This was Humble Pie's first album without guitarist/co-founder Peter Frampton. Supposedly the band never recovered from that loss. What nonsense! His replacement Clem Clempson is an unsung hero who, as this album proves, deserved a place next to guitar giants like Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. Deep Purple knew what they were doing when they approached him in 1975 for the recently vacated position of Ritchie Blackmore. According to legend the resultant jams went very well until they asked him to play something "Blackmore-style", at which point he wisely refused, stating that he can't copy a player with such a different style from his. The job went to Tommy Bolin who, despite being a great guitarist, almost went crazy trying to imitate Blackmore night after night and getting booed off the stage every other time. But enough about Clem, lest we forget that the real star of the band always was Steve Marriott. As a member of The Small Faces, Marriott was a superstar in the Sixties. He possessed the most soulful voice in the UK at that time and put it to good use in this album. The style of the music can be described as Hard Rocking R&B, very close to the sound of Led Zeppelin (Interesting note: compare the Small Faces "You Need Loving" to Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love", which came out 3 years later). Single "30 Days in the Hole" was a big hit and "Smokin'" eventually went on to become The Pie's biggest selling album. The rock'n'roll covers of "C'mon Everybody" and "Roadrunner" are also great, the latter featuring some fine Hammond organ courtesy of Stephen Stills. Opener "Hot 'n' Nasty" is another great hard rocker and "I Wonder" a 9-minute blues workout. Country-blues "Old Time Feeling" features lead vocals from Greg Ridley and guest guitar from Alexis Korner. Due to the absence of both Marriott & Clempson it is the weakest song in the album.
***** for 30 Days in the Hole, Hot 'n' Nasty
**** for The Fixer, C'mon Everybody, Road Runner/Road Runner's 'G' Jam
*** for You're So Good for Me, I Wonder, Sweet Peace and Time
** for Old Time Feelin'
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