Ranking the Albums: Tommy Bolin 

Tommy is still a legend in my region here. I live in Sioux Falls, SD and Tommy was from Sioux City, IA which is only like 75 miles from me or so. Been lots of Tommy Bolin annual festivals to remember him. Thanks for remembering him as well Pete. I played with his brother Johnnie Bolin in the Sioux City Rockestra group. Johnnie has been the drummer of Black Oak Arkansas for many years.

Tommy Bolin's playing on Spectrum was fantastic, that album broke so many barriers at the time. I was at Tommy's final show in Miami in December 1976, his band (with Mark Craney and Jimmy Haslip) opened up for Jeff Beck/Jan Hammer Band. Great music was played that night, but Tommy was not playing at his best, and the world was shocked the next day as the news of his tragic death shook the music community. As time went on I bought other albums/CD's that he played on. As a fusion fan, Mouzon's Mind Transplant is really enjoyable, and I always go back to the song Marching Powder from Teaser, the energy between Tommy Bolin and Narada Michael Walden is off the Richter Scale! RIP Tommy.

1- Come Taste The Band my sentimental favorite Purple album. 2- Teaser 3- Spectrum 4- Private Eyes 5- Miami/Bang Tie 6- Mind Transplant 7- Moxy

PostToastie was a kick ass tune that ranks up in my top fifty of all time! Yes it’s that good!

Saw Tommy with The Outlaws, Oct. 2 1976 at the Tower Theater, Upper Darby, Pa. Excellent Concert. RIP

Great show Pete! I'm 60 and was at alot of the concerts you went to.My favorite albums are 1) Come Taste the Band 2) Spectrum 3)Teaser 4)Moxy 5)Zephyr 6)Bang 7)Miami 8)Private Eyes

When I saw Whitesnake again seven years ago, during their performance of 'You Keep On Moving' Coverdale pounded his chest and gave me the a-okay sign once he spotted my Tommy Bolin shirt 🙂

I have Tommy Bolin’s “Teaser” and “Private Eyes” albums. I bought both for about a dollar each out of cutout bins in the late 1970s.

I like every song on Bang, one of my favorite albums, and a great showcase for Tommy's playing singing and writing. And people forget how good the rhythm section of the James Gang was

So glad to see Tommy getting more recognition. The only thing I would change on your list is flipping the top three. Teaser has to be number one for me. Can still remember putting the needle down and hearing the Grind for the first time. That album stayed on my turntable for months back in 75

I have the album, “Going Back To Colorado”, by Zephyr on Compact Disc.. I forgot that Tommy Bolin played on the album.

Come Taste The Band is EXTREMELY underrated! I love it. Wish we got more from the MK IV lineup.

Tommy's playing is phenomenal on "Spectrum." He has a swagger and a hipness that is so of that era. One amazing fact about that record that I learned from watching Lee Sklar's (bassist on that LP) channel, is that at around 1:46 on "Taurian Matador" Tommy breaks a string right in the midst of trading licks with Jan Hammer! You can hear it. Tommy doesn't miss a beat and continues on. They used that track for the LP. If that isn't a consummate pro, I don't know what is. Tommy was ridiculously versatile as a guitarist and super talented. I really think he was amongst the best players rock and roll ever produced.

I forgot how fun "ranking the albums" videos were. Good stuff. Thanks Pete.

1.Teaser 2. Come taste the band 3. Bang 4. Spectrum 5. Energy 6. Private eyes 7. Miami 8. Mind Transplant 9. Going back to Colorado 10. zephyr

Great one here Pete

I was just looking it up...there's a Deep Purple live at Long Beach in '71 as well. For those unfamiliar with the timeline of Bolin's membership in Purple...make sure you get Long Beach 76', not 71'

Found this to be one of the tougher Rankings given that Bolin's one of my favorite guitarist's. Miami Spectrum Come Taste the Band Teaser Zephyr Bang Going Back to Colorado Mind Transplant Moxy Private Eyes

Tommy was an absolute genius. His death was one of the greatest tragedies in the history of music.

