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Morning Glory (1995)
Statement by Clive Selwood, July '94: No written dissertation can begin to capture the essence and style of Tim Buckley. There were no obvious influences, homages or even clear directions. Each performance of each song was different and shaped by the audience, the time of day, the accompanying musicians or whatever sweet or demonic forces were in play at that moment. These unique radio and television performances are no more and certainly no less valuable than Tim's first or last commercial albums.In Tim's brief lifetime he was a hero of the underground, but radio and television exposure was limited to late night sessions for Peely (of course) and the very occasional appearance on 'Late Night Line Up' or 'The Whistle Test' on BBC TV. His free spirit did not sit well with the 'establishment' and I recall a rehearsal in a scruffy dis-used church in Hammersmith for another television show for which he had been engaged to perform one of his shorter pieces. Turning up an hour late, with Danny Thompson on bass, he shuffled in, unsheathed his guitar and launched into an extemporisation of one of his songs that lasted over an hour. With the producer and the star of the show watching open-mouthed and not daring to interrupt, Tim hollered and hooted, growled and groaned, gliding effortlessly from bass to falsetto without missing a note or a beat. The most exhaustingly magical performance I have ever witnessed--and all to an audience of three. When it was done, the bass and guitar were re-holstered and, with a cheery "OK?" to the producer, the two magicians departed. Perhaps those were the times. Perhaps Tim and Jim and Janis and Jimi were only meant to briefly illuminate our lives before we entered the computer age and market forces became our consuming passion. Tim believed that Fred Neil was the greatest singer/songwriter of his lifetime and here, among Tim's own compositions, is his glorious reading of Neil's 'Dolphins'. I'd trade that for a warehouse full of hi-tech p.c's. MORNING GLORY: 1. DOLPHINS Tracks 1 & 2 recorded 5/21/74: Tracks 3-7 recorded 4/2/68: Cover Photo -- Elliot Landy All songs composed by Tim Buckley except 1 Fred Neil &
3&6 Beckett/Buckley Tracks 1&2 c.BBC 1974 |
