THE BAND:
Energy were formed inwards 1971 inwards Boulder, Colorado when Tommy Bolin in addition to Bobby Berge left Zephyr. The members inwards the most well-known lineup were:
Tommy Bolin: guitar
Jeff Cook: vocals, harmonica
Tom Stephenson: keyboards, vocals
Stanley Sheldon: bass
Bobby Berge: drums
Other players included:
Kenny Passarelli: maiden off bassist (quickly left to bring together Joe Walsh)
Jeremy Steig: flute
Gary Wilson: maiden off vocalist (replaced past times Jeff Cook)
Max Gronenthal: keyboards, vocals (replaced Jeff Cook in addition to Tom Stephenson)
Russell Bizzett: drums (after Bobby left, in addition to hence minute drummer after Bobby returned)
Archie Shelby: percussion (intermittent)
THE STORY:
Bassist Stanley Sheldon in addition to his cousin keyboardist Tom Stephenson arrived inwards Boulder, Colorado separately. Sheldon had been playing inwards a psychedelic blues band inwards his habitation town of Ottawa, Kansas. Stephenson was from Kansas City in addition to had been playing inwards horn bands inwards the manner of Chicago. Tommy Bolin in addition to drummer Bobby Berge were silent inwards Zephyr, but that band’s halt was near. Stephenson had non yet met Tommy, but knew people who knew him. Stanley Sheldon had talked to Tommy on the telephone inwards belatedly 1970, introduced past times the vocalizer inwards Sheldon’s band’s singer, but had non yet met him inwards person.
Sheldon’s band in addition to hence moved to a household on the beach inwards the Pacific Palisades inwards California, supported past times a backer. Zephyr were doing their finally demo opening for Mountain at the Santa Monica Civic Center, in addition to Tommy in addition to Stanley finally met confront to face. This resulted inwards a jam amongst Stanley, Tommy in addition to a drummer named Frosty from Lee Michaels’ band that Tommy knew. Tommy returned to Colorado, followed shortly past times Stanley in addition to his band after the withdrawal of their backer.
Tommy in addition to Bobby were assault forming a jazz-rock fusion band, bolstered past times Tommy’s experiences coming together players such equally Jeremy Steig in addition to January Hammer piece Zephyr was recording Going Back to Colorado at Electric Lady Studios inwards New York City at the same fourth dimension that Steig was working on his Energy album. Tommy in addition to Tom Stephenson had finally met through Sioux City guitarist John Bartle, who had played amongst Stephenson inwards a band inwards Kansas.
At this betoken all the players inwards what would boot the bucket the band Energy knew each other, but the maiden off monastic state of job concern for Tommy was to cast an instrumental band amongst Jeremy Steig on flute, Bobby Berge on drums in addition to Denver bassist Kenny Passarelli (who went on to play amongst Joe Walsh in addition to Elton John). This lineup played some shows inwards Colorado including a residency at Chuck Morris’ guild Tulagi inwards Boulder. Tommy, Jeremy in addition to Kenny in addition to hence went to New York City, where Steig’s nurture had to a greater extent than marketplace position power. Shows in that location included over a calendar week at the Gaslight amongst Marty Morell on drums, ending on May 24, 1971. The finally gig amongst Steig was played after a calendar week at Slugs, inwards the East Village, a unsafe house where some of Steig’s friends were mugged on their agency to that finally show. Passarelli before long took a project offering from Joe Walsh. Passarelli has related that he was made to experience a lot less than comfortable during the current of the NYC shows, the competitive nature of the New York scene was brutal. Though it was brusk lived, sound from the the band provides some first-class examples of playing from the entire band. The music is rattling jazzy, but in that location are plenty of guitar excursions past times Tommy that are held inwards high esteem past times Tommy’s stone fans.
Tommy in addition to hence went dorsum to Colorado in addition to got together amongst Tom Stephenson on keyboards, Stanley Sheldon on bass in addition to Bobby Berge on drums. They chose the nurture Energy for the novel band, taken from the championship of the Jeremy Steig album. It was chop-chop decided to add together a vocalist to heighten the band’s commercial appeal. The maiden off vocalist was Gary Wilson, who tin forcefulness out hold out heard on Energy recordings such equally “Red Skies” on the CD Tommy Bolin: From the Archives Vol. 1. Wilson was to a greater extent than into soul in addition to R&B than fusion, however, in addition to was replaced past times Jeff Cook, who had sung inwards American Standard amongst Tommy.