My favourite would be Teaser purely because I'm so familiar with it having bought it when it came out. Loved it from the first. CTTB, Private Eyes and the two James Gang albums have also featured in my collection since the 70's. A great talent that sadly was destroyed and taken from us by drugs when he really should have had his best years ahead of him. RIP Tommy.

Saw Tommy Bolin mid 70s with Purple good show.

Teaser is such a great album. Unfortunately when I purged most of my vinyl in the late 90's that album went too. This video reminded me of that album now I got to find it again.

Wow. Love the channel for awhile and am happily surprised to see Tommy’s discography covered as I’ve been filling in my vinyl set. Yes, Spectrum is such a great find that I bought for Cobham master class drumming after hearing MVO a couple years back. I have now chased Bolin’s sound evolution into Moxy, Zephyr, and Mouzon. He was such a fluid and varied player. I’m happy he covered so many styles and left us so much to enjoy.

I love this....I actually got into Tommy from your James Gang video a while aggo...what a talent!

Thank you,” Pete” for your ranking of “Tommy Bolin”. I enjoyed listening to your picks. * Love the ‘Moxy’ and Deep Purple ‘ Come Taste the Band’ !! 🎤🎸🎵🎹🥁 Life is better with music.

Thanks for doing this!!! Bolin, the tastiest greasiest guitarist that ever lived!

Amen Pete. Two of my all time favourite records. Finding Tommy Bolin was truly a voyage for me. There is so much to find. But sad, there's an obvious end to the trip.

My favorite guitar player of all time. Love your channel and the fact that you actually did a video on Mr Bolin. Obviously I don’t agree with your list 100% as we all have our own options but Come Taste The Band for me is his definitive statement as a musician. Owed to G just sums him up perfectly as a player immense timing, great melody, and crushing style.

Love Tommy Bolin... I only own Teaser, Private Eyes and his box set The Ultimate (and of course Come Taste... & Spectrum) Great Stuff!!!

Tommy is in my top 5 guitar players!!! Outstanding video!!! i love your passion for great music thank you!!!

Was a big fan in my H.S. years 73-77... saw Tommy 2x as a solo and I caught him w/ Deep Purple during a snowstorm Dec 76? Tommy had it all, but the demons controlled much of his talent. He was brilliant one song and out of it on the next, we still enjoyed every minute. Reminded my friends and I so much of late 70's Jimmy Page, a man who had everything from looks to phenomenal ability, unfortunately, Tommy was not w/ us very long. He was an "acquired" taste musically bc he was always experimenting and all over the place style wise. I'm happy to remember him as I saw him, warts and all. RIP. Thanks, SOT for remembering Tommy and reminding us of the immense talent that was available in the 70's.

So great to see Tommy's legacy is still getting props! Thanks for this Steve...been a fan since 1974!!!

I like The James Gang, and Deep Purple. Love the rock, funk, and the jazzy. Good episode. Very informative.

Private Eyes is one of my favorite albums. I have Miami as an LP but haven't had a turntable to play it on in twenty or so years. Don't remember what it sounds like. Going to see if I can get Teaser, Moxy, Bang, and Spectrum. The guy was great. Also buying a turntable soon.

Going back to Colorado (the 2nd and last album he did with Zephyr) would have made my list.

I was happy to see that the "Live At Ebbets Field" recording made the list. That was released on the Tommy Bolin Archives label and has sadly been out of print for a long time. It is awesome!

There was an extension of Tommy Bolin Tribute shows in Denver in the mid to late ‘90’s, the last of which I went to (all the way from CA) in ‘98. There were many locals but there were some people from all over the country and even from as far away as Sweden, Japan and South America. Glenn Hughes was the featured performer, along with Johnnie Bolin and a couple of his bandmates from Black Oak Arkansas. Tommy’s friend and lyricist Jeff Cook also performed, he sang Dreamer and a version of Going Down. I met Jeff the day before at a meet and greet and took a picture with him before the show. Very cool guy! My uncle and his family were in Golden at the time, which made the trip and the show an absolute must

I have yet to dive into Tommy Bolin’s albums that he played guitar on, but in the past year, I got into Deep Purple’s ‘Come Taste the Band’ album. I like it a lot and it’s in my top 5 Deep Purple albums already. Tommy’s guitar work on it is fantastic, especially on “Owed to ‘G.’” Hopefully this year I’ll be able to get into more of the albums he appeared on.

