PRIVATE EYES

TOMMY BOLIN
Columbia PC 34329
(Source: ROLLING STONE, NOVEMBER 18, 1976; Page 76)
Review by Charley Walters Supplied to BOLIN FAN PAGE by Gord Jantzen

Tommy Bolin's second solo album is a sometimes interesting balance of good ideas and medicore execution. Bolin remains a spirited, agile Jeff Beck disciple, one of the few American guitarists who can use distortion well. His composing ranges from simple and effective loud rock ("Shake the Devil") to catchy melodic hooks ("Someday will Bring Our Love Home"). "Hello, Again" is somber and deliberately paced, with a gentle string arrangement by Del Newman. What's easily overlooked is the casual delivery and appealing timbre of Bolin's voice. His playing here, however, often seems detached from the rest of the proceeding, probably because none of the other musicians can match his skills. Aside from Norma Jean Bell's saxophone parts on the opening two number and Reggie McBride's Bass throughout, it's pretty faceless backing -- puzzling in view of the precision and virtuosity of his previous, much better Teaser. But what may be worst of all is the engineering: the bass drum is almost indistinguishable from the snare; and everything else is blurred by the lack of any treble.