Tommy Bolin - Teaser (1975) & Private Eyes (1976)

(U.S 1968 - 1976)

Tommy Bolin died in a Miami hotel of 4th December 1976 due to multiple drug intoxications. He is buried in Sioux City, Iowa, where he was born just 25 years earlier. The death of one so young is always a tragedy, but that it happened to a talent as unique as Tommy was somehow worse.

Most people know Tommy as the guy who replaced Ritchie Blackmore on the final incarnation (before the 1984 reformation) of Deep Purple.

Although some Purple fans felt uncomfortable with Bolin's style, many more seem to have hunted backwards from his one studio LP with Purple - 1975's 'Come Taste The Band' - for an all too small collection of works that make him one the world's finest exponents of the electric guitar, not to mention a first-rate singer and songwriter.

Tommy Bolin LP's with Zephyr, Billy Cobham and the James Gang

After being expelled from school for refusing to cut his hair, he moved to Denver, Colorado, and built a reputation with Zephyr (1968-72), the jazz-rock sexet Energy (who did not record), and his first foray into the limelight with the James Gang (1973-74). During this time, he guested on many records, notably jazz-rock drummer Billy Cobham's 'Spectrum' (1973). In just two days, Bolin laid down the kind of guitar leads that have rarely been equalled.

Deep Purple (feat. Tommy Bolin)

Among the fans of the record was one David Coverdale, who, two years on in his capacity as singer for Deep Purple, suggested Tommy's name as a likely Blackmore replacement. In April 197, as Blackmore bowed out, Tommy signed a recording deal which led to his first solo record, 'Teaser', then bravely took the job with 1974's biggest selling act in the US. It was a busy month by any standards. 'Teaser' was released almost simultaneously with Purple's 'Come Taste The Band', and together they enabled the name and music of Tommy Bolin to reach the wide audience it so richly deserved.

Come Taste The Band

Come the spring of 1976, Purple had split, he was finally free to play his own solo tour and took to the road premiering material he would record in July for his second LP 'Private Eyes'

On drums was Bobby Berge (ex-Zephyr and Energy) and Stevie Wonder/Frank Zappa sidekick Norma Jean Bell played saxophone. One-time Vanilla Fudge member Mark Stein played keyboards, while Reggie McBride played Bass and provided backup vocals.

Reggie McBribe, Tommy Bolin, Norma Jean Bell

Together they turned in something of a classic, spanning the full range of Tommy's enormous songwriting styles from lilting ballads like "Sweet Burgundy", through the bold-as-brass funk of "Shake The Devil" to the heavy fuzzed riffing of the epic "Post Toastee" (reputed to be an edit of a take, twice the length of the final album cut).

Ironically, the longer cut was an attack on the very lifestyle that was to kill him - and, without wishing to dwell on Tommy's excessive use of recreational chemicals, his indulgences did have some effect on his recording sessions, cutting them back and preventing 'Private Eyes' from being a double album. Nevertheless, it remains a stunning if unintentional 'farewell' tribute. One can only speculate about what might have been. Tommy Bolin is sadly missed.... [by Neil Jefferies, Kerrang Magazine 1991]

Bolin continued working at a breakneck pace, guesting on the self-titled debut by Canadian Led Zeppelin clones Moxy. Sadly, Bolin was found dead from a heroin overdose on December 4, 1976, in Miami, FL (the day after opening a show for Jeff Beck), at the age of 25.

This post consists of FLACs ripped from Vinyl (Teaser) and CD (Private Eyes) and includes full album artwork for each, along with label scans and associated photos displayed above.

Like many others, my first introduction to Tommy Bolin was through his brief involvement with Deep Purple, and once I got over 'that exit' by Blackmore, I began to appreciate Bolin's talent for what it was. I purchased both of his solo albums (and was flawed by his musicianship) and then undertook to find his past recordings with the bands as listed above. To this day, I think Bolin was a freak of nature and one can only imagine what he may have produced if he had not fallen victim to drug abuse.

It's hard to say what tracks I like the most on these two albums, as they are all GREAT, so I'm gonna pass and let you decide. If you haven't heard these albums yet then you are in for a real treat folks.

Teaser

Side 1
01 The Grind (3:26)
02 Homeward Strut (3:55)
03 Dreamer (5:08)
04 Savannah Woman (2:45)
05 Teaser (4:27)
Side 2
06 People, People (4:55)
07 Marching Powder (4:14)
08 Wild Dogs (4:40)
09 Lotus (3:57)
Bonus Tracks (MP3 / 320)
10 Dreamer (Early L.A. Demo 1974)
11 Teaser (Acoustic Home Demo 1973)

12 Wild Dogs (Early L.A. Demo 1974)

Band Members:
Tommy Bolin - Guitar, Synthesizer, Vocals
Stanley Sheldon, Paul Stallworth, Bob Berge - Bass
Jeff Porcaro, Pairie Prince, Michael Walden - Drums
Phil Collins, Sammy Figueroa, Rafael Cruz - Percussion
David Foster, Jan Hammer, Ron Fransen - Keyboards
Dave Sanborn - Saxophone
The Sniffetes - Backing Vocals

Teaser Link (307Mb)

Private Eyes

Track Listing
01. Bustin' Out For Rosey
02. Sweet Burgundy
03. Post Toastee
04. Shake The Devil
05. Gypsy Soul
06. Someday Will Bring Our Love Home
07. Hello Again
08. You Told Me That You Loved Me
Bonus Tracks
09. Post Toastee (Acoustic Demo)
10. Gypsy Soul (Acoustic Demo)

11. Sweet Burgundy (Acoustic Demo Naked)

Band Members:
Tommy Bolin - Guitar, Lead Vocals
Reggie McBride - Bass, Vocals
Mark Stein - Keyboards, Vocals
Bobby Berge - Drums, Percussion
Bobbye Hall - Percussion
Norma Jean Bell - Saxophone, Vocals

Private Eyes Link (290Mb)