Genre: folk-rock
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title: Tim Buckley
Company: Elektra
Catalog: EKS-74007
Year: 1966
Country/State: Washington, D.C.
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: minor ring wear
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5037
Price: $30.00
A good looking musician who dies young (only 28) ... Those ingredients seem to be enough to ensure that your memory is surrounded by a certain amount of hype.
Over the years I've made a real effort to become a believer, but the allure/mystery that surrounds Tim Buckley is simply lost on my simplistic ears. Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in New York and then Anaheim, California, Buckley started his musical career playing in a number of local C&W bands, including The Bohemians, The Harlequin 3 and Princess Ramona & the Cherokee Riders. The mid-1960s found him opting for a solo career as a folkie. Performing on the L.A. Club circuit his good looks and talent started to generate local press. Mothers of Invention drummer Jimmy Carl Black put Buckley in touch with Frank Zappa manager Herb Cohen. Cohen financed some demos, one which was forwarded to Elektra Records President Jac Holzman. Cohen also arranged for a New York showcase performance that Holzman attended.
Signed to Elektra, 1966's cleverly titled "Tim Buckley" was recorded in L.A. with Holzman and Paul Rothchild co-producing. Only 19 at the time, Buckley arranged all of the material and wrote, or co-wrote all twelve songs (about half with former California band mate/buddy Larry Beckett). While much of the material reflected Buckley's folk roots, elsewhere he deserved considerable recognition for being willing to experiment, going far beyond standard folk. How many folkies would dare to record something as hard rockin' as 'Understand Your Man'? With support from bassist James Fielder (also a former California band mate), drummer Billy Mundi and guitarist Lee Underwood, the album included plenty of then-daring electric guitar (the nice jangle rocker 'Aren't You the Girl' and the should've-been-a-hit 'It Happens Every Time'), some modest psych moves ('Song of the Magician' and 'Song Slowly Song') and even a couple of songs with an Indian raga influence ('She Is'). On the other hand, while critics praised his tenor voice, I'll tell you I find it kind of shrieky and spread over an album it tends to become pretty annoying. Buckley certainly wasn't the year's strongest singer and on a couple of tracks Jack Nitzsche's pseudo-classical string arrangements threatened to swamp him. The same criticisms were true for many of the lyrics. Overly romantic, outright wimpy and occasionally quite clumsy ('Song for Janie'), it's easy to see the appeal to thousands of young high school and college aged women. On the other hand, garage rock this ain't ... Elsewhere Elektra tapped the album for one quickly forgotten single:
- 1966's 'Wings' b/w 'Grief In My Soul (Elektra catalog number 45606)
"Tim
Buckley" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) I Can't See You (Larry Beckett - Tim Buckley) - 2:40
2.) Wings (Tim Buckley) - 2:30
3.) Song of the Magician (Larry Beckett - Tim Buckley) - 3:05
4.) Strange Street Affair Under Blue (Larry Beckett - Tim Buckley) - 3:10
5.) Valentine Melody (Larry Beckett - Tim Buckley) - 3:40
6.) Aren't You the
Girl (Tim Buckley) - 2:01
(side
2)
1.) Song Slowly Song (Larry Beckett - Tim Buckley) - 4:13
2.) It Happens Every Time (Tim Buckley) - 1:49
3.) Song for Janie (Tim Buckley) - 2:43
4.) Grief In My Soul (Larry Beckett - Tim Buckley) - 2:03
5.) She Is (Larry Beckett - Tim Buckley) - 3:05
6.) Understand Your Man (Tim Buckley) - 3:06