Bring It On Up The more full-on funk starts here- on Tim's funkiest album. I'm not a massive funk fan, though I do have some particular favourites in the genre. I have been listening to Funkadelic's first album a lot this week- definitely one of many favourites- and was worried that Tim's efforts might seem a bit thin in comparison. But no, LATF still sounds wonderful. It's quite different, of course- and probably lies more in the Tim Buckley genre than the funk genre. Tim's vocal is again amazing on Bring It On Up, working with 2 vocal personae this time. He's feeling a bit downcast and lost again, unable to join in conversations; and drinking alone in the dark. But, rather like on Greetings, he finds solace in sexual escape going "tongue to tongue, belly to belly".
I'm not crazy about the album but I just bought a copy. I got four CDs for 13.50 including Sefronia, Venice Mating Call, and Live at Electric Theatre CO. I've been neglecting my box set so I've got to dig it out and re-listen to all of the albums.
I heard this today and thought Tim could have done a great cover version on either of his last two albums, there's room to really stretch the vocal.
track 3) Helpless (Buckley) Jazzy blues funk...three good ones in a row. Nice. Wonderful ladies backup signing too. Lead guitar riffs on fire too. I don't know why You bring my sense alive You know you look so foxy wise You turn my head around You know the talk's around town You do a funky rumba You make an old man stop You make a young man wonder Come on and love me Come on and love me Until I'm helpless Come on and love me Until I'm helpless Makin' love like a skin cat crawlin' across the highway I don't know why You bring my sense alive Come on and love me Until I'm helpless Helpless Helpless Makin' love like a skin cat crawlin' 'cross the highway
"Makin' love like a skinned cat crawlin' 'cross the highway" Great groove, that works well with Tim's vocal and the backing singers. Clearly his muse again- did she really do a "funky rumba"? Tim has stolen the repeated line, "Makin' love like a skinned cat crawlin' 'cross the highway" from his own lyric to "The Train" off the LP Blue Afternoon: "You make love like a skinned cat crawlin' 'cross the highway".
track 4) Freeway Blues (Buckley/Beckett) Love the funk n' jazzy note to this and the Sly Stone vibe; catchy right form the start. Really interestingly fantastic Buckley vocal work. Some wildly entertaining Beckett lyrics too... I never swallowed that cheap booze I keep my distance from straight dudes I joined the army just to get more fame I love my bluesy 'cause she walks so strange Ah, well you know I think we ought to have a party Just to break up the day Come on and meet me on an easy exit Of our brand new freeway I've got the freeway it's sublime rocket ship blues I got the tug boat high steppin' starstudded blues I got the kite flyin' double bubble Sunday school blues I got the hotel bump and grind money makin' blues Ah, come on down and play in the traffic And watch the cars go crazy We'll pull all over the starlight and disappear in the haze I've got the hot dog hanky pankin' all night long blues I've got the cop car shoot out whistle pig blues I've got the rose bowl low tide lawn mower blues I've got the freewa Dixieland rocketship blues I never swallowed that cheap booze I keep my distance from straight dudes I joined the army just to get more fame I love my bluesy 'cause she walks so strange Yeah we oughta have a party Yeah just to break up the day Come on over 'cause I am high Got to figure out which way to cruise
"I love my floozy cause she walks obscene." Greetings LK- glad to hear you are enjoying the album. When Edsel/Manifesto remastered/re-released Look At The Fool in 2017 they included the lyrics to all the songs in the booklet. Amazingly they just copied and pasted the lyrics from the internet without bothering to listen and check. There are dozens of mistakes altogether, with this song being the worst offender with well over 10 fairly obvious mistakes that even my cloth ears can detect. How's that for a lack of respect for Tim and this album in particular! I was fascinated by this song and "collage" lyric, and wanted to know which parts belonged to Tim and which to Larry. I contacted Larry- with thanks to Johnny Thunder- and he was kind enough to supply his original lyric. Larry’s original: "Kiss Me I’ve got the freeway Dixieland whistle pig one shot holy smoke hot dog shoot out sidewheeling jack o’lantern daisy chain loop-the-loop stink bug rocket ship black and blues. Kiss me, kiss me. I’ve got the tugboat highstepping pony tail dandelion red wine screwball money-making sawdust gas mask bottle cap bump-and-grind bow tie starstudded black and blues. Kiss me, kiss me. I’ve got the kite-flying bubble gum cop car Sunday school cockfight sky-writing lawn mower Rose Bowl ham and eggs hanky-panky all night brick