Tim Buckley "Live at the Troubadour 1969" 1994****

Tim Buckley was one of the greatest vocal talents ever produced by the pop/rock scene. He started his career in 1966 as a promising teen idol for the thinking youth (although at 19 he was an already divorced dad) and ended it at the age of only 28 as a penniless, artistically spent, washed-up drug addict. In between he revolutionised the art of singing by using the human voice as an instrument and pushing his own to extremes never reached before -with the only possible exception of Yma Sumac. He was also a prolific writer, composing songs in a variety of styles: folk, pop, psychedelia, free-form jazz, avant-garde and funk. He was largely forgotten until 4AD band This Mortal Coil had a hit with a cover of his "Song to the Siren". Subsequently, live recordings of his music continue to be unearthed. This is the 2nd out of 7 or so. It was recorded in 1969 in the Troubadour club in California and finds him at the beginning of his experimental stage, performing songs from the avant-guard "Lorca" album as well as the folkier two previous ones, "Blue Afternoon" and "Happy Sad". The sound quality is very decent, considering that it was never supposed to be released. The band (guitar/bass/congas/drums) is in great form and very adept at improvising without missing a beat. Guitarist and long-time associate Lee Underwood's fluid and imaginative playing is worthy of special mention. Opener "Strange Feelin'" is bluesy song played almost conventionally and followed by the instrumental "Venice Mating Call" which Buckley presents with a horrible joke as "Give smack (heroin) a chance". "I Don't Need It to Rain","Gypsy Woman" and "Nobody Walkin'" are three over-long numbers combining improvised music and vocal acrobatics. "I Had a Talk With My Woman", "Blue Melody" and "Chase the Blues Away" are closer to his previous psychedelic folk jazz style and the better for it, while "Driftin'" is a slow acoustic song that perfectly showcases his amazing vocal talent. Although this live album is yet another testament to this talent, it's hardly a good introduction. Start with "Goodbye and Hello" and "Greetings from LA", then a good compilation. Proceed with his folky debut, then the more experimental later ones if you're feeling adventurous, skip the last two studio albums and work your way up the live albums starting with "Dream Letter".

**** for I Had a Talk With My Woman, Chase the Blues Away, Driftin

*** for Strange Feelin', I Don't Need It to Rain, Gypsy Woman, Blue Melody, Nobody Walkin

** for Venice Mating Call