Your Favourite Tommy Bolin Recording?
For a relatively short career, Tommy Bolin's recorded legacy is quite remarkable. From the early, tentative ‘Zephyr’ album (1969) to his 2nd solo album ‘Private Eyes’ (1976), Tommy managed to feature on Billy Cobham's groundbreaking, fusion masterpiece ‘Spectrum’ (1973) – which reportedly inspired Jeff Beck to follow a similar path, and Deep Purple's ‘Come Taste the Band’ (1975), amongst others. There has been a sizeable posthumous output, largely via the ‘Tommy Bolin Archives’ as well as various Deep Purple releases – not forgetting the infamous ‘Fever’ 10CD bootleg!
We invite you to share your thoughts on your favourite recordings/albums ...
Private Eyes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt has everything form the heavy Post Toastie & Shake the Devil’ to the quiet melodic ‘Gypsy Soul & Hello Again” to the Latin tinged ‘Savannah Woman’
It showed the world that he was more than just your average rocker, he could actually write decent songs! I think he was building confidence in regard to his singing, I think his singing is more accomplished here than on Teaser. OK, the production is a bit bassy and compressed, but I kinda like that, especially on Post Toastie & Shake the Devil. My 2 fave Bolin moments are the outtro to ‘Bustin Out for Rosey’ - so funky, SASSY and heavy and the guitar outtro on ‘Gypsy Soul’, - just great latin inspired acoustic lead. I LOVE all of his recorded out put, particularly Teaser, Spectrum and Come Taste the Band. Does anyone know if there is a load of unreleased outtakes for Private Eyes like we have seen with the recent Teaser stuff????? It's weird when you think about his 2 solo LP's, Teaser was never really properly promoted etc at the time because he was in Deep Purple and Private Eyes was in effect his requiem!
I remember durring interview Tommy saying "Gettin' Tighter" (Bolin,Hughes) was HIS favorite. So, I have to say its my favorite too. Oh & the haunting "Wild Dogs". Honestly I have to say, I love ALL Tommys music. Every time I listen to his songs my heart melts. His voice is mesmerizing and his guitar style just holds me in a trance. He just left way too soon.
ReplyDeleteR.I.P. Tommy, we love and miss you
This is an impossible ask, as most of his work is good, with the exception of ‘Last Concert In Japan’ which was a mess. Obviously ‘Teaser’ & Private Eyes’ rate highly as they showcase his many facets as a musician and songwriter. ‘Spectrum’ is arguably his best recorded guitar work, it's so effortless and so ahead of its time. I should mention, ‘The Ultimate’ box set, this came out at a time when there was NOTHING and it got the interest levels back up, plus good to hear stuff I had only heard about. Same goes with ‘From the Archives Vol 1’ that got things REALLY going. I love most of the Archives stuff, obviously the quality can be a bit hit and miss, but that's to be expected considering the original sources, but it's great to have so much stuff documented and available. I particularly like the stuff he did with Energy and the ‘Radio Broadcasts’ is a great introduction to the real essence of the band, more so than ‘Energy’ which is nothing more than mainly demos. RIGHT NOW if I had a gun pointed at my head, I'd go for ‘Spectrum’ AND ‘Private Eyes’
ReplyDeleteHave to agree with Private Eyes. Post Toastee has to be his all time best song. I'd like to hear the full version of it as it was apparently edited down from the original. I heard that there were outtakes from this time, but maybe that's the ‘Gotta Dance stuff?????????
ReplyDeleteCan we vote LAST CONCERT IN JAPAN as his only dud, well not just Tommy, but just a crap record all round!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI disagree w/ "LAST CONCERT IN JAPAN being dud". I love DPs 'Smoke On The Water' where Tommy is playfully prancing around the stage. Maybe his guitar work wasnt up to snuff but that concert is fun to watch when Tommy interact w/ the other musicians..seems like they all were a bit bored & sloppy but I still love watching the youtube videos. Wishing I could post the youtube videos here, but I think you all know the ones I'm talking about. Yes, no doubt 'Post Toastie' rocks!! Does anyone know if theres a video of his last FL concert?
ReplyDeleteSorry Mary Jo, but Last Concert IS a dud, no 2 ways about it in my mind, he couldn't even play his guitar properly and he even admitted it. I think Teaser is the one, but they are all good. James Gang Bang and Alexis was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI agree to disagree. Out of curiosity where does Tommy say that? If you have the quote I'ld love to see it :) If anything the band did poorly.. not just Tommy.
Deletehehe! I can't remember the exact interview (s), but he openly admitted that he had problems because he slept on his hand and couldn't move it properly, tho it was due to a bad fix in Jakarta as it seems. He was seeing an acupuncturist etc
ReplyDeleteRe the injured hand, here is a snippet from an interview in Music Life (published Feb 76). Tommy generally appeared to play it down as a ‘sleep’ related injury...
ReplyDeleteTB: Yeah, when I hurt my hand I couldn’t play at all, but I could still do slide guitar, so I’ve been doing nothing but that. (laugh)
Where did you hurt your hand?
TB: In Jakarta. We had a welcoming party there, and I drank too much and ended up knocking over a table. Someone got me to my bed and lay me down there. I usually turn over in my bed when my arm goes to sleep, but because I was so drunk I just lay there for 12 hours in the same position. So I think my hand just stayed twisted and got hurt like that. It’s not a real injury, but it buggered up my hand well enough. It’s getting better now, though.
Thank you. I've read different things about his hand injury. One was a morphine fix that went bad & roadies had to tape his hand to the guitar becuz it was frozen. Watching 'Smoke On The Water' video I see him playing w/ left hand & its not taped to guitar. Here Tommy says he was drunk and slept on it wrong, he calls it "not a real injury". Dont you think if it affected his playing so badly the manager would see it as "real injury" & get help??...the stories dont mesh.
DeleteAnother thing that bugs me, Glenn Hughes was sent home becuz of his drug use & then went into treatment. Why didnt they do same for Tommy?? If Tommy was so out of control, why was he allowed to stay & play? somethings not right
Very valid point re management. I think the general concensus is that it was a bad morphine fix, quite possibly resulting in him sleeping on it - obviously he played it down to avoid bad publicity. It certainly hampered his playing at the time.
ReplyDeleteIn regard to Glenn's treatment, it would appear that at the time, his behaviour was veering on the extreme, apparently the band had concerns about him in late '74. It would appear, that Tommy's needs weren't considered to be bad enough to warrant treatment, DESPITE the fact that he physically couldn't play properly for part of the Japanese leg. It reeks of ‘damage limitation’ but it well and truly backfired on everybody, fans included.
They sent Glenn home & into treatment durring the making of 'Come Taste The Band' 1975. On the song 'Comin Home'Tommy filled in for Glenn w/back up vocals & Tommy played bass. Heres Link for DP "Come Taste The Band Doc." listen at 2:28 Glenn explains.
Deletehttp://www.youtube.com/watchv=dUHXOIxWnjA
My point is...if Tommys playing was suffering so much why didnt management step in like they did with Glenn? How could management just let the show go on?
sorry, it doesnt make sense.
They're mostly all good, but Teaser and Private Eyes rule. I will be buying the new Definitive Teaser when it comes out, but does anyone know if the whole thing has been remixed. I know the original Teaser songs have been remixed, but all the stuff like Cuckoo and Flying Fingers - have these been remixed since they appeared on Whips & roses? or are we getting the original album remixed with the other stuff being exactly as on Whips and Teaser Deluxe???? If so, it's a bit of a rip, but I'll be forced to buty whole thing for the new Teaser mixes alone.
ReplyDeleteThis just in from Greg Hampton himself. Hopefully this will clarify things – should be a good one. If you visit www.stanleysheldon.com, there's a short excerpt of ‘Flyin Fingers’ on his Music Bytes section and it does sound VERY good indeed.
DeleteGreg said... yes these bonus tracks/discs are mostly all remixes
and some difference of versions too, outtakes/takes of songs
no has heard ...
the original release is remastered ....really a great listen here things that I
never noticed, after 35+ years!
Thanks for your feedback Greg
just saw the Cameleon video on the site and LUV it. I wasn't going to get the new Teaser cos I think it's too much same as what I already have but may have to after hearing this. So this is just part of the song then? any more like this on it?
DeleteTeaser or Private Eyes. But after seeing that photo with Alfonse Mouzon on the gallery, I listened to mind transplant just now and forgot how good that is. Loved that Archives one of the sessions with Alfonse, but can't find it, can you still buy it?
ReplyDeleteI like both James Gang albums. They feature some hard rocking guitar riffs and fine vocals melodies. Must be love is an incredible hard/funk tune with a great breaking song rhythm change in the middle part. Also I like the classic JG songs structures : verse/chorus (2X) Solo to fade (Do it, Cruising down the highway, wildfire,...)which are to me Tommy's song signature especialy on the keys of A and E.
ReplyDeleteKind of forgot about James Gang. Those 3 songs you mentioned are the 1st ones on Miami and are really good. Would luv to hear these with Tommy singing, I always though Roy Kenner was a poor man's Joe Walsh anyway.
ReplyDeleteSpectrum is his best instrumental record, so ahead of it's time and sounds good today. Fast playing without getting too clever and showoffy. Mind Transplant was great, but very similar and a year or so later.
ReplyDeleteGoing Back to Colorado was the better of the 2 Zephyr albums.
Preferred Miami to Bang from the James Gang, great songs, but the band weren't funky enuf for me - too trad rock format and not a great fan of the vocals, Tommy would've done a great job singing those tracks. Pity there is no live record from this period.
Come Taste the Band is brilliant, Deep Purple at their best, really loved the anniversary version.
Days May Come, show that Mk4 certainly had the potential, but they seemed to screw it up when they went on the road. I have a cassette of their Miami gig which is way better than the Long Beach one released.
Teaser & Private Eyes go without saying, just brilliant. Just got the new Teaser and haven't had a chance to listen to it properly yet, but he was on a creative high at that point. I hope you guys are going to give Private Eyes same treatment as teaser one day. Didn't Tommy say that it was going to be a double LP? And hopefully the original and much longer Post Toastee is in the vaults.
The Archive is very good to have, some just as a record of the time, but From the Archives 1 is the best by far.
My favourite tho is FEVER because it had, at the time, so much rare stuff that has only since become available because of the Archives releases. Also it cost me so much so I have to like it Lol!
Spectrum, CTTB and the 2 solo albums will always be the standouts. All the rest are nice additions to the collection, but these are the definitive Tommy Bolin recordings.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone agree with me that there is too much repackaging of Tommy's material recently. I love his stuff and will ALWAYS buy the new stuff, but I feel a bit short changed when I get stuff like “Ultimate Redux” & “Phoenix Rising” only to find I've already got it - OK they are better quality I guess.
ReplyDeleteReally can't make my mind up on “Ultimate Teaser” which is great, but I can't see me ever playing “Teaser Deluxe” and “Whips & Roses” again, seems to be a lot of duplication - again better sound each time, but it gets costly.
Also I have to say, I really don't think that the Cd covers and booklets do them any justice at all. They look amateurish and let the side down. There's some really good stuff on your site which would look much better on future stuff maybe? I just think that if we keep buying quality audio product, the visual side needs to compliment it.