wall full blast black and blues. Kiss me, kiss me." It's an amazing lyric, but how to turn it into a song. The words that Tim chose to cut out and rearrange for this version are shown in bold. As for Tim's own lyrics, the first two lines- "I never swallowed the cheap booze, I keep my distance from straight dudes,"- are taken from an unrecorded song from the Starsailor era called "You Can Always Tell A City By Its Graffiti". (If you are interested, you can find a version on Youtube recorded live in-studio as part of a radio performance in October 1970- the sound quality is decent, it's free-form but jazzy, with weird lyrics and Tim is on good form vocalizing and barking like a dog.) I have corrected the errors as best I can using Larry's original and my ears, but there are still a couple of lines I am unsure of. Larry's rearranged lyrics are shown in bold. Great to see how Larry's lyrics take new shape in this "collage" piece. Anyway, gritty funk with an insistent clavinet and guitar stabs. Unusual, but very funny lyrics from Larry and Tim. Definite grower. Feels kind of like a postcard from LA. "I never swallowed the cheap booze, I keep my distance from straight dudes, I joined the army just to get more fame, I love my floozy cause she walks obscene. Well you know I think we ought to have a party, Just to break up the day, Come on and meet me underneath the exit, Of our brand new freeway. I've got the freeway it's a lion rocket ship blues, ??? I’ve got the tugboat highstepping starstudded blues, I’ve got the kite-flying bubble gum Sunday school blues, I’ve got the pony tail bump-and-grind money-making blues. Oh, come on down and play in the traffic, And watch the cars go crazy, We'll pull on over the starlight and disappear in the haze I've got the hot dog hanky-panky all night long blues, I've got the cop car shoot out whistle pig blues, I've got the rose bowl bow tie lawn mower blues, I've got the freeway Dixieland rocket ship blues. I never swallowed them cheap booze, I keep my distance from straight dudes, I joined the army just to get more fame, I love my floozy cause she walks obscene. Yeah we gonna have a party, Yeah just to break up the day, (indiscernible line) ??? I’ve got to figure out which way to cruise."
Freeway Dixieland Rocketship Blues Freeway Blues on Look At The Fool was Tim’s second attempt to work with Larry’s unusual lyric. His first attempt titled "Freeway Dixieland Rocketship Blues" can be heard on a demo for Sefronia dating from 12th February 1973 (on The Dream Belongs To Me). This “collage” of Larry’s lyrics is fairly similar to the released version, but Tim’s lyrical contribution is significantly different. I couldn’t find the lyrics on the internet so have attempted to transcribe them. Can you help with the ??? line? "I've got the freeway Dixieland rocket ship blues, I’ve got the tugboat highstepping starstudded blues, I’ve got the kite-flying bubble gum Sunday school blues, I’ve got the pony tail bump-and-grind money-making blues. I've got the hot dog hanky-panky all night long blues, I've got the cop car shoot out whistle pig blues, I love this town stuck in July, ???, The fire hydrant’s wide, And there’s kids in the puddles, You know I think we ought to have a party, Just to break up the day, Then meet me underneath the exit, Of the brand new freeway. I’ll drink my devil rum, I’ll drink my devil rum, You drink your beer and wine, You drink your beer and wine,, I love my devil rum, I drink my devil rum, You drink your beer and wine, You drink your beer and wine, Why don’t we ever talk it over, Oh mama lets talk it over. I've got the freeway Dixieland rocket ship blues, I’ve got the tugboat highstepping starstudded blues, I’ve got the kite-flying bubble gum Sunday school blues, I’ve got the pony tail bump-and-grind money-making blues. I've got the hot dog hanky-panky all night long blues, I've got the cop car shoot out whistle pig blues, Oh this town stuck in July, ???, The fire hydrant’s wide, And there’s kids in the puddles, Well I think we ought to have a party, Just to break up the day, Oh meet me underneath the exit, Of our brand new freeway. I’ll drink my devil rum, I’ll drink my devil rum, You drink your beer and wine, You drink your beer and wine, I’ll drink my devil rum, I’ll drink my devil rum, You drink your beer and wine, I’ll drink my beer and wine, Oh that pony tail blues, Oh that whistle pig blues. (Gorilla breath control)"
So much info mameyama! Great to hear the back stories thank you. I don’t understand the unpopularity of this album. I’m loving it. It seems like he beat out the commercial pop middle road sound, and went in this direction that he sounds so much more comfortable with. He actually sounds like he’s having some real fun with some of these tracks and is really in the grove. It’s just devastating that he didn’t survive to continue. I would love to have heard his next album.