“ Spectrum” with Billy Cobham, “Mind Transplant” with Alphonse Mouzon, “ Teaser”solo album, “ Come Taste the Band” with Deep Purple and the two he recorded with James Gang “ Bang” and “ Miami “ are my picks

Very cool rundown, Pete. Loved it. Being born and raised in Denver, I have been brainwashed with Bolin, both from the radio, and from my own purchases, all my life. And, I attended the first two tribute shows to him in Denver; I was too young to see him when he was alive. Well, not too young. None of the older people around me were into Bolin. I digress. I would have ranked PRIVATE EYES a little higher, but, that's cool. I prefer it to TEASER. Question 1: Why did you leave out Zephyr? That first album is like nothing other. Part Vanilla Fudge, part early Deep Purple, part Iron Butterly, part Super Session, and part Tony Williams Lifetime.....and that doesn't been to describe the "bathtub" album. With Candy's voice over the top of it all. Great show as always, Pete. Question 2: What happened to the hair? Its been gone a while, but.....but.....Cheers.....MC Malthus.

Bang is my all time favorite album with Tommy. First I ever heard, for ME his best vocals and dont get me wrong LOVE Teaser as well. Just the memories of Bang get me emotional still.

Nice reviews ...agree Come Taste the Band is so underrated....I get the Blackmore thing but folks are missing out on this one and the Steve Morse era releases...I believe Tommy planned for Teaser to be a double but the Record Company said no .. so there are fantastic extended versions and jams from those sessions .. he's on 6 or the 8 tracks on MOXY, a band I saw live in a bar in Toronto soon after this LP was released .....the James Gang releases are great as well, in fact it was their appearance on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert that I remember seeing Bolin the first time in 74 ( available on RU-vid) .. but agree that Spectrum is outstanding.. I have played that thing for so many folks over the years and the reaction is priceless..props to Lee Sklar on the bass ......I also heard read that LP influenced Beck .. ironically Bolin was opening for Beck when he succumbed to his demons

After listening to this I felt compelled to listen to Bang and Miami for the first time in quite awhile. I had forgotten just how great Tommy’s playing was on this two albums. Time well spent

Right there with you Pete, Spectrum is hands down one of my favorite albums. After hearing Tommy's licks on that I sought out everything I could find of his work - and Cobham too. Greg

For me its Spectrum (Amazing), Bang, Private Eyes, Teaser, Miami & Come Taste The Band. Haven't listened to the others, need to check them out.

Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to “ Pete” Happy Birthday to you. Thank you for all your videos. I enjoy and appreciate it. All the damn time. 🎤🎸🎵🎹🥁 Life is better with music.

His playing on the two zephyr LPs was exceptional also!!

What a wonderful overview of a talented player. Quadrant four and the interaction between Hammer and Bolin is unforgettable and as fresh now as it was 49 years ago when it came out. Off to explore more of his work with James Gang.

Good choice of subject and good reviews. Some 40 odd years ago, I was walking the streets of my home town listening to James Gang Bang at night and the song Ride the Wind (before it's gone) inspired me to seriously think about getting a motorcycle. A couple of months or so later and I was riding a Kawasaki 750 Twin. Talk about riding the wind ...

The 3 disc deluxe version of Teaser....2 discs of wailing outtakes.....is phenomenal......some of those did appear on Whirlwind and the 2 volumes of Whips and Roses....all worth getting.....there's an otherwordly cd of Bolin jamming with Alphonse Mouzon during the Mind Transplant sessions that is also fantastic.....Fusion Jam.....a must have.....there's a blues jamming Deep Purple disc during rehearsals called Days May Come and Days May Go....for lost live gems there is Tommy Bolin Live at the Jet Bar.....Energy The Radio Broadcasts.....Zephyr Live at Arts Bar and Grill.....all of these are must have's for the Bolin fan....thank you Pete ......

