of Shaky Jake"The Sad Bag of Shaky Jake" was a single released in 1969 by English rock band Humble Pie, who were one of the first British supergroups , formed in 1969...
" - (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...
) – 2:59 - "The Light of Love" - (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...
) – 3:00 - "Cold Lady" - (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...
) – 3:22 - "Down Home Again" - (Marriott) – 2:56
- "Ollie Ollie" - (Frampton/Marriott/Ridley/Shirley) – 0:50
- "Every Mother's Son" - (Marriott) – 5:43
- "Heartbeat" - (MontgomeryBob Montgomery (musician)Bob Montgomery is an American singer, songwriter, and music producer/publisher.Montgomery was born in Lampasas, Texas. He was a songwriting partner and best friend of Buddy Holly, performing together as the duo "Buddy and Bob" while teenagers in high school...
/PettyNorman PettyNorman Petty was an American musician, songwriter, and pioneer record producer who helped shape modern popular music, including pop and rock....
) – 2:33 - "Only You Can See" - (Frampton) – 3:38
- "Silver Tongue" - (Marriott) – 3:20
- "Home and Away" - (Frampton/Ridley) – 5:55
- "79th Street Blues" (Humble Pie) - 3:00 (bonus tracks for CD release)
- "Greg's Song" (Ridley) - 4:29 (bonus tracks for CD release)
Personnel
- 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 (01,02,04,05,08,09,10,11), vocals (02,03,04,05,08,11), guitar (03), tambourine (01) - Peter FramptonPeter FramptonPeter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
:vocals (01,02,03,04,05,08,09,11), guitar (01,05,09,11), lead guitar (02,07,08,10), bass (03), Spanish guitar (03), drums (04), Wurlitzer piano (09), plastic-cup (01) - 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 (02,04,07,08), Leslie guitar (09), sitar (03), vocals (02,04,05,07,08,09), percussion (01), hammer and nail brandy bottle (01), Wurlitzer piano (02,11), marracaas (02), drums (09) - 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...
: drums (02,05,08,10,11), percussion saw (01), tambourine (02), tablas (03), marracaas (04), Wurlitzer piano (04)
- Engineers : Andrew Johns, Rob, John, Happy Keith
- Arranged by Humble Pie