Manager Barry Fey laid them upwards equally backing band for some of the major big blues acts that came to Boulder, mainly at Tulagi but also for some route work. Along amongst names such equally John Lee Hooker, Sugar Cane Harris in addition to Chuck Berry, they played amongst Albert King, who would receive got a profound trial on Tommy’s blues chops.
The band took the chance to salve coin when it came to finding places to rehearse. Bobby Berge relates that “Energy used to do at Garth Weber’s farm, inwards the chicken coup! It’s funny that afterward on when I reunited amongst Zephyr for some shows inwards 1973 nosotros goodness inwards a converted chicken coup at a different farm.”
Tommy played a release of different guitars, including the well-worn Fender Stratocaster amongst the Telecaster cervix that he is oftentimes identified with. On other equipment, Rob Bagg remembers “I moved Tommy’s equipment for him on occasion during the fourth dimension he was fronting Energy. I recollect he had a Marshall speaker cabinet that had 8 12" speakers inwards it. What a comport to move. Later I constitute out that Jim Marshall exclusively made a handful of these cabinets earlier switching to 2 4x12" cabs inwards his stacks. They were originally sold to Pete Townsend of The Who in addition to Bill Wyman of the Stones.”
Chuck Warriner tells the storey of the fabled chocolate-brown Strat: “I traded that chocolate-brown 1956 Strat to Tommy inwards Dave Brown's kitchen at 948 South Vine Street when I maiden off got to Denver in addition to stayed amongst the Brown brothers until I gear upwards my store at 1st in addition to Broadway. Dave position the Tele cervix on at Tommy's request, in addition to when I saw "Shoepolish" a calendar week or hence afterward I was surprised because an quondam Tele Neck in addition to an quondam Strat cervix bag are non compatible."
Tommy also took part inwards many jam sessions but about Colorado during this period. As remembered past times Mike Reininger, who maiden off saw Tommy amongst Energy at Massari Gym inwards Pueblo but about Thanksgiving 1971, “In the early on 1970s everybody jammed amongst everybody. Going out on Lord's Day nighttime to sit down inwards was a ritual. This is how Tommy met my blood brother Blaine (of Tuxedo Moon). They were jamming inwards Manitou Springs on a Lord's Day night. Tommy but loved to play. I take away heed stories of him jamming inwards music stores hither inwards Denver. Trying out guitars all afternoon, drawing a crowd. He hung out at Colfax Music all the fourth dimension I’m told.”
Michael Drumm, who went on to cast the Tommy Bolin Archives amongst Johnnie Bolin inwards 1995, had boot the bucket friends amongst Tommy piece he was inwards Zephyr. H5N1 CU student, Drumm was working The Record Center, a hip tape store inwards Boulder that Tommy visited often. By the fourth dimension Tommy was inwards Energy they had boot the bucket fifty-fifty firmer friends, in addition to Drumm bought a 4-track reel-to-reel tape deck for Tommy to role to to tape acoustic songs in addition to demos.
Drumm relates that though Energy was a bang-up band, they were non pulling crowds in addition to making coin similar Zephyr had. Zephyr had been extremely pop amongst the adventurous immature party crowd, but Energy was to a greater extent than of a players band amongst a smaller but rattling intense following.
Energy didn’t unloosen whatever official albums or singles, but did consummate a release of studio recordings, some of which appeared afterward on Tommy Bolin ArchivesCD releases. The maiden off lineup of the band featuring Steig concentrated on long intense jams, oftentimes featuring Steig’s flute to a greater extent than than Tommy’s guitar. The band’s appeal was notably widened after adding a vocalist, maiden off amongst Gary, in addition to hence Jeff in addition to afterward Max. The greatest amount of existing alive stuff features Jeff Cook, in addition to shows the band ranging from boring blues to rocking blues to difficult stone to marathon fusion jams, oftentimes inwards 1 performance. Their studio output showed a band that would receive got made the big fourth dimension if they had the ability of a tape deal. Some of the stuff written past times Tommy amongst John Tesar in addition to Jeff Cook went on to hold out used past times Tommy inwards afterward bands. “Got No Time for Trouble” in addition to “Praylude/Red Skies” were used inwards James Gang, “Lady Luck” amongst Deep Purple in addition to “Dreamer” was used on Teaser.
Tommy’s appearance was maiden off to change, partly amongst the influence of his girl Karen Ulibarri. She dyed psychedelic colors into his pilus in addition to made phase wearing apparel such equally a silvery lamé adapt that he would article of apparel into the James Gang days, in addition to a dyad of leopard skin-covered platform shoes. Tommy also pierced his ears in addition to wore the feathered earrings that became his trademark for a while. Tommy was into glitter stone in addition to loved David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust album, hence androgyny becoming an acceptable cast of phase presentation.
The lack of getting a tape contract resulted inwards the group’s eventual demise, equally they were having problem making ends reckon in addition to becoming frustrated at non beingness able to movement upward. Jeff Cook has related a storey nigh the band beingness seen past times tape companionship representatives at a guild on Colfax inwards Denver. The reps were blown away past times the maiden off laid in addition to told the band that a recording contract was definite. The reps in addition to hence left in addition to the band in addition to hence celebrated past times getting wasted during the break, in addition to when they returned to to play they constitute that the reps had stayed in addition to their minute laid was haphazard in addition to the reps were turned off.
In the maiden off part of 1973 Max Gronenthal came inwards on keyboards in addition to vocals to supersede Tom Stephenson, who left to bring together Joe Walsh’s novel band Barnstorm, in addition to Jeff Cook who was given his unloosen past times the band. Though the band would testify to run good amongst Max, the halt was near. Tommy recorded Spectrum amongst Billy Cobham inwards New York City inwards May, 1973 in addition to started getting national attending immediately, which included some shots at the big time.
After the band split, Tommy went on to bring together the James Gang equally a replacement for the departing Joe Walsh. Tommy in addition to Stanley would claw upwards 1 time to a greater extent than inwards Boulder after Tommy left the James Gang inwards August 1974. By the halt of Dec they would also larn dorsum together amongst Bobby Berge inwards Los Angeles. Jeff Cook would boot the bucket on to provide Tommy amongst vocal lyrics until his passing. In 1975 Tom Stephenson joined Tommy inwards guesting on the debut album from Moxy.
In spite of the lack of commercial success, the band is held inwards peculiarly high regard past times the band’s members, some considering it the musical highlight of their lives.
By 1972, Tommy Bolin had left Zephyr in addition to was yet to bring together the James Gang. He had formed a band christened, aptly enough, Energy, but they broke upwards earlier releasing whatever recordings. Yet, fourth dimension inwards the studio was spent, resulting inwards this collection of songs released 27 years after their recording. Some of the songs would hold out redone amongst the James Gang ("Red Skies," "Got No Time for Trouble") or solo ("Dreamer") inwards the adjacent few years, piece "Naked Edge" comes from the soundtrack to a mountain-climbing cinema called Break on Through, but most of the contents of the album reckon their maiden off unloosen here. The album is mixed: "Heartlight" in addition to "Miss Christmas" are fairly generic difficult rock, piece "Hok-O-Hey" in addition to "Eyes of Blue" receive got a rattling Allman Brothers sound/feel, yet all are elevated past times Bolin's guitar playing. The neo-psychedelic "Limits," sung past times keyboardist Tom Stephenson, is dissimilar most of Bolin's other run in addition to the extended instrumental "Naked Edge" furthers this psychedelic jamming. "Sky Sail" is a cinematic piano/guitar duet in addition to is a perfect album closer. In the end, the album plant to a greater extent than equally a compilation of Energy's diverse styles than equally a cohesive album.
Track Listing:
1. Red Skies
2. Heartlight
3. Hok-O-Hey
4. Got No Time for Trouble
5. Limits
6. Eyes of Blue
7. Dreamer
8. Miss Christmas
9. Naked Edge
10. Sky Sail
Personnel:
Bass – Stanley Sheldon
Drums – Bobby Berge
Guitar – Tommy Bolin
Keyboards, Vocals – Tom Stephenson
Vocals, Harmonica – Jeff Cook
Energy were formed inwards 1971 inwards Boulder, Colorado when Tommy Bolin in addition to Bobby Berge left Zephyr. The members inwards the most well-known lineup were:
Tommy Bolin: guitar
Jeff Cook: vocals, harmonica
Tom Stephenson: keyboards, vocals
Stanley Sheldon: bass
Bobby Berge: drums
Other players included:
Kenny Passarelli: maiden off bassist (quickly left to bring together Joe Walsh)
Jeremy Steig: flute
Gary Wilson: maiden off vocalist (replaced past times Jeff Cook)
Max Gronenthal: keyboards, vocals (replaced Jeff Cook in addition to Tom Stephenson)
Russell Bizzett: drums (after Bobby left, in addition to hence minute drummer after Bobby returned)
Archie Shelby: percussion (intermittent)
THE STORY:
Bassist Stanley Sheldon in addition to his cousin keyboardist Tom Stephenson arrived inwards Boulder, Colorado separately. Sheldon had been playing inwards a psychedelic blues band inwards his habitation town of Ottawa, Kansas. Stephenson was from Kansas City in addition to had been playing inwards horn bands inwards the manner of Chicago. Tommy Bolin in addition to drummer Bobby Berge were silent inwards Zephyr, but that band’s halt was near. Stephenson had non yet met Tommy, but knew people who knew him. Stanley Sheldon had talked to Tommy on the telephone inwards belatedly 1970, introduced past times the vocalizer inwards Sheldon’s band’s singer, but had non yet met him inwards person.
Sheldon’s band in addition to hence moved to a household on the beach inwards the Pacific Palisades inwards California, supported past times a backer. Zephyr were doing their finally demo opening for Mountain at the Santa Monica Civic Center, in addition to Tommy in addition to Stanley finally met confront to face. This resulted inwards a jam amongst Stanley, Tommy in addition to a drummer named Frosty from Lee Michaels’ band that Tommy knew. Tommy returned to Colorado, followed shortly past times Stanley in addition to his band after the withdrawal of their backer.
Tommy in addition to Bobby were assault forming a jazz-rock fusion band, bolstered past times Tommy’s experiences coming together players such equally Jeremy Steig in addition to January Hammer piece Zephyr was recording Going Back to Colorado at Electric Lady Studios inwards New York City at the same fourth dimension that Steig was working on his Energy album. Tommy in addition to Tom Stephenson had finally met through Sioux City guitarist John Bartle, who had played amongst Stephenson inwards a band inwards Kansas.
At this betoken all the players inwards what would boot the bucket the band Energy knew each other, but the maiden off monastic state of job concern for Tommy was to cast an instrumental band amongst Jeremy Steig on flute, Bobby Berge on drums in addition to Denver bassist Kenny Passarelli (who went on to play amongst Joe Walsh in addition to Elton John). This lineup played some shows inwards Colorado including a residency at Chuck Morris’ guild Tulagi inwards Boulder. Tommy, Jeremy in addition to Kenny in addition to hence went to New York City, where Steig’s nurture had to a greater extent than marketplace position power. Shows in that location included over a calendar week at the Gaslight amongst Marty Morell on drums, ending on May 24, 1971. The finally gig amongst Steig was played after a calendar week at Slugs, inwards the East Village, a unsafe house where some of Steig’s friends were mugged on their agency to that finally show. Passarelli before long took a project offering from Joe Walsh. Passarelli has related that he was made to experience a lot less than comfortable during the current of the NYC shows, the competitive nature of the New York scene was brutal. Though it was brusk lived, sound from the the band provides some first-class examples of playing from the entire band. The music is rattling jazzy, but in that location are plenty of guitar excursions past times Tommy that are held inwards high esteem past times Tommy’s stone fans.
Tommy in addition to hence went dorsum to Colorado in addition to got together amongst Tom Stephenson on keyboards, Stanley Sheldon on bass in addition to Bobby Berge on drums. They chose the nurture Energy for the novel band, taken from the championship of the Jeremy Steig album. It was chop-chop decided to add together a vocalist to heighten the band’s commercial appeal. The maiden off vocalist was Gary Wilson, who tin forcefulness out hold out heard on Energy recordings such equally “Red Skies” on the CD Tommy Bolin: From the Archives Vol. 1. Wilson was to a greater extent than into soul in addition to R&B than fusion, however, in addition to was replaced past times Jeff Cook, who had sung inwards American Standard amongst Tommy.
Manager Barry Fey laid them upwards equally backing band for some of the major big blues acts that came to Boulder, mainly at Tulagi but also for some route work. Along amongst names such equally John Lee Hooker, Sugar Cane Harris in addition to Chuck Berry, they played amongst Albert King, who would receive got a profound trial on Tommy’s blues chops.
The band took the chance to salve coin when it came to finding places to rehearse. Bobby Berge relates that “Energy used to do at Garth Weber’s farm, inwards the chicken coup! It’s funny that afterward on when I reunited amongst Zephyr for some shows inwards 1973 nosotros goodness inwards a converted chicken coup at a different farm.”
Tommy played a release of different guitars, including the well-worn Fender Stratocaster amongst the Telecaster cervix that he is oftentimes identified with. On other equipment, Rob Bagg remembers “I moved Tommy’s equipment for him on occasion during the fourth dimension he was fronting Energy. I recollect he had a Marshall speaker cabinet that had 8 12" speakers inwards it. What a comport to move. Later I constitute out that Jim Marshall exclusively made a handful of these cabinets earlier switching to 2 4x12" cabs inwards his stacks. They were originally sold to Pete Townsend of The Who in addition to Bill Wyman of the Stones.”
Chuck Warriner tells the storey of the fabled chocolate-brown Strat: “I traded that chocolate-brown 1956 Strat to Tommy inwards Dave Brown's kitchen at 948 South Vine Street when I maiden off got to Denver in addition to stayed amongst the Brown brothers until I gear upwards my store at 1st in addition to Broadway. Dave position the Tele cervix on at Tommy's request, in addition to when I saw "Shoepolish" a calendar week or hence afterward I was surprised because an quondam Tele Neck in addition to an quondam Strat cervix bag are non compatible."
Tommy also took part inwards many jam sessions but about Colorado during this period. As remembered past times Mike Reininger, who maiden off saw Tommy amongst Energy at Massari Gym inwards Pueblo but about Thanksgiving 1971, “In the early on 1970s everybody jammed amongst everybody. Going out on Lord's Day nighttime to sit down inwards was a ritual. This is how Tommy met my blood brother Blaine (of Tuxedo Moon). They were jamming inwards Manitou Springs on a Lord's Day night. Tommy but loved to play. I take away heed stories of him jamming inwards music stores hither inwards Denver. Trying out guitars all afternoon, drawing a crowd. He hung out at Colfax Music all the fourth dimension I’m told.”
Michael Drumm, who went on to cast the Tommy Bolin Archives amongst Johnnie Bolin inwards 1995, had boot the bucket friends amongst Tommy piece he was inwards Zephyr. H5N1 CU student, Drumm was working The Record Center, a hip tape store inwards Boulder that Tommy visited often. By the fourth dimension Tommy was inwards Energy they had boot the bucket fifty-fifty firmer friends, in addition to Drumm bought a 4-track reel-to-reel tape deck for Tommy to role to to tape acoustic songs in addition to demos.
Drumm relates that though Energy was a bang-up band, they were non pulling crowds in addition to making coin similar Zephyr had. Zephyr had been extremely pop amongst the adventurous immature party crowd, but Energy was to a greater extent than of a players band amongst a smaller but rattling intense following.
Energy didn’t unloosen whatever official albums or singles, but did consummate a release of studio recordings, some of which appeared afterward on Tommy Bolin ArchivesCD releases. The maiden off lineup of the band featuring Steig concentrated on long intense jams, oftentimes featuring Steig’s flute to a greater extent than than Tommy’s guitar. The band’s appeal was notably widened after adding a vocalist, maiden off amongst Gary, in addition to hence Jeff in addition to afterward Max. The greatest amount of existing alive stuff features Jeff Cook, in addition to shows the band ranging from boring blues to rocking blues to difficult stone to marathon fusion jams, oftentimes inwards 1 performance. Their studio output showed a band that would receive got made the big fourth dimension if they had the ability of a tape deal. Some of the stuff written past times Tommy amongst John Tesar in addition to Jeff Cook went on to hold out used past times Tommy inwards afterward bands. “Got No Time for Trouble” in addition to “Praylude/Red Skies” were used inwards James Gang, “Lady Luck” amongst Deep Purple in addition to “Dreamer” was used on Teaser.
Tommy’s appearance was maiden off to change, partly amongst the influence of his girl Karen Ulibarri. She dyed psychedelic colors into his pilus in addition to made phase wearing apparel such equally a silvery lamé adapt that he would article of apparel into the James Gang days, in addition to a dyad of leopard skin-covered platform shoes. Tommy also pierced his ears in addition to wore the feathered earrings that became his trademark for a while. Tommy was into glitter stone in addition to loved David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust album, hence androgyny becoming an acceptable cast of phase presentation.
The lack of getting a tape contract resulted inwards the group’s eventual demise, equally they were having problem making ends reckon in addition to becoming frustrated at non beingness able to movement upward. Jeff Cook has related a storey nigh the band beingness seen past times tape companionship representatives at a guild on Colfax inwards Denver. The reps were blown away past times the maiden off laid in addition to told the band that a recording contract was definite. The reps in addition to hence left in addition to the band in addition to hence celebrated past times getting wasted during the break, in addition to when they returned to to play they constitute that the reps had stayed in addition to their minute laid was haphazard in addition to the reps were turned off.
In the maiden off part of 1973 Max Gronenthal came inwards on keyboards in addition to vocals to supersede Tom Stephenson, who left to bring together Joe Walsh’s novel band Barnstorm, in addition to Jeff Cook who was given his unloosen past times the band. Though the band would testify to run good amongst Max, the halt was near. Tommy recorded Spectrum amongst Billy Cobham inwards New York City inwards May, 1973 in addition to started getting national attending immediately, which included some shots at the big time.
After the band split, Tommy went on to bring together the James Gang equally a replacement for the departing Joe Walsh. Tommy in addition to Stanley would claw upwards 1 time to a greater extent than inwards Boulder after Tommy left the James Gang inwards August 1974. By the halt of Dec they would also larn dorsum together amongst Bobby Berge inwards Los Angeles. Jeff Cook would boot the bucket on to provide Tommy amongst vocal lyrics until his passing. In 1975 Tom Stephenson joined Tommy inwards guesting on the debut album from Moxy.
In spite of the lack of commercial success, the band is held inwards peculiarly high regard past times the band’s members, some considering it the musical highlight of their lives.
By 1972, Tommy Bolin had left Zephyr in addition to was yet to bring together the James Gang. He had formed a band christened, aptly enough, Energy, but they broke upwards earlier releasing whatever recordings. Yet, fourth dimension inwards the studio was spent, resulting inwards this collection of songs released 27 years after their recording. Some of the songs would hold out redone amongst the James Gang ("Red Skies," "Got No Time for Trouble") or solo ("Dreamer") inwards the adjacent few years, piece "Naked Edge" comes from the soundtrack to a mountain-climbing cinema called Break on Through, but most of the contents of the album reckon their maiden off unloosen here. The album is mixed: "Heartlight" in addition to "Miss Christmas" are fairly generic difficult rock, piece "Hok-O-Hey" in addition to "Eyes of Blue" receive got a rattling Allman Brothers sound/feel, yet all are elevated past times Bolin's guitar playing. The neo-psychedelic "Limits," sung past times keyboardist Tom Stephenson, is dissimilar most of Bolin's other run in addition to the extended instrumental "Naked Edge" furthers this psychedelic jamming. "Sky Sail" is a cinematic piano/guitar duet in addition to is a perfect album closer. In the end, the album plant to a greater extent than equally a compilation of Energy's diverse styles than equally a cohesive album.
Track Listing:
1. Red Skies
2. Heartlight
3. Hok-O-Hey
4. Got No Time for Trouble
5. Limits
6. Eyes of Blue
7. Dreamer
8. Miss Christmas
9. Naked Edge
10. Sky Sail
Personnel:
Bass – Stanley Sheldon
Drums – Bobby Berge
Guitar – Tommy Bolin
Keyboards, Vocals – Tom Stephenson
Vocals, Harmonica – Jeff Cook
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