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- Tommy Bolin (RIP 1976) -- vocals, lead guitar

  supporting musicians (1976)

- Bobbie Berge -- drums

- Dave Brown -- backing vocals

- Phil Collins -- drums, percussion

- Ralph Cruz -- percussion

- Sammy Figuerooa -- percussion

- Dave Foster -- keyboards

- Ron Fransen -- keyboards

- Jan Hammer -- synthesizers

- Glenn Hughes -- vocals, backing vocals

- Jeff Pocarao -- drums

- Prairie Prince -- drums

- David Sanborn -- sax

- Stanley Sheldon -- bass

- Paul Stallworth -- bass

- Michale Walden -- drums

- Deep Purple

- Energy

- The James Gang- MOxy

- The Sniffettes

- Zephyr

Genre: rock

Rating: **** 4 stars

Title:  Teaser

Company: Nemporer

Catalog:  NE 436
Year: 1975

Country/State: Sioux City, Iowa

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 2

Catalog ID: 3214

Price: $15.00

As far as I can remember, 1975's "Teaser" was the first album I ever bought based on a record review - a Rolling Stone article I read in my high school library (I was supposed to be research a term paper on pornography).  

For a guy who made his reputation as a young, hotshot rock guitarist, (Zephyr, replaced Joe Walsh in The James Gang, replacement for Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple),  I'll admit to initially being a little disappointed by the album's broad musical span.  I liked Bolin's slinky voice and the guy seemed capable of playing in virtually any musical style, or genre.  That said, to some extent, it sounded like one of those collections a wedding band distributes in order to show how broad their repertoire is.  (No, I'm not comparing Bolin to a wedding band).  Backed by one of the year's most impressive collection of supporting musicians, the album found Bolin taking stabs at conventional rock ('Wild Dogs'), power ballads ('Dreamer'),  jazz-rock fusion (the instrumental 'Marching Powder'), and even a bit of reggae ('People, People').  There wasn't a bad song on the collection, but that very diversity was somewhat of a distraction.  Yeah 'The Grind' and 'Wild Dogs' showed his rock and roll moves, but jazzy-rock fusion?  salsa influences ('Savannah Woman') ?   How many sixteen year old boys were capable of grasping those genres ?  Certainly not me.  Those criticisms side, here I am some forty years later and I still own the album and still play it from time to time.  If that's not staying power, I don't know what is.

Released at the same time Bolin was on the road supporting Deep Purple's "Come Taste the Band" tour, Bolin wasn't able to promote "Teaser" which proved a critics favorite, but mediocre seller.

"Teaser" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) The Grind   (Tommy Bolin - Jeff Cook - Stanley Sheldon - John Tesar) - 3:29    rating: **** stars

'The Grinder' was built on one of the funkiest rock riffs you'll ever hear and also showcased Bolin's slinky, rock-ready voice.  Nice way to open the album.  The tune was released as a promotional single in the US, but as a conventional, stock 45 in various other countries.

- 1977's 'The Grind' (mono) b/w 'The Grind' (stereo) (Nemporer catalog number NE 004)

2.) Homeward Strut (instrumental)  (Tommy Bolin) - 3:57   rating: *** stars

Exhibiting an unexpected  jazz-rock fusion flavor, the instrumental 'Homeward Strut' has always been one of the album's biggest surprises.  Think along the lines of Larry Coryell, Mahavishnu Orchestra, or Return To Forever, but without boring jazz overtures.  Bolin got some really interesting textures on this one.

3.) Dreamer   (Jeff Cook) - 5:09   rating: **** stars

The ballad 'Dreamer' was one of the prettiest things Bolin ever recorded.  Interestingly, though he wasn;t credited, Deep Purple's Glenn Hughes handled the final verse.

4.) Savannah Woman   (Tommy Bolin - Jeff Cook) - 2:47   rating: *** stars

Lots of Bolin fans claim 'Savannah Woman' as one of their favorite tunes.  I'm not one of them.  Admittedly his solo is stunning, but otherwise the song suffers from a bland, pseudo-jazzy vibe that left me cold.  Again, the solo was dazzling, but couldn't save the first half of the tune. In case anyone cares; Phil Collins on drums ...   Nemporer tapped this one as the album's second US  promo single:

- 1975's 'Savannah Woman' (mono) b/w 'Savannah Woman' (stereo) (Nemporer catalog number NE 005)

5.) Teaser   (Tommy Bolin - Jeff Cook) - 4:26   rating: **** stars

The title track was another album highlight, show Bolin's ability to master a wide variety of styles and effects on a single tune.  Slide; power chords, it's all on display here.  Sad many people know this as a Motley Crue tune ...   NO THE CRUE DIDN'T WRITE IT !!!!

(side 2)

1.) People, People   (Tommy Bolin) - 4:56   rating: **** stars

Too my ears, the reggae-tinged 'People, People' has always been the album's standout performance.  Surprising given that I usually can't think of anything nice to say about rockers trying to handle reggae beats.  Bolin handles it was aplomb.  Actually the only complaint I have about this one stems from David Sanboun's irritating sax ...  come on - one quick solo and then get out of town.  

2.) Marching Powder (instrumental)  (Tommy Bolin) - 4:14    rating: *** stars

Jazz-rock fusion done the right way, which is to say the emphasis was on the rock component.  Okay, there was a little too much of Jan Hammer dickin' around on synthesizers, but elsewhere this was a through enjoyable tune that should have made Jeff Beck re-examine his own jazz-rock endeavors.

3.) Wild Dogs   (Tommy Bolin - John Tesar) - 4:40   rating: **** stars

The album's standout rocker ...  my goodness the man could play himself some double tracked guitar.

4.) Lotus   (Tommy Bolin - John Tesar) - 3:57   rating: **** stars

'Lotus' started out as a delicate ballad and abruptly shifted gears into a roaring rocker.  Another album highlight that displayed Bolin's wonderful voice.