Thanks. Great to hear you are enjoying the album. It's a shame we cant cast a larger spotlight on it. I usually only give time to albums rated good or great, life being short and all that. But I'm glad I gave this album the time it needed- you could call it my guilty pleasure. I sometimes check out the RateYourMusic website which aggregates user ratings. Look At The Fool comes in as the #1,262 best new studio album of 1974- so its perhaps no surprise that people give it short shrift.
track 5) Tijuana Moon (Buckley/Beckett) It has been suggested here that "Tijuana Moon" would have been a better title for Tim's final effort. What a soulful and amazing side one closer. It has funk, fun, and amazing Buckley vocals! Love it! A soulful opening to this track that catches fire. Pretty fine. Nothing guilty about this album's pleasure. What does Larry have to say about his lyrics here, and his memories in the studio on this with Tim? The padre told me all the hymns were born Out of the saxophone And I went down to test them all Beneath the Tijuana moon I saw violence in the room Two broken lovers strong and strewn, I drank myself into a dream About the Tijuana moon, Tijuana moon, My daddy Tijuana moon, Oh my darlin' Tijuana moon Lord my daddy Tijuana moon You can keep the Texas blues Tequila and the burning stone But my amigo Nothin's good Against the Tijuana moon Talk about daddy Tijuana moon Talk about lovin' Tijuana moon Talk about daddy Tijuana moon Tim Buckley/Larry Beckett Tim Buckley Music ASCAP/Fifth Floor Music, Inc. ASCAP Released 1974 Discreet/Warner Brothers - "Look at the Fool"
Tijuana Moon This would be the last time that Tim would use Larry's lyrics. A strange, but very compelling and evocative song. This track grabbed me early on and kept drawing me back to the album until I finally appreciated all the tracks. Stunning vocal. I love everything about this one- it's just a shame it fades out so soon. The lyrics you have quoted are more accurate than the ones in the 2017 re-issue booklet- the booklet omits "the Padre" from the fist line. But the correct lyrics are hard to determine from listening. Line 3 definitely contains the word "festival", I cant catch line 5, and it's probably "burning spoon" not "burning stone" etc. It would be nice to know Larry's original lyrics for this one.
The whole sound of this album reminds me of someone and it’s been bugging me since the first track. Listening to Tijuana Moon and it came to me. For some reason I can hear Dr John. Doesn’t make a lot of sense though as it’s probably Dr John’s later works rather Gris Gris and those first few similar albums that Tim may have been listening to.
Hi, I've been wondering if there is any other music that has the sound or feel of this album. The combination of Tim's vocals with the music means I cant really come up with anything in particular. Dr John is an interesting one- any particular album, or tracks, either before or after the release of LATF that you think have a similar feel to this album?
Sorry, but I think RealGone is hedging dangerously close to Friday Music hype territory here. Not as bad as originally thought? Maybe. That's about as far as I'd go. Certainly not unheralded masterpieces or even real good. If I didn't know who did these albums, I'd rate them high C/low B as funky but kind of undistinguished mid '70s white funk releases. Rated as part of the Buckley discography, they would be lower.
