Silver Convention: “Save Me” (1975/2024) CD Review

Silver Convention was a disco band formed in the mid-1970s in Germany. There is an interesting story of the creation of this band, related in the liner notes of the expanded re-issue of the group’s first album, Save Me, including how those singing on these tracks are not the same women pictured on the back cover of the record jacket. And apparently on subsequent releases from the band, the singers changed. In addition to that informative liner notes booklet, this re-issue contains five bonus tracks, all of which were previously released on singles in 1975. If you are unfamiliar with this band, the music is just what you’d want from a 1970s disco group. So, hang a mirror ball from your ceiling, invite some friends over, and enjoy the album.

The disc opens with its title track, which has a totally delightful rhythm. I love the drumming on this tune, and that’s a good thing, because this track is largely about that rhythm. There is also some nice stuff on strings. Lyrically, however, not much is happening, the women repeating the line “Baby save, save me, I am falling in love.” That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Some of KC & The Sunshine Band’s best songs have minimal and simple lyrics. Plus, this track features some totally enjoyable work on saxophone, which really drives the second half of the track. This song has an abrupt ending, going straight into the next track, “I Like It,” in which the women sing, “Darling, I like it/And I can’t deny it/Darling, I like it/Ooh ooh.” Again, there is nothing lyrically to draw us in, but the beat takes care of that. This music is designed to get folks moving, dancing, to make people happy, and if that’s what you want, you’ll like it. This track also features a string section.

There is no pause before “Fly, Robin, Fly,” the album is not giving you and your friends a chance to leave the dance floor of your living room, at least not yet. This track is one of the disc’s highlights, no question, with its cool bass line, steady rhythm, and one of the best uses of the strings on the album. The strings have an uplifting effect. Still, don’t expect much from the lyrics. The song’s only lines are “Fly ,robin, fly/Fly, robin, fly/Fly, robin, fly/Up, up to the sky.” But so what? It’s essentially a groovy instrumental track. In the disc’s liner notes, there is some information on what this song was originally going to be called, and why it was changed. That’s followed by “Tiger Baby,” and again there is no pause between tracks, though “Fly, Robin, Fly” does begin to fade just as the transition occurs. This one is rather playful, and features one of the best vocal performances of the album. There is a little bit of a 1960s girl group flavor to their approach. And someone imitates the tiger, one of the track’s playful aspects. This is one of my personal favorites in part because of its sense of fun, and also because of the wonderful percussion. This one does fade out, rather than running straight into the next track.

“Son Of A Gun” begins with bass and drums, and then builds from there. This one features both male and female vocals, and has a delicious, funky edge. That’s Jerry Rix on vocals (one of the many talented musicians the world lost in that horrid year of 2016). This song is another of the album’s highlights. Like “Tiger Baby,” this one fades out at the end. Then “Always Another Girl” begins with vocals supported by a good rhythm. This track contains more lyrics than the other tracks: “There is always another girl/To take a lucky woman’s man/There is always another girl/To change a lucky woman’s man/Only if your love is like no other/He won’t need another lover/And you’ll be a lucky girl.” There are also a couple of brief spoken word sections, delightful moments that keep the song interesting.

“Chains Of Love” has a pretty opening section, with some really nice guitar work, immediately setting it apart from the previous tracks. Also, this one features even more lyrics, including an actual lead vocal performance. “Whatever you will do/I will always follow you/My love will be true.” While this song might not compel you to go out onto the dance floor, it is one of the disc’s best tracks. It is followed by “Heart Of Stone,” which is an original number, not a cover of the Stones song. “I’m so tired of living all alone/Can’t you see I’ve got no heart of stone?” This track has a delicious funky rhythm. I love the drumming here. This one will almost certainly get you dancing. The original album concluded with “Please Don’t Change The Chords Of This Song,” a mellow number that eases in and features some pretty vocal work. “Our love is like a song/That I’ll sing my whole life through/Please don’t change the chords of this lovely song/And I won’t stop loving you.” It’s a rather beautiful conclusion to the album.

Bonus Tracks

This expanded re-issue contains five bonus tracks. The first is a longer version of “Fly, Robin, Fly,” from the 12” single released in Germany in 1975. It’s everything we love about the album track, except there is more of it, more than two extra minutes. That’s followed by the flip side to that 12” single, “Tiger Baby.” This song is expanded even more, to a little more than twice its original length. The original version is one of my favorite tracks, but this version just basically adds length. There is nothing really different here, so it ends up becoming dull after a while. It is essentially like listening to the song twice through. The bonus tracks also include an expanded version of “Always Another Girl,” from a promotional 12” single. This one adds only approximately a minute and a half. That’s followed by the “Special Disco Edit” version of “I Like It,” which is actually shorter than the album version. This track was released in the UK in 1975. The disc concludes with “Save Me Again,” which was the flip side to the “Save Me” single, and is basically a slightly different version of “Save Me.” Unlike the album version of “Save Me,” this track fades out.

CD Track List

1. Save Me
2. I Like It
3. Fly, Robin, Fly
4. Tiger Baby
5. Son Of A Gun
6. Always Another Girl
7. Chains Of Love
8. Heart Of Stone
9. Please Don’t Change The Chords Of This Song
10. Fly, Robin, Fly (12” Version)
11. Tiger Baby (12” Version)
12. Always Another Girl (US Promo 12”)
13. I Like It (Special Disco Edit)
14. Save Me Again

This special expanded reissue of Save Me was released on March 29, 2024 through Omnivore Recordings.