SHAKE THE DEVIL – Tommy Bolin

#1371 – SHAKE THE DEVIL – 10/29/2019

If you are not familiar with Tommy Bolin, you are missing out on an amazing musician with a sadly familiar story to tell. Bolin was born in Iowa, but grew his reputation playing in a locally popular Colorado band called Zephyr. His live playing with Zephyr and work on the first two of the band’s LPs led him to be recruited to play lead on jazz drum master Billy Cobham’s fusion classic “Spectrum”. Bolin’s amazing playing on that record led him to stints on lead guitar and vocals for both The James Gang as Joe Walsh's replacement and as Ritchie Blackmore’s replacement in Deep Purple.

But Bolin’s best work was found on his 2 studio LPs released under his name: “Teaser” & “Private Eyes”. This tune comes from his final LP released in 1976, “Private Eyes” released just 3 months before his death by accidental overdose. SHAKE THE DEVIL shows off some of Bolin’s trademark 6-string brilliance. EVERY time I hear this song I wish the solo that fades out at the end was allowed to be recorded in its entirety. Happy Halloween, everyone!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB4gWLHsMo8

1976