Tim Buckley Greetings From L.A - Just In Case Anyone Was Wondering Where Jeff Got His Extraordinary Voice From. . . .

Tim Buckley was a force in music way beyond the recognition he has been given. If spawning the great Jeff Buckley wasn't proof enough, Tim left nine stimulating studio albums to document his tragically short career, having died at the age of just 28 from a lethal drink and drugs cocktail following the completion of a tour. To me, his music is fascinating. He explored so many genres and avenues throughout his brief career - enough to have satisfied a man three times his age. Buckley experimented with Folk, Jazz, Psychedelia, Soul and avant-garde Rock, but it was his 'Sex-Funk' period post 1972 - including this fantastic album Greetings From L.A - that captured my imagination most.

Greetings From L.A begins with the epic boogie Move With Me, in which an atmospheric mixture of sublime backing vocals, funky guitar, driving piano, and Tim's own commanding vocal creates a thumping introduction to this, his seventh studio album in just six years. Get On Top is a sexually motivated Soul-Funk groove demonstrating Buckley's extraordinary voice, with this vocal genius dipping into glorious falsetto with ease. It certainly shows why Jeff Buckley, his son, ended up with similar superhuman capabilities. Sweet Surrender is a fantastic, psychedelic ballad with a fantastic arrangement by producer Jerry Goldstein, once again showcasing Buckley's unbelievable ability to sear vocally. Night Hawkin' is an exercise in great guitar playing from Lee Underwood, and once again a compelling production from Goldstein. Devil Eyes is a bluesy shuffle driven by Kevin Kelly's Winwood-esque organ, leading into the sexy and mysterious Hong Kong Bar. The record closes with Make It Right, a brilliant Mediterranean feel with yet another stunning lead vocal and production.

Ironically enough, Greetings From L.A was one of a trio of albums (including Sefronia and Look At The Fool) that flopped commercially. Buckley's venture into this Sex-Funk genre was said to have alienated his largely hippy audience because it was deemed as 'selling out'. Its sexual lyrical content prevented the material from getting onto the radio, and it has been said since the musician's death that he himself disliked the album, and that it was released mainly for financial needs. I guess this is the beauty of music; almost forty years after the initial release of Greetings From L.A, I, a 27 year-old, cannot get it off my stereo. Different people see different qualities in all art forms, and whether it is true that Tim Buckley himself didn't rate this album or not, it communicates with me passionately. It is my favourite Tim Buckley record, although he as an artist is the major discovery - the back catalogue that he left this world is worth checking out regardless if Greetings From L.A is your first choice or not.