• “Hong Kong Bar” set to a picture of the housing album cover. Thanks to Tim Buckley – Topic.
“Fantastic Blues / Rhythm n Blues from the USA”
From his seventh album “Greetings From L.A.” (Straight BS-2631) released in 1972.
My album review:
Buckley abandoned the progressive jazz textures which had been at the core of his “Starsailor” LP of 1970 and, indeed, dumped the band that had worked on that album. By sheer contrast, the motifs which form “Greetings From L.A.” are deeply entrenched in the new funk-rock sound, placing him firmly in line with Sly Stone and George Clinton, occasionally tinged with psychedelic overtones. The set was recorded in June 1972 at Far Out Studios, Hollywood and was issued in October. Best of these new funky janglers is “Get on Top” which is absolutely cookin’, and comes complete with that incredible Buckley vocal which stretches out acrobatically all over the octaves. His new style was commonly referred to as “Sex Funk” and the lyrics here certainly leave no room for misinterpretation. For all the funky fun, it’s a good ol’ bluesy picker, “Hong Kong Bar” which emerges as my favourite; again Buckley’s extraordinary vocals are to the fore, as is his hungry sexual appetite which seems to have no continental boundaries. Album closer “Make It Right” is another big highlight; magnificent, classy and soul-stirring, where strings and rhythm create a heady dancefloor excitement, with kinky vocal snips like “beat me, whip me” adding to the tangible hedonism. His ’72 crew sure could play some. Nice reinvention from Tim.
You can check out the rest of my album reviews for 1972 here.
the last great record 