16 Tons of Monkeys (Live) [Live]

Tonio K | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 26, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 1992
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Gadfly Records
• ASIN: B00005NNI8
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,118 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #73 in Music > Indie Music > Christian & Gospel > Christian Contemporary Music

Track Listings

1. Handle Snakes

2. You Don't Belong Here

3. Stop the Clock

4. Time Steps Aside

5. The Facts Don't Matter (Just the Feel)

6. Stuc

7. Blind and Lucky

8. Still Not Over You

9. What a Way to Live

10. 16 Tons of Monkeys

11. I Don't Like It

12. Where's My Baby?

Editorial Reviews

Gadfly Records is proud to release 16 Tons of Monkeys, a live release from the Austin supergroup of the same name and fronted by Tonio K. It's Tonio's first-ever live release, coming almost 25 years after he first emerged on the scene in the late '70s. In addition to some Tonio K. classics the CD also includes 3 unreleased songs done live and 2 unreleased bonus tracks! This 1992 concert, recorded at Pearl's in Austin, features the ace lineup of Tonio K. (vocals, guitar), Don Harvey (drums), Scott Garber (bass), Reese Wynans (Hammond B-3), Bukka Allen (piano), and Jerry Holmes (guitar). CD folder includes typically excellent liner notes from Senor K.!

Despite receiving massive critical praise for Life in the Foodchain (1978) and Amerika (1980), Tonio K. bounced around from CBS Records, to Arista, to Capitol-EMI (which resulted in the 1983 EP La Bomba), before settling into What?/A&M for his third and fourth albums: Romeo Unchained (1986) and Notes From the Lost Civilization (1988). Since being 'dropped' from A&M;, he has been one of the music industry's most successful songwriters, penning the most played song of 1993 (Love Is, recorded by Vanessa Williams and Brian McKnight), and placing songs with Bonnie Raitt, Aaron Neville, Al Green (from the 'Michael' soundtrack), and many others. A fifth album recorded with an all-star cast (Paul Westerberg, David Hidalgo, Peter Case, Bruce Thomas, and others) was canned by A&M but released by Gadfly Records (Olé) in 1997. A collection of spare tracks and other oddities -- Rodent Weekend '76-'96 (Approximately) -- was released by Gadfly Records in 1998, and Yugoslavia, a CD of tracks recorded in the '90s, was released in 1999. All four of Tonio K. 's earlier full-length albums are available on CD from Gadfly Records.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More gold from Gadfly's vaults, July 4, 2003

By 

Scott D (Salt Lake, UT USA GOD's toenail) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 16 Tons of Monkeys (Live) (Audio CD)

Just like the liner notes say, "16 Tons Of Monkeys" was made for "the fun of it" and that is both a blessing and a curse for this disc. I gave it 5 stars as soon as I cranked "I Handle Snakes" up loud enough to get me evicted. Tonio is backed here by some of Austin's finest lounge lizards (Reese Winans on B-3 plus Bukka Allen on Piano? Sweeeeeet.)and despite the ad-hoc nature of the band, their sheer virtuosity yields moments of sublime genius. Guitarist Jerry Holmes pummels "Stop The Clock" and unloads a punishing flurry on the title track. Drummer Don Harvey and Bassist Scott Garber keep things going at a tidy pace, an amazing feat considering the mercurial nature of Tonio's music. My favorite part of the CD is when Tonio flubs the intro to "WhatA Way To Live." None of that Elvis 'stop the band and start over' stuff. Tonio just laughs and goes with it, a life lesson well learned.
The two additional studio tracks are superfluous, but not without some charm.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Live Tonio K album, March 3, 2010

By 

K. Wilkinson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 16 Tons of Monkeys (Live) (Audio CD)

I found this a surprisingly strong set of songs covering songs from Ole, Romeo Unchained, and Notes from the Lost Civilization.

Recorded live in Austin, TX for KLOL radio sometime in the 1990's, and probably because of this, there's not a lot of talk between songs, but the songs are well-played.

I bought this CD so I would have Tonio K's complete discography as I like most of what he's done before. I'd have to say this is one of his strongest CD's. If you are new to his music and wanting to check him out, start with this one. If you're an older fan just not sure which era this is from in his music, as I stated, it's songs mostly from the three CD's I listed.

1 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, October 1, 2002

By 

Hank Schwab (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 16 Tons of Monkeys (Live) (Audio CD)

After the first two cuts, this CD tapers off. The lyrics aren't that great, and the band sounds a little generic.