Not really mameyama. I’ve just listened to a whole lot of the Dr’s tracks and can’t really find something that it close. So don’t know why he comes to mind listening to this album. I’ll keep exploring though because there’s something there.
Although I am liking this album much more than I expected, and really enjoying the 70’s white funk feel, the music I wouldn’t rate much more than a high C. It’s distinguishing feature is Tim’s vocals though, and that pushes it up a notch for me.
Happy day all...today we have: track 6) Ain't It Peculiar (Buckley) Instant love for the infectious funky beat here...and Tim's funky vocal. So far I am incredulous about all the bad reviews by the pros who should now better. Ain't it peculiar, darlin', How our love goes on and on. Ain't it peculiar, honey, We take the bad with the wrong You know that time after time, A misfortune smiled, Ain't it peculiar, woman, You know we'll laugh our way through. When will this long night of a prison ever end? When will this long night of a prison ever end? You know one minute you are sailing Lord, you're the talk of the town. The next minute, you're busted, Just listenin' to that jailhouse sound. You know that time after time, A misfortune smiled. Ain't it pecular, woman, How we'll just laugh our way through When will this long night of a prison ever end? When will this long night of a prison ever end? You know, double-talk is poison, But that's the rule of the game; Instead of back-stabbing, they practice All the little things that drive you insane. You know that time after time, A misfortune smiled. You know, it's so peculiar I can still laugh my way through it. When will this long night of a prison ever end? When will this long night of a prison ever end? Ain't it peculiar (6 x's, fade out)
Ain't It Peculiar Again the upbeat funky groove on this one is rather at odds with the torment in the vocals and lyrics. The ups and downs of his relationship make Tim feel like he's in a prison, but at other times they are able to laugh together about it all. I don't suppose it would have been easy being married to Tim. Took a while for me to get into this one, but it now feels like an integral part of the album experience. An interesting aside is that the legendary drummer Earl Palmer appears on every track on this album.
I just got the Manifesto CD. It sounds pretty bright. Was Tim on an Al Green kick when he recorded this album?
track 7) Who Could Deny You (Buckely) I like this particularly jazzy funk vibe. I have no problem with a mellow Buckley, some great movements here. Love the variety of the movements. Latin, funk, rock, jazz influences. Almost anthemic. I know your kind You've been through the mill Now you're standing in line Too proud to beg and too tired to cry About the one that got away Your first love Oh, he taught you how to pay And now you're all alone You've got your misery You were not taught so well, Sister That's why you ended up with me Now that you've found me Oh Ddarlin, please don't tease me All of my naked years are in front of me Come here, Darlin Lay down by my side Lovin' the way you do Oh, woman won't you tell me Tell me who? Tell me who could deny you? You love and you lose, you're lost in the blues and it's Your turn again, you've paid your way but under your skin And it never lets you go, under your skin so deep It never really shows; You're all alone but you've got your misery The stage is waiting, Honey, waiting for you and me; Now that you've found me Oh darling please don't tease me All of my naked years are here in front of me Come here darling Lay down by my side Lovin' the way you do Oh,'elltmeu tell me Tell me who Tell me who could deny you?(x2) Tim Buckley – Who Could Deny You Lyrics | Genius Lyrics
Yes, the 2017 remaster is quite bright. Lee underwood says that Tim was listening to the following singers during this period: Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Ray Charles and Al Green; so I don't think he would have been upset by the comparison. Tim's falsetto on the title track in particular can certainly make you think of Al Green.
It's the only one of the four pack Manifesto bundle I bought that sounds really bright. But I like the album more than I expected. Of the two live and two studios CDs I picked up, Sefronia, and Venice Mating Call are tops. Some of the performances on the Electric Theatre Company are a bit long and rambling. But I'm not complaining because it's great to have some more Tim Buckley material. And thanks to Manifesto for their great deals at eBay.
