Rock On (Humble Pie album)


Rock On is the fourth album by the English rock group Humble Pie, released in 1971. It reached #118 on the Billboard 200. It is the last Humble Pie studio album to feature guitarist/vocalist Peter Frampton, who embarked on a successful solo career.

Background

Rock On saw Humble Pie establishing the heavy blues/rock sound they became famous for, led in no small part by their new manager, Dee Anthony, after the collapse of Andrew Loog Oldham's Immediate Records. But this was not where Frampton wanted to be and within a year he had quit the group to pursue his solo career and take his music in a more acoustic direction.
Most of the songs on Rock On were performed live on tour before being recorded for the album. Marriott turned the production into a studio party of sorts, featuring numerous guest performers from the world of blues and soul. Distinguished performers such as PP Arnold, who Marriott knew very well from his Small Faces days, Doris Troy who had a U.S. hit in the early 1960s with her own self-composed song "Just One Look", and Claudia Lennear, were featured on this album.
The album features the classic rock song "Stone Cold Fever" written by band members Marriott, Ridley, Frampton and Shirley. Steve Marriott's ballad "A Song For Jenny" features The Soul Sisters on backing vocals. B.J. Cole contributes pedal steel guitar.
"Strange Days" is a ballsy blues rock song, in which Marriott's powerful vocals soar as close to a live performance as any on this album. The vocals have a delayed echo, sounding grounded yet "out there"; and Frampton's guitar solos weave throughout. It is also the longest song on the album. "Sour Grain" was a joint composition by Peter Frampton and Steve Marriott, keeping the same tempo as "Shine On", but with just Marriott on vocals.

Track listing

  1. "Shine On" - – 3:00
  2. "Sour Grain" - – 2:40
  3. "79th and Sunset" - – 3:01
  4. "Stone Cold Fever" - – 4:09
  5. "Rollin' Stone" - – 6:00
  6. "A Song for Jenny" - – 2:35
  7. "The Light" - – 3:15
  8. "Big George" - – 4:08
  9. "Strange Days" - – 6:36
  10. "Red Neck Jump" - – 3:06

    Personnel