...I was there for the Long Beach record......it was the only time I saw him. As time went bye I could really hear the influence he made on Jeff Beck. The guy was a MONSTER Guitar player.........

Post Toatee is my fav Tommy Bolin song

The most interesting musical personality (along with Jon Lord) who served in Purple.-

Thanks for this ranking Pete..I've always highly rated Bolins guitar playing,and a sad loss too us.It's great listening too Teaser in particular.Great memories..R.I.P Tommy 🎸❤️

Thank You for shining a Light On Tommy !!! He is the Criminally Under Rated . Have You Heard the Live Zephyr Release That Purple Pyamid Put Out ? He plays Some killer stuff and the Band is Very Good Too ,I know Candy's vocals are an issue with many but the band is So Good it makes Up for That . Also His band Energy has a Couple fairly Recent releases on Friday Music .many of the James Gang Tunes came from Energy .Thanks Again Pete !!

Bolin was a legendary player and a great member of Deep Purple!

I have heard from multiple sources that Bolin's playing on "Spectrum" got the attention of David Coverdale when Purple was looking for a new guitar player after Blackmore left. Coverdale got so into that album that he was like "We got to get this guy [Bolin] into the band. I even saw a recent exchange where Coverdale called "Spectrum" one of his favorite albums on Twitter.

Teaser!!! My all time life changing favorite album. It's so tasteful and eclectic. Private Eyes! Post Toastee solo at end! Shake the Devil main riff is so cool. Yes Spectrum is amazing and one reason I own 2 echoplex'. Nobody was so creative with one. Tommy, my all time life changing favorite guitarist, but it wasn't just that it's his songs and his voice. Then Jimi, Jeff, Robin, David etc.

Awesome job, Pete. I wonder how different Rock n Roll would be today if Tommy had lived. He could play everything, sing incredibly and had an ear for the right sound. I truly think, his was the greatest loss for R&R

Hi Pete, I'm so glad you did a Tommy Bolin ranking of the albums.😊 👍 He was an amazing guitar player who left too soon. My top 3 are: DP's CTTB, Teaser and Alphonse Mouzons': Mind Transplant - this one is in my top 10 fusion albums.

Thanks for doing this!!! I am a huge Bolin fan!!! He was enormously influential!!! There's the enormous life circle with Jeff Beck. He was HUGE!!!

Hey Pete, nice job on bringing Tommy in for some love! Better later than ...right? It would've been cool to bring Jeff Young back for his ratings on Tommy. I'm the 1rst guitar teacher (Bolin freak) he talked about on your Beck vs Bolin "throwdown" episode, that turned him onto TB. There are many fine cds available thru the Archives. There is a great Energy studio compilation (a what could've been) as well as 3 excellent live cds. Tommy at his pre Spectrum peak IMO. I've enjoyed them on cassette since '78. (The live that is. Heard the studio stuff in bits & pieces. The later posthumous Energy studio release was an Archives endeavor.) Got them from Bobby Berge (drummer for Zephyr, Energy, Private Eyes & a few cuts on Teaser. He used to live right across the street from me in Boulder, Co. & come over & party & jam. A blast & an honor jamming with one of my guitar heroes drummers. Even got a few compliments. Wow! Boy did I used to pick his brain!) I'm not sure if the Archives doesn't have it or they just don't wanna release it but I have a cassette tape of an acetate of a 2nd unreleased Cobham album with Tommy I'd love to get converted to digital. Above & beyond even Spectrum I think! Of course as mentioned, the 1rst Whips & Roses is a must & pt II is definitely worth checking out too. For the Bolin/Purple die hards, The DPA approved the release of two audition/jam's & rehearsals cds. You get an intimate peek inside the birthing of CTTB! Raw & awesome!

