Tim Buckley

Although his career is now inextricably linked with that of his son Jeff, Tim Buckley's music still has the power to fascinate, even four decades later. This remarkably preserved tape ― never before released ― is a prime example, capturing Buckley in an intimate setting at a crucial point in-between the release of his eponymous debut album and its classic follow-up, Goodbye And Hello. Buckley was then still more of a traditional troubadour, although these 16 selections, including six unavailable anywhere else, show him beginning to spread out into the more free-form style that would characterize his most extreme albums: Starsailor and Lorca. However, there's much to admire in this relatively conventional performance, especially the intricate guitar playing and clarion vocals. All of his best early material is represented, from "I Never Asked To Be Your Mountain" to "No Man Can Find The War," along with his stirring cover of Fred Neil's "Dolphins." This is an essential addition to Buckley's catalogue for long-time fans and a worthy introduction for the uninitiated.