Tommy Bolin THE GRIND ("Teaser" Tommy Bolin's Debut Album Released 1975) (Tommy Bolin Guitar Improv)

Album:Teaser Released:November 17, 1975 Recorded:July 1975 Studio:The Record Plant, Los Angeles, Electric Lady Studios, New York City, Trident Studios, London Genre:Hard rock, blues rock, jazz fusion Label:Nemperor, Atlantic Producer:Tommy Bolin, Lee Kiefer Tommy Bolin was born in Sioux City, Iowa, USA Aug 1, '51, and began playing with a band called The Miserlous before he was asked to join another band called Denny and The Triumphs, in '64 at the young age of thirteen.Tommy Bolin was a talented session guitarist/musician for various groups such as Zephyr, Energy, Alphonse Mouzon, Billy Cobham, James Gang, Moxy, Deep Purple and a solo artist(The Tommy Bolin Band)completing two successful solo albums "Teaser" and "Private Eyes."Finally Tommy Bolin made it big time and formed his own solo band, which is what he wanted to pursue and not be a fill in for Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple or a session guitarist for various groups.Tommy played his first show with his solo band on April 28, '76 and sadly playing his last show on Dec 3rd, '76 at the Jai Alai in Miami FL opening for guitar hero Jeff Beck while on his first promotional tour for his second album Private Eyes.Tommy Bolin died within hours later on Dec 4th, '76 in a Miami hotel from a drug overdose at 25 years old.Teaser was released in conjunction with the album Come Taste the Band by Deep Purple MKIV line up, on which Bolin also played guitar.Teaser album material spans hard rock, jazz, reggae and Latin music, often blending these styles together within a single song.Upon its release on Nov '75, Teaser received considerable praise from critics.However, due to Bolin's obligations with Deep Purple, he was unable to promote the album with a solo tour and sales were affected as a result.There are some delicious Tommy Bolin "Teaser" album jams taken from the King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents:Deep Purple in Concert album(recorded in Feb '76/Jan '76) released not until July ‘95 and Deep Purple's Last Concert In Japan album released in March '77 a year after Purple MK4 broke up and the album was strictly dedicated to Tommy a few months after his death.In addition since Tommy could not promote the album with his solo band due to Tommy's obligation with Deep Purple's Come Taste The Band Tour.But Deep Purple MK4 would play a couple of Tommy's songs on their setlist during the Come Taste The Band Tour ‘75-‘76 such as Wild Dogs and Homeward Strut."The Grind" a funky rock'n roller that switches from the key of G where the opening riff is played, to the chorus/guitar solos in the key of A# Major with some power 5 and 6 chords(I,IV).An interesting fact is that most of Tommy's original pieces were written by Tommy Bolin a year or two prior to his album's coming out and you can hear many cool versions of his songs on the Tommy Bolin Archives and the Live Tommy Bolin Archives.I love Tommy Bolin's guitar sound!I always had a hard time trying to comp his sound until I found the Tommy Bolin signature fuzz pedal from Hartman electronics which was what I needed to crack the code of The Bolin Sound.Tommy had a very unique guitar sound which was a combination of Hiwatt amp stacks, Sam Ash Fuzz Box, Phase pedal, Leslie speakers and the echoplex(which he uses to create his famous Ray Gun Effect).It's hard to explain his overdriveeyyy/Fuzzy sound, it's like a combination of and overdriven amp and a fuzzy clippy maestro pedal.Not an over the top Jimi Hendrix sounding fuzz face, but something heavy and just sooo Tommy Bolin.Very unique and awesome!I believe Tommy Bolin was using a '50's or 60's sunburst Fender Stratocaster, '50's or '60's Fender Stratocaster with a Fender Telecaster neck/headstock, Ultimate Hamer Stdr, '50's or '60's Gibson Les Paul with an American flag pickguard and a Bigsby tremolo bar.Ladies and Gentlemen, Tommy Bolin and Friends! Musicians who played on the album Tommy Bolin - Guitar, Lead Vocals Stanley Sheldon-Bass(1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7) Paul Stallworth-Bass(4, 8, 9) Dave Foster-Piano/Synthesizer(1, 2, 3) Jan Hammer-Synthesizer(6, 7), drums(6) Ron Fransen-Piano(9) David Sanborn-Saxophone(6, 7) Jeff Porcaro-Drums(1, 2, 3, 5) Prairie Prince-Drums(4, 8) Michael Walden-Drums(7) Bobbie Berge-Drums(9) Phil Collins-Percussion(4) Sammy Figueroa-Percussion(6, 7) Rafael Cruz-Percussion(6, 7) Dave Brown-Background vocals(1) Lee Kiefer-Background vocals (1) *Glenn Hughes(of Deep Purple fame)sings lead vocals on the final verse of "Dreamer" but, due to contractual reasons, was not credited. *Tommy's younger brother Johnnie Bolin(of DVC, Dare Force, and currently (2011) with Black Oak Arkansas) also played drums. Bands he played in have often covered "Teaser" live. Gear Fender Standard Stratocaster(Brown Sunburst) MXR micro amp Hartman Electronics Signature Tommy Bolin Fuzz Pedal BossCH-1Super Chorus MXR mini Phase 95 MXR EP-103 Echoplex Gator Pedal Board Roland micro Cube GX Amp(Classic Stack/ReverbSetting) George's Music Cables Jim Dunlop Guitar Picks/Glass Slide