Humble Pie - Town And Country (Remastered Expanded Edition) (1969/2025)

Newly Remastered & Expanded with 6 Bonus tracks. Humble Pie’s critically acclaimed second album was all set to launch the band into superstardom when their record label suddenly collapsed, taking the album out of UK record shops just 4 MONTHS after going on sale, while in the USA, the album was not released. ‘Town And Country’ appeared in the UK quicker than it disappeared – released in November 1969, barely three months after the band’s debut album ‘As Safe As Yesterday Is’. Immediate Records announced it was bucking the trend by releasing the new album early in order to capitalise on the debut LP’s Top 30 success, a No.4 hit single in ‘Natural Born Bugie,’ plus acres of press generated by music journalists fascinated by a new ‘supergroup’ formed by one-time Small Faces frontman Steve Marriott, Peter Frampton from The Herd, powerhouse drummer Jerry Shirley and ex-Spooky Tooth bassist Greg Ridley.

In reality (and unknown to the band), Immediate Records were in trouble. Andrew Oldham’s innovative label was suffering financial problems due a dispute with their American distributor that had prevented Immediate from releasing in the USA since June 1969. Forced to take his label completely independent, Oldham used his own money so that the band’s first LP and retitled single ‘Natural Born Woman’ could both be released while Humble Pie wowed crowds on a two-month US tour.

Releasing more product in the UK to bring in cash quickly was vital. Luckily, Humble Pie had already recorded over two albums worth of material, enabling ‘Town And Country’ to be rush-released on 7 November 1969. An enthusiastic music press welcomed the LP as “an unqualified success!”. Featuring songs written by each member of the band on its first side, the band’s second album revealed a more personal, stripped-back sound than the debut. Lyrics are more poignant and reflective, while folk and country music elements are stronger, especially on live favourite ‘The Sad Bag Of Shaky Jake’. Influences such as The Band and Love are pleasingly present while gorgeous three-part harmonies soar throughout. Eardrums are battered on rockier tracks like ‘Down Home Again’ and ‘Silver Tongue,’ while the glorious ‘Home and Away’ brings the original LP to a harmonious and triumphant close.

While success was cruelly halted (albeit temporally) in America and the UK as Immediate Records fell into liquidation, Humble Pie soon became one of the best-loved, best-selling and hardest-rocking bands of the 1970s with new label A&M.

Steve Marriott, guitar (2, 4, 7, 8), Leslie guitar (10), sitar (3), vocals (2, 4, 5, 7–10), organ (11), Wurlitzer piano (2, 11), percussion (1), hammer and nail brandy bottle (1), maracas (2), drums (9), harmonica (2)
Peter Frampton, vocals (1–5, 8, 9, 11), guitar (1, 5, 9, 11), lead guitar (2, 7, 8, 10), Spanish guitar (3), bass (3), drums (4), Wurlitzer piano (9), plastic-cup (1)
Greg Ridley, bass (1, 2, 4, 5, 8–11), guitar (3), vocals (2–5, 8, 11), tambourine (1)
Jerry Shirley, drums (2, 5, 8, 10, 11), saw (1), tambourine (2), tablas (3), maracas (4), Wurlitzer piano (4)

Digitally remastered

Tracklist
1. Take Me Back (2025 Remaster) (4:50)
2. The Sad Bag of Shaky Jake (2025 Remaster) (2:57)
3. The Light of Love (2025 Remaster) (2:58)
4. Cold Lady (2025 Remaster) (3:22)
5. Down Home Again (2025 Remaster) (2:54)
6. Ollie Ollie (2025 Remaster) (0:48)
7. Every Mother's Son (2025 Remaster) (5:41)
8. Heartbeat (2025 Remaster) (2:31)
9. Only You Can See (2025 Remaster) (3:35)
10. Silver Tongue (2025 Remaster) (3:20)
11. Home and Away (2025 Remaster) (6:06)
12. Every Mother's Son (Jesse Hardin) (2025 Remaster) (Jesse Hardin; 2025 Remaster) (5:24)
13. BTMG's (2025 Remaster) (3:57)
14. The Sad Bag of Shaky Jake (Alternate Version) (2025 Remaster) (Alternate Version; 2025 Remaster) (2:51)
15. Greg's Song (2025 Remaster) (4:07)
16. 79th Street Blues (2025 Remaster) (3:08)
17. I'll Drown in My Own Tears (2025 Remaster) (7:01)