Humble Pie Albums (15)
'Greatest Hits Live'
Release Date 5/20/2003
Tracks 10
Label King Biscuit Flower
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Recorded on May 6, 1973, at San Francisco's Winterland Theater, Greatest Hits Live presents the post-Peter Frampton era of Humble Pie, featuring guitarist Dave Clemson backing what was by then Steve Marriott's vehicle. Marriott is in full cry on this recording, delivering his soulful, ingratiatingly over-the-top take on R&B-based hard rock with plenty of spirit; he even sings the between-song audience banter. In concert, Humble Pie displayed a ferocity that was sometimes missing from their studio albums, and Greatest Hits Live not only captures that quality perfectly, it also does so arguably better than any other live album in the group's discography. [Greatest Hits Live is basically a reissue of the 1996 release King Biscuit Flower Hour: In Concert on King Biscuit Records. The new edition has a different, improved cover and new liner notes. It also omits a track, Frampton's "Stone Cold Fever."]~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Humble Pie with no Steve Marriott? As preposterous as that sounds -- after all, Marriott was the heart, soul, and voice of the band -- that's exactly what took place on the 2002 release Back on Track. The trusty old Humble Pie rhythm section is back in place (bassist Greg Ridley and drummer Jerry Shirley), who are now joined by a pair of newcomers -- guitarist Bob Tench and vocalist Dave Colwell. And despite being issued in the early 21st century, songs such as the album-opening "Dignified" and "Ain't No Big Thing" have an unmistakable '80s mainstream rock feel to them. Which is quite puzzling, as it was grit and soul that served as major ingredients on the majority of classic, Marriott-led Humble Pie releases. While it's understandable that Ridley and Shirley would want to get together and start playing once more -- Humble Pie was quite a mean rockin' machine back in the day -- this "new look" lineup simply doesn't do the Humble Pie legacy justice. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
'Live at the Whisky A Go-Go '69'
Release Date 9/24/2001
Tracks 5
Label Castle
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
This audio DVD of music from Humble Pie's U.S. tour in 1969 constitutes a helpful addition to the band's early recording history, which had been limited to the pair of studio LPs cut for Immediate Records. The opening number is an all-acoustic reworking of Graham Gouldman's "For Your Love," a showcase for Peter Frampton's acoustic guitar and Steve Marriott's soul shouting, and about as different as one could imagine from the compact, punchy Yardbirds rendition. The drums and the harder playing kicks in for "Shakin' All Over," which is similarly bent out of its familiar shape and pushed -- Frampton and Marriott's guitars and vocals are all over the map on the song, which is just about recognizable despite the absence of the familiar central guitar riff. "Hallelujah I Love Her So" and "The Sad Bag of Shakey Jake" are intact and nicely played, and are what one would expect and hope for from an actual live album. The finale, "I Walk on Gilded Splinters," is an extended jam that goes through a few interesting changes, but it just doesn't have the energy or cohesion to sustain its 20-minute length. The overall audio quality is above average for a live recording of this vintage, and the multi-track tapes were mixed under the supervision of surviving bandmember Jerry Shirley. It's not a truly great moment in the band's history, alas, but it is a flawed artifact of an early chapter in that history. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide
'King Biscuit Flower Hour: In Concert'
Release Date 2/27/1996
Tracks 10
Label King Biscuit
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Recorded on May 6, 1973 at San Francisco's Winterland Theater, King Biscuit Flower Hour: In Concert presents the post-Peter Frampton era of Humble Pie, featuring guitarist Dave Clempson backing what was by then Steve Marriott's vehicle. Marriott is in full cry on this recording, delivering his soulful, ingratiatingly over-the-top take on R&B-based hard rock with plenty of spirit; he even sings the between-song audience banter. In concert, Humble Pie displayed a ferocity that was sometimes missing from their studio albums, and King Biscuit Flower Hour not only captures that quality perfectly, it also does so arguably better than any other live album in the group's discography. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
With Thunderbox, it's clear that most of the inspiration has left Humble Pie, as the band turns in a set of by-the-numbers boogie. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Although the quality of the material is somewhat uneven, the double album Eat It is the last Humble Pie record to capture the rough and tumble spirit of their heyday. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
After a couple of years of relentless touring, Humble Pie capitalized on their loyal U.S. following to capture the market with this, their third album. Although lead guitarist Peter Frampton was replaced by Clem Clemson -- an excellent player -- the band remained essentially the same. Led by singer/guitarist Steve Marriott's soulful wail, the group enjoyed a huge hit from this record, "30 Days in the Hole" -- the track which defined the Pie's not-so-subtle appeal. The rest of the record is equally funky and intriguing. Stephen Stills guests on "Road Runner 'G' Jam," playing some nasty Hammond organ fills. In the end, though, the group defined themselves as the undisputed leaders of the boogie movement in the early 1970s, as a band. ~ Matthew Greenwald, All Music Guide
