Kim Simmonds And Savoy Brown Release Their New Album Blues All Around

By Kevin Wildman

Quarto Valley Records has just released the new album by famed BluesRock band, Savoy Brown, Blues All Around. As you probably know by now, Savoy Brown’s founder and leader, not to mention the sole driving force behind the band has passed away due to complications from Cancer. Shortly after the recording of the album was completed, Kim Simmonds lost his battle with cancer on December 13th last year. He had just turned 75 the week prior to that. During the recording of the album, Simmonds was recuperating from his latest series of Cancer treatments.

Kim’s death was announced through his Facebook page on December 15th, just two days after his passing with the release, “One of Kim’s last requests was to thank the fans of Savoy Brown. Your support was, and shall always be, immensely appreciated.” Kim had been battling Cancer for about two years now. He had been first diagnosed with the disease in September 0f 2021 and had undergone surgery, which he said, “kept me going with a decent quality of life.” Unfortunately the chemotherapy that he had to go through had taken a toll on his body and he started experiencing peripheral neuropathy. This side effect deadened the nerves in his finger and hands making it even harder to cope with playing the guitar and he had to suspend touring. However, that didn’t stop him from completing Blues All Around. His last release was 2022’s release, Ain’t Done Yet.

“The new album continues the approach I’ve been taking with the band this past decade,” said Kim Simmonds at the time of the sessions. Kim formed Savoy Brown in 1965 in London, England, and it has been one of the longest running Blues-Rock bands in existence. “The big difference with the new album is the multilayer 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 teenager,” he said.

For 57 years Savoy Brown has been one of the premier bands in the genre of Blues-Rock. In fact, Kim is credited as being one of the originators of this style. As a matter of fact, this album is reported to be Savoy Brown’s 42 album, which is quite a feat for any band. Savoy Brown has pretty much been Kim’s only band that he participated in. Savoy Brown’s first recording was released in 1966 and since that time he has steadily released album quite often. Kim was the band’s premiere songwriter. He may have had help in the early years, but for the most part he was the sole writer and originator of the band’s songs.

On Blues All Around, Kim is joined by Pat DeSalvo (bass) and Garnet Grimm (drums/percussion). These two have been with Kim for about 14 years now and it has been the longest single lineup that Savoy Brown has had to this day.

“I enjoyed making this album perhaps because I approached the recording in a different manner from the usual ‘Live in the studio’ format I’ve always used,” Simmonds says in the album liner notes.

“Here’s how it went. My tracks, guitar, vocal, etc., were laid down first. Pat and Garnet then added bass, drums and percussion and the whole process worked beautifully. They clinched the deal using my tracks as a guide. Brilliant work. They’re heaven sent. The concept wasn’t my brainchild. Studio owner and engineer Ron Keck suggested the approach to make things easier, due to my failing health and I’m forever grateful.

“John Shelmet was another angel in the preparation stages. He suggested I play slide guitar when the neuropathy affecting my fingers made single string playing difficult. Good idea!!

“My wife Debbie was a great help as well in the mixing stage. She added an continued on next page