Stepping back from the swooping avant-garde touches of Starsailor for a fairly greasy, funky, honky tonk set of songs, the opening lines of Greetings from L.A. set the tone: "I went down to the meat rack tavern/And I found myself a big ol' healthy girl." Sassy backing vocalists, honking sax, and more add to the atmosphere, while Tim Buckley himself blends his vocal acrobatics with touches not unfamiliar to fans of Mick Jagger or Jim Morrison. The studio band backing him up might not be the equal to, say, War, but in their own way they do the business; extra touches like the string arrangement on "Sweet Surrender" help all the more. The argument that this was all somehow a compromise or sellout doesn't seem to entirely wash. While no doubt there were commercial pressures at play, given Buckley's constant change from album to album it seems like he simply found something else to try, which he did with gusto. "Get On Top," one of his best numbers, certainly doesn't sound like something aimed for the charts. The music may have a solid groove to it (Kevin Kelly's organ is worth a mention), but Buckley's frank lyrics and improv scatting both show it as him following his own muse. (
Personnel:
Tim Buckley (guitar, vocals)
Carter Collins (percussion)
Jesse Ehrlich (cello)
Joe Falsia (guitar)
Venetta Fields (background vocals)
Jerry Goldstein (percussion)
Ed Greene (drums)
Harry Hyams (viola)
Kevin Kelly (keyboards)
Louis Kievman (violin)
Clydie King (background vocals)
Robert Konrad (guitar, violin)
William Kurash (violin)
Paul Norros (saxophone)
Reinie Press (bass)
Chuck Rainey (bass)
Ralph Schaeffer (viola)
Eugene Siegel (saxophone)
Lee Underwood (guitar, keyboards)
Lorna Willard (background vocals)
Tracklist:
01. Move With Me (Buckley/Goldstein) 4.52
02. Get on Top (Buckley) 6.33
03. Sweet Surrender (Buckley) 6.47
04. Nighthawkin' (Buckley) 3.21
05. Devil Eyes (Buckley) 6.50
06. Hong Kong Bar (Buckley/Falsia) 7.08
07. Make It Right (Beckett/Buckley/Falsia/Goldstein) 4.07
Tim Buckley (guitar, vocals)
Carter Collins (percussion)
Jesse Ehrlich (cello)
Joe Falsia (guitar)
Venetta Fields (background vocals)
Jerry Goldstein (percussion)
Ed Greene (drums)
Harry Hyams (viola)
Kevin Kelly (keyboards)
Louis Kievman (violin)
Clydie King (background vocals)
Robert Konrad (guitar, violin)
William Kurash (violin)
Paul Norros (saxophone)
Reinie Press (bass)
Chuck Rainey (bass)
Ralph Schaeffer (viola)
Eugene Siegel (saxophone)
Lee Underwood (guitar, keyboards)
Lorna Willard (background vocals)
Tracklist:
01. Move With Me (Buckley/Goldstein) 4.52
02. Get on Top (Buckley) 6.33
03. Sweet Surrender (Buckley) 6.47
04. Nighthawkin' (Buckley) 3.21
05. Devil Eyes (Buckley) 6.50
06. Hong Kong Bar (Buckley/Falsia) 7.08
07. Make It Right (Beckett/Buckley/Falsia/Goldstein) 4.07
