Customer Reviews

Girl

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you are interested in Tiny but don't know much about him, or if you are building a collection, this one is essential. Tiny was involved in an unfortunate number of cheesy productions after the early Reprise recordings, so I am forever grateful that he left us on this very high note.
The wonderful thing about Tiny Tim was that he was at once a very savvy song stylist with an unparalled knowledge of popular music history and an utterly genuine eccentric who used his gifts and deep love of music in startlingly strange and wonderful ways. Listen, then, to Tiny the vaudevillian, singing the marvelous 'Sly Cigarette', a show-tune from 1898. Then there is Tiny opening up his great, big pipes and singing 'That Old Feeling'. Beautiful!! Then the infectious 'Bye Bye Blackbird, which makes me want to jump around the room. And of course that incredibly weird and compelling cover of 'Stairway to Heaven', done in perfect lounge-lizard persona. There are some turkeys here, it is true, but they are safely outnumbered by the gems. It's just a great cd.
I must not neglect to mention the wonderful Brave Combo, who bring great virtuosity, imagination, and life to the entire production. Don't miss this one.

I was a bit disappointed with this CD on first listen, concluding that perhaps Brave Combo is not the best fit for Tiny Tim, who has trouble being taken seriously as it is. "Bye Bye Blackbird" (rendered here as the "Bye Bye Blackbird Twist") is amazing, and "Sly Cigarette" is real vintage Tiny Tim, but did we really need to hear Tiny Tim's version of "Stairway to Heaven?" But I find myself coming back to this CD from time to time, and with every listen, I appreciate it a bit more. I still find this verison of "Stairway" forgetable, but the "Hey Jude" Cha-Cha is something to hear. The liner notes indicate the difficulties that arose in making this album, with Brave Combo coming back to Tiny Tim to expand the original product, which they admit was just a novelty record, into something more. What they ended up with, I've come to realize, is a nice mix, both having fun with and venerating some popular tunes of the recent and distant past. I'm still a bit on the fence on this one, but it's hard not to recommend a chance to hear a mature Tiny Tim working with a great band.

It's hard to give 5-stars to an album by the guy who made "Tip Toe Through the Tulips" a big hit, but this album deserves it. Many people don't take Tiny very seriously, although if you can believe it, the official website says he took himself seriously. This is not really a serious album, but who says music has to be serious? It is great fun and shows what a great talent Tiny really was. Not everyone will like his singing, as he switches from his beautiful deep baritone voice into a falsetto one and back again in some of the songs. These songs are great fun and Tiny has his own way of making old standards sound like completely new songs. Tiny's voice practically "vibrates" at times and while his fans like this aspect, it can irritate some listeners. I think this album is a real classic and it is very unique; not like anything else out there. You'll either love it or hate it. I loved it.

If you only know Tiny Tim from "Tip-Toe Thru the Tulips With Me", you will be surprised by this album. Most of the songs here aren't sung in his high pitched falsetto voice, but rather his natural baritone voice. Admittedly, there are some people who can't stand him in any voice, due to his extreme tremolo when he holds a note. Personally, I dig him. On this album, Tiny Tim and Brave Combo work very well together. It's a natural combination, since both acts are lighthearted and perform in a somewhat retro style. Simply put, this is just a fun listen. Recommended for fans of cool and strange music.

Sure, the Beatles' "Hey Jude" was great the first million times we heard it, but for the last 15 years, we've changed the station when it came on. Now, in the very capable hands of Brave Combo, new arrangements (and Tiny Tim) breathe new life into Hey Jude and other songs that have gotten tired.

They also resurrect other oldies from a very long time ago.

One might say Brave Combo's fine musicianship and gift for clever arranging is wasted on an oddball warbler like Tiny Tim. That might be true. Still, this is an excellent collection that you'll find completely entertaining as well as interesting.

Hats off to Brave Combo. And oh yes, also to Mr. Tim.

I remember seeing Tiny Tim playing a club a few months before he passed on.'Girl' is an okay CD,but then again,I just basically went to see him play mostly because I figured he wouldn't be around much longer.Unfortunately for his fans,I was right.I did,however end up having a decent time.I've always thought Tiny Tim was good at what he did,playing Vaudeville-like novelty pop songs while mastering(if you can master)his ukelele.I'm sure very few other artists could get away with it,much less lasting as long in the music business as long as Tim did.His back-up band on this CD was Brave Combo(didn't care that much for them).Tracks that I thought sort of stood out on their own were "Over The Rainbow","New York,New York",if you can believe it,Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven" and a couple of Beatles covers,the title cut "Girl" and "Hey Jude".I've heard that Tim had a musical repertoire of over 1,200 songs.Sure most of them were old corny two minute ditties.I've also heard several other music buffs say his falsetto vocals can never be matched.But,what the hey?It's Tiny Tim.

THIS IS A GREAT CD. TINY TIM COVERS A LOT OF GROUND. THE SOUND QUALITY IS CRYTAL CLEAR. VERY LITTLE OF HIS TRADEMARK FALSETTO. INSTEAD WE GET TINY THE CROONER WITH LