Making Time Review September 2025

Humble Pie's debut LP was originally released on 1 August 1969 with the debut single following one week later. However, this 2025 reissue is somewhat different to the original release. The master tape mysteriously went missing between London and the mastering studio in New York. A copy was available but it was not of the same sound quality. However, it was this copy that was used as the basis for all future releases of the LP or CD, until now. Immediate Records was in financial difficulties and could not afford to recall the album. However, a long search conducted by the Small Faces' Kenney Jones and reissue producer Rob Caiger resulted in the find of many Immediate tapes including a safety master tape back-up. The album can now be enjoyed in the clarity that was originally intended while modern studio techniques allow the sound to be further improved. Consequently, As Safe As Yesterday Is sounds better than ever. Furthermore, the debut single, Natural Born Bugie, has been placed in its rightful position on the LP. Growing Closer is sacrificed but it is available on the CD reissue.

The album is available on limited edition gold vinyl exclusively through Nice Records. Black vinyl and an extended CD version are available from Nice Records or through other outlets.

Steve Marriott and Peter Frampton felt constrained by their existing groups, Small Faces and the Herd respectively. They wished to be seen as "serious musicians" but had been labelled as pop acts with girls still screaming when the bands wished to be listened to. For Marriott it all came to a head on New Year's Eve 1968 when he walked off stage during the band's Alexandra Palace gig. He did however return to complete contractually-agreed 1969 dates. Marriott had already looked to bring Frampton into the Small Faces as a lead guitarist so he could concentrate on his vocals but Ronnie Lane and Ian McLagan were not keen. Frampton did join the band for their Paris session backing Johnny Halliday. On leaving the Small Faces Marriott called Frampton and, with the addition of Spooky Tooth bassist Greg Ridley and drummer Jerry Shirley, Humble Pie were formed.

The band started rehearsing and recording immediately (no pun intended). They had some tracks that had started during the Johnny Halliday sessions while Marriott reworked the Small Faces work-in-progress The Pigs Trotters into Wrist Job. This became the b-side of the debut single. With the exception of the opening track Desperation and Growing Closer, all songs were written by members of the band. Desperation was penned by John Kay of Steppenwolf fame while Growing Closer was provided by Mariott's Small Faces colleague Ian McLagan. McLagan was particularly upset by Marriott's departure and so Humble Pie's version of Growing Closer gave him due credit.

Ironically, the sound of Humble Pie may have been similar to what the Small Faces would have sounded like had they not split. The mix of hard rock and acoustic numbers was already evident and this was continued. However, the only acoustic song on this debut album is the country-ish Alabama '69. Things would change with the follow-up album though. There was little promotion for the album and, by the time the band toured, they were already showcasing the second album. Many of the songs had been recorded around the same time.

Humble Pie were unusual in that they had three lead vocalists. Often they would take different verses of the same song. Desperation and Natural Born Bugie highlight the interplay of the different vocal styles. Incidentally, the single was known as Natural Born Woman in the US; the word "Bugie" does not even appear in the song.

This new release of As Safe As Yesterday Is is much overdue, in fact 56 years overdue. It can now be heard as it was supposed to have been heard. After the Small Faces' The Autumn Stone it promises the release of further improved versions of Immediate albums.

Essential Tracks