The band initially consisted in 1969 of Steve Marriott (formerly of Small Faces; lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Peter Frampton (from The Herd; lead guitar), Greg Ridley (from Spooky Tooth; bass) and Jerry Shirley (from The Apostolic Intervention; drums).
The joining of all these fairly known players resulted in Humble Pie being considered a bit of a “supergroup”. Worried about great expectations, the group began working together in secret at Marriott's cottage in Moreton, Essex. Signed to Andrew Loog Oldham's Immediate Records, their debut single "Natural Born Boogie" was rushed out in 1969 and was a UK number five hit; it was quickly followed by the album As Safe As Yesterday Is, praised as a progressive album in the vein of Small Faces. Their second album Town and Country was also released in 1969 and featured a more acoustic sound. Humble Pie concerts at this time featured an acoustic set followed by an electric set, an approach that would become popular decades later.
1970 saw the financial collapse of Immediate, a switch to A&M Records, and a change in band management. The albums Humble Pie and Rock On, both released that year, alternated between progressive rock and boogie rock excess. A concert at the Fillmore East in NYC was captured on Perfomance Rockin' The Fillmore (1971); it is considered one of the best live rock albums of its era, with Marriott, Frampton, and the rest of the group in fine form. The loud-quiet-loud epic "I Don't Need No Doctor" was an FM radio hit in the United States, propelling the album to the group's biggest commercial success yet.
However, Frampton had already left the band by the time of the album's release, to pursue a solo career that would become extremely successful later in the 1970s. With Dave "Clem" Clempson replacing Frampton, Humble Pie moved towards an even harder sound at the urging of manager Dee Anthony, emphasizing Marriott's blues and soul roots.
Smokin' (1972) had a minor hit in "Thirty Days in the Hole" and was reasonably successful commercially based on the group's constant touring. As a premiere US concert attraction, they traveled in a customized private jet, and partook in all forms of the rock n roll excess available to formerly working class musicians that rose to fame and riches in this era, even hiring The Blackberries, a trio of black backup singers including Vanetta Fields formerly of The Ikettes. Nevertheless the band's extended, long form concert boogie jam rock style was unable to break them into the mainstream radio. Eat It (1974) was three sides of mostly R&B covers and one side live, and while appreciated by their core fans, did nothing to expand the group's audience. The group staged the Goodbye Pie Tour in 1975 and essentially broke up.
In 1980 Marriott, divorced, and with financial problems in the UK, relocated to Atlanta Georgia and revived Humble Pie with Shirley, adding Bobby Tench (from Jeff Beck Group) on guitar and Anthony "Sooty" Jones on bass. Two albums with a more modern heavy metal sound were released but the effort soon fell apart. In 1991 Marriott and Frampton began collaborating again, with another Humble Pie rebirth possibly in the offing, but an unfortunate house fire took Marriott's life before anything tangible could materialise. http://rockandrollgarage.com/the-tragic-story-of-steve-marriott-death/
Beckton Dumps
Humble Pie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't seem to open my eyes,
But I must get out of this bed
'Cause the phone keeps ringing downstairs,
And I know that this ain't no place for a sleepy head.
I go down to my chest.
Oh! Yer!
Put on my old string vest.
Well, I feel like I'm in need,
So I go back up for a smoke,
And then I slip back in my easy chair.
Then I give my lucky dog a stroke.
Well, he just gives me a wink,
And I know what that mean now.
Well, it mean that I need to put on his lead
If I don't want a mess on my cheap pan.
That's cool,
'Cause I know I can trust him
To grab the fuzz if they bust in.
Get him boy! Oh! Yer!
Well, what does it take
To make a jelly roll?
Who can you sell?
When I wake up to a grey day,
How do I ship away so easily?
Oh!
Baby!
Baby!
Well, I feel too old to get a hair cut,
And I ain't had a shave in months.
Now when I don't go out
I keep my door shut,
And I get on back to good old Beckton Dumps.
Drowning!
Now, warn ya!
I'll be right back!
I won't go there!
The lyrics to Humble Pie's song "Beckton Dumps" depict the life of a man who is lethargic and trapped in a cycle of laziness, smoking and sleeping in his easy chair. He is unmotivated to leave his bed, however, the incessant ringing of the phone downstairs jolts him to action. The lyrics mention the man putting on his old string vest, which could be seen as a representation of his lack of care for himself and the state of his life. He takes a smoke break but then just slips back into his comfortable chair. The only source of companionship and joy for him comes from his dog, who he affectionately pats and trusts to protect him if needed.
The chorus questions the nature of existence and the things that bring happiness. The singer is disillusioned with his state, wondering what it takes to make a successful life, "what does it take to make a jelly roll, who can you sell?" The lines "when I wake up to a grey day, how do I ship away so easily?" suggest that he uses his routine to escape the harsh reality of the world.
Overall, "Beckton Dumps" portrays a man who is unable to break the cycle of his lethargy and seems apathetic to the world around him. The song can be interpreted as a commentary on the effects of depression, a lack of purpose or social isolation.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, I can't seem to open my eyes,
I'm having a hard time waking up.
But I must get out of this bed
I have to get up and start my day.
'Cause the phone keeps ringing downstairs,
People keep calling and I need to answer the phone.
And I know that this ain't no place for a sleepy head.
I need to be alert and awake in order to handle the situation.
I go down to my chest.
I take a deep breath.
Oh! Yer!
An exclamation of excitement or enthusiasm.
Put on my old string vest.
I'm getting dressed.
Swing it on, baby.
I'm feeling good and ready to go.
Well, I feel like I'm in need,
I have a desire that needs to be fulfilled.
So I go back up for a smoke,
I'm going back upstairs to smoke a cigarette.
And then I slip back in my easy chair.
I'm sitting in my comfortable chair.
Then I give my lucky dog a stroke.
I stroke my dog who has brought me good luck.
Well, he just gives me a wink,
My dog gives me a sly look.
And I know what that mean now.
I understand what my dog is trying to tell me.
Well, it mean that I need to put on his lead
My dog is telling me he wants to go outside on a walk.
If I don't want a mess on my cheap pan.
If I don't take him out, he might make a mess inside.
That's cool,
That's alright with me.
'Cause I know I can trust him
I know my dog is well-trained and trustworthy.
To grab the fuzz if they bust in.
My dog will protect me if someone breaks in.
Get him boy! Oh! Yer!
Encouragement to my dog to defend me if necessary.
Well, what does it take
What do I need to do?
To make a jelly roll?
How can I achieve success or happiness?
Who can you sell?
Who can I convince or persuade?
When I wake up to a grey day,
When things seem bleak or depressing.
How do I ship away so easily?
How can I escape or find a way out?
Oh! Baby! Baby!
An expression of frustration or distress.
Well, I feel too old to get a hair cut,
I feel like I've aged and neglected my physical appearance.
And I ain't had a shave in months.
I haven't shaved in a long time.
Now when I don't go out
When I stay inside my home.
I keep my door shut,
I close my door.
And I get on back to good old Beckton Dumps.
I return to my old familiar place.
Drowning!
I feel like I'm struggling or overwhelmed.
Now, warn ya!
A warning to others.
I'll be right back!
I'll return shortly.
I won't go there!
I'm avoiding a certain place or situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVE MARRIOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ferenc Zakharides
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