Teaser by Tommy Bolin (CD, Aug-2001, Sony)

This album is one of the greatest rock and roll recordings ever made. There is not a bad song on the album, every cut is a classic. It has great guitar tone and chops throughout and the songs range from hard rock to fusion instrumentals to ballads to sophisticated jazzy stuff. Tommy Bolin played on many excellent albums but this is probably the highest point in his recording career. Hot players that appear on this recording include: Stanley Sheldon, bass, Jeff Porcaro drums, David Foster, piano, Paul Stallworth, bass, Prairie Prince, drums, Phil Collins, percussion, Jan Hammer, Drums, keyboards, Dave Sanborn, saxophone, Sammy Figueroa and Rafael Cruz, percussion, Michael Walden, drums, Ron Fransen, piano, and of course Tommy Bolin on guitar and vocals. Not to mention Glenn Hughes on an uncredited vocal cameo on "Dreamer." Produced by Tommy Bolin, Lee Kiefer, and Dennis MacKay. "The Grind" opens the album with a riff hot enough that Eddie Van Halen was covering the tune in very early Van Halen shows.(see the bootleg VH live at Gazzaris) A song detailing the life of a musical vagabond. "Homeward Strut" is a take no prisoners fusion instrumental which was on occasion incorporated into the live set of no less than Deep Purple when Tommy was touring and recording with them.
"Dreamer" is a wistful ballad which nonetheless rocks after some sweet, gentle reminiscences about a beautiful woman. "Savannah Woman" is another ballad, this one with a distinctly Latin flavor and a solo that burns with virtuosity in a style that might not be expected from a hard rock guitarist. "Teaser" does remind the listener that this is a rock and roll record, with a riff strong enough that Motley Crue saw fit to cover the song. Tommy's is the best version though. A classic song about a girl that had it goin' on. "People People" is another stylistic diversion, this time into a kind of crunchy reggae riff and a lyric honoring Tommy's family and friends, who were soon to lose him to a drug overdose. "Brother brother," "Sister Sister" "Mother mother" and "Father father" open each verse and Tommy once again sings prophetic lyrics that hint at the dark side of the 70's rock music scene that led to Tommy's untimely death.
"Marching Powder" is another fusion guitar masterpiece which evokes Billy Cobham's "Spectrum" album, (which helped to introduce Tommy Bolin to the music world.) Doesn't hurt that Jan Hammer is in the mix on keyboards. Here Michael Walden provides the drums, with a "beeped up" rhythm section featuring Sammy Figueroa and Rafael Cruz on percussion. and Dave Sanborn on sax. "Wild dogs" is a somewhat dark sounding song about Tommy's longing for simpler times back home in Sioux City, IA with his family and friends. A haunting song.
The album closes with "Lotus" a slow rocker with an epic solo that feels like it was written in the far east, perhaps Japan and Indonesia where Tommy toured with Deep Purple.
This album still gives me goosebumps after more than 30 years, with absolutely stunning guitar playing but also songs that stay on your mind for the rest of your life. Although this album is a real rocker, production is on a par with Steely Dan state of the art studio quality recording, (and Steely Dan alumni are featured, no coincidence.). Timeless music. Great songs, amazing musicianship. Can't lose buying this album.