Tommy Bolin is one of my favorite guitarists of all time. You need to check out “Whips and Roses”. It’s alternate takes on his studio songs and it’s incredible! Check it out! Great video Pete!

Love Bolin. CTTB is very James Gang. He has a great voice and distinctive tone and style. At his best when being jazzy. The Whips and Roses CDs are tremendous. Thanks for doing this Pete

Spectrum, Teaser, & Come Taste The Band are the holy trinity for me. Amazing musician, gone too soon.

"Special talent" is exactly right. Top shelf guitarist and an underrated versatile composer.

#1Tommy Bolin’s “Teaser”#2“Private Eyes” #3 ‘Come Taste the Band’ #4 Spectrum.The Ultimate Taste 3 CD set has long instrumental versions of the songs really great guitar progressive rock.

Thanks for this episode! Much appreciated! Been waiting for this one. Some fantastic tracks that Tommy played on include "Post Toastee," "Wild Dogs," "Homeward Strut," "Alexis," "Gettin' Tighter," and "You Keep On Moving" among several others.

Pete: Thanks for the great shout out to Tommy Bolin. The first two Zephyr records showcase the early part of his short career. The Energy broadcasts previewed his Spectrum work. Keep on Rockin'!

Really great to see Tommy getting the recognition he deserved. Unless we were discussing him purely as a guitarist, I wouldn't have put Spectrum at number one. As you say, there was so much more to him than "just" his guitar playing. Given how good an instrumentalist he was, that's really saying something. One of the things Tommy did for me was to encourage me to look at rock musicians who don't just play it straight. The people who might wear a jazz or country influence on their sleeve or most obviously, aren't afraid to get the funk out. The fantastic Dan Reed being a great example. For an artist with such a tragically brief catalogue, I could talk about him all day but better not!

Excellent picks Pete. From 1 to 10 nice. The only thing I would have included but was not a released album was Energy. It would have been my number 2 or 3. Unbelievable jazz fusion album but I know could not included it.

As a Midwest Lifer. Completely underrated. He was born in Sioux City Iowa, Im an hour from there. The Midwest music scene has some incredible musicians, and a complete lack of ANY record label scouts. Slipnot 311 Mathew Sweet Connor Oberst Fred Astare

Great job! Bolin is hard to rank because he did a lot of different things.

I believe Tommy's 1975 album "Teaser" to be be the purest distillation of his musical artistry and scope. I love the song 'Wild Dogs', the guitar solo in that is magical.

Great one tonight Pete, thank you and Happy Birthday!

Was scheduled and absolutely stoked to see Tommy in Tampa coheadlining with Jeff Beck and Jan Hammer Band. He died the night before in Miami. I was bummed but enjoyed 2.5 hours of Beck & Hammer. Loved Tommy's 2 solo albums and still listen to them as well as Billy Cobham's Spectrum . A monster loss to music at only 27 years old.

Damn lucky i Saw him twice at Winterland in Frisco, Man the guy was a beast! His band was on fire....miss you brother and Thanku Tommy Bolin for the memories!!

Thanks for this, Pete. Well-deserved. Too bad Energy never released an album, an excellent band and I think Tommy's favorite. 1. Teaser 2. Come Taste the Band 3. Private Eyes 4. Bang - James Gang 5. Live in Long Beach - Deep Purple 6. Energy - Tommy Bolin Archives 7. Mind Transplant - Alphonse Mouzon 8. Spectrum - Billy Cobham 9. Miami - James Gang 10. Moxy

Unfortunately don't have enough time tonight but will tackle this one tomorrow, Bolin is an all time favorite of mine. I have A LOT of his records. When the family started taking control & releasing his live stuff/outtakes/demos/etc I jumped on board with both feet. I've tried to stay current with their releases & love the years those have mounted up. Must be close to 20 Tommy Bolin solo albums alone. And that's not even counting the Mouzon stuff, the Cobham albums, Deep Purple, James Gang, Moxy, Zephyr...This one will take some time, and it should given Bolin's great talent. See you tomorrow...

I always had a soft spot for Tommy Bolin. He was a wonderful artist.

Big honorable mention.. Tommy Bolin improvising with drummer Ian Paice .... Smokin 🔥🔥.... On RU-vid

Huge fan. My favorites of his are the two solo albums. So catchy and versatile. The Grind is a highlight. Van Halen were also fans and they covered that song during their club days while Bolin was in Deep Purple.

Also ... you missed a great lp ...Zephyr. They were such a great band and Tommy was their main guy. You have a great station Pete. Keep up the good work!!! Cheers

I have the Exact shirt on right now. Tommy was My 1st Guitar Hero!!

I have the Jazz Fusion (Cobham & Mouzon) & the James Gang albums...so, I revisited Gang Bang this morning. "Got No Time For Trouble"...the title looks Allman Brothers-esque. It even sounds like it coulda been on EAT A PEACH. Mentioned before: My 1st concert had the James Gang as the opener (Bang-era). The 1st tune, "Ride The Wind", was an instrumental because a hot blonde jumped on-stage & stayed in a lip lock with Roy Kenner. The entire tune!

My favorite song is an extended version of Wild Dogs that you can find on RU-vid.. the solo is perfection

Mind Transplant is my personal favorite 🤠

Thanks for clarifying that Tommy didn’t directly replace Joe Walsh. I’ve always said that and now I know. It’s interesting how bands in that period would go through so many lineup changes trying to keep going after a significant departure. Always enjoy your videos

Great list Pete. Years ago, I met Willy Dixon who was instrumental in putting together the Tommy Bolin box set "The Ultimate" in the early 90's for Geffen Records. The band that is featured early on his recording career was the band Zephyr! I thought maybe there would be some Zephyr added into this list. I've owned both the self-titled and the "Going Back to Colorado" albums. The "Colorado" album is a good sophomore album for the band. Worth checking out if you're a Bolin fan.

I used to share a room with my older brother ,he bombarded me with Deep purple ,I hated them ,then I heard come taste the band I loved that album ,IM glad people like you are keeping his memory going 👍

I have always regarded Bang as the by far best James Gang album. Bolin is amasing.

There's also a Tommy Bolin box set Have you rated these artists yet? Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Steve Miller Band George Thorogood & The Destroyers

Love Tommy's Bolin

"Teaser "and "Private Eyes", and James Gang's "Miami" and "Bang" are excellent records. And not forgetting Deep Purple's best album: "Come taste the band".

Happy Birthday Pete. Thanks for your great channel. I have learned a thing or two. So thank you. Such as I didn't know Tommy Bolin was on Moxy's first album. I have seen the album cover for years, now I am going to have to check out the music. Great list, I agree the live in Tokyo album by deep purple is sad. Some of the musicians are so out of it, it is a bad reflection of the band. I will have to check out their other live album with him. A couple of other great projects Bolin was in are Energy, 1973 I believe, almost a precursor to his solo albums. And an early project he was in,1969 or 1970, the Boulder Colorado blues rock band Zephyr; led by Candy Givens. Can I ask you a question? I have read that Jeff Beck was so influenced by Tommy Bolin's jazzy rock, that it helped shape his blow by blow album. Bolin did OD on the opening night of the tour he was to open for Beck.. thank you for your insight. My list may change. 1. Teaser 2. Spectrum 3. Private Eyes 4. Bang 5 Going Back to Colorado, Zephyr 6. Energy 7. Come Taste the Band 8. Mind Transplant ( a new find) 9. Miami 10. Zephyr 11. Numerous live albums.

I saw him on TV with Zephyr.

Great ranking!! I would have put Zephyr's debut album on there. Great show as always!!

Great presentation! TOMMY!!! Was Zephyr mentioned?

I saw Tommy Bolin at an open park show in Coconut Grove, FL. Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe he also played on the Debut album of the band "Zepher" in the early 70's.

Just listened to that first Moxy album. Damn strong top to bottom. Thnx Pete.