Album : Greetings from L. A. – Tim Buckley

CB was watching a local cable show that interviewed Jazz musicians.  Tim Buckley was the guest.  Never heard of him.  I don’t even remember if he performed.  Because of the interview I went and found this album.  What a find it was.  CB was pulled into the music right from the start.  Jazzy, bluesy,  some rock thrown in , a little sexy and some coolness.  ‘Move With Me’ tells a story about a little affair set to some very good music.  This was the first TB tune that CB was exposed to and it had a lot going on.  Sax never hurts, some sense of humor and that voice.  He kicks right into ‘Get On Top’ and the beat catches and doesn’t let go.  Guitar opens , bass and drums join in with some organ and Buckley feeling it on vocal.  Love the organ on this tune.  The groove just keeps going.  Buckley and the band are making music that sounds good to me.

‘Sweet Surrender’ slows it down.  He uses strings with some bongos thrown in.  Really like the way Buckley strung his lyrics together and I really dug his voice.  He was in a certain state of mind on this record and was feeling it and letting it out through the music.  He certainly sets a mood with this tune.  He doesn’t hold back on what comes out even if he doesn’t have words, he lets cries etc express his feel.  ‘Nighthawkin’ picks it up again.   He takes a little cab ride.  He’s heading downtown to do the “Boogaloo”.  CB didn’t know what that was but he wanted to do it too.  ‘Devil Eyes’ has that great beat again and all that music style that CB was digging on this record.  Organ and bongos again.  Tim is feeling his oats on this one.  His uncensored side.  But it all works.  The band works out on this one. ‘Hong Kong Bar’ is a bluesy cut Tim Buckley style.  ‘Make it Right Again’ ends the record on the vibe he had been riding

 

Buckley was definitely different from the norm.  Love that he was letting the influences play him and feeding off the sources.  Not everyone’s cup of tea but it sure was Babyhead’s cup of something.   Another new direction for CB.  Certain albums come along and you don’t even have to think about whether you like them or not.  This was one of them for Cincinnati, he had no choice.  He was hooked.  Man he was hearing some good music at this time.

So head down to the “Meat Rack Tavern’ into Tim Buckley’s world and catch that groove and don’t be shy.