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This music really took me back, all the way back to a
cold rainy night in September 1976 when I saw Tommy Bolin
for the first and last time. He opened up for Blue Öyster
Cult, who happened to be one of the hottest rock bands of
the day. In fact, that very concert is out now on CD, released
as part of the archives series in 2004. I have to wonder what
the sound quality is like.
Bolin had the world at his beckoned call; he was young,
extremely talented and had nothing but opportunity in front
of him. He foolishly explored drugs to the point where it
took his life. It is such a shame and a waste of one of the
greatest talents to pick up a six string. I am on a mission
now to get every recording Bolin was involved with because
of this CD, I am now officially obsessed. When you are a music
freak that grew up in the 70s like me, this is par for the
course.
I am beside myself just how incredible this man was on
guitar. I knew it all along but it has been a while since
I took out my old boxed set, The Ultimate Tommy Bolin, which
is no longer in print. It consists of two CDs with an album-sized
booklet loaded with color pictures of Tommy. It is a real
treasure. I also have copies of Private Eyes and Teaser, which
are great solo albums. All the tracks on Whips And Roses are
alternative versions of material from the Teaser album or
previously unreleased gems. There is no doubt Teaser was a
high point for Bolin’s solo work, even the alternative versions
of tracks off the album are killer. They all have a different
twist and ambiance from the original versions making them
fun and interesting to compare. Greg Hampton and Bolin’s brother
Johnnie do a fine job producing these thought to be lost,
but not forgotten tracks. The sound is clear and the music
has a pop and meaty crunch to it that would make you believe
Bolin had just stepped out of the studio and wrapped up the
sessions yesterday.
Every track is worthy of many listens. There is so much
to hear on this CD. The guitar is typically beyond reproach,
the instrumentals are incredible showcases of jazz-blues-rock
fusion that proves unequivocally and repeatedly that BolIn
could play anything with expertise and flair like few have
that come before and after his demise. “Flyin’ Fingers” and
“Blowin Your Cookies” are just too much, this dude was a six-string
magician, a true icon of his day. The more I listen to the
tracks it just amazes me that he has not received more attention
over the years.
Bolin’s story is not unlike another great guitar player
named Hendrix, although his legacy does not mirror the great
one’s musically based on the recordings he left behind, his
life certainly parallels Hendrix in some ways and you have
to wonder how far he would have taken it if he were to be
alive today. Would he be compared or even surpass Jimi? Although
we will never know, I have no doubt that Tommy Bolin would
have evolved into something beyond anything a mere mortal
could fathom. He was right up there with the best, and literally
is with Hendrix and all the rest of the great rock ‘n’ roll
tragedies. As sad as that may be, the music can still bring
us plenty of joy. If you are a guitar aficionado, you will
rejoice when you hear this irreplaceable material.
Reviewed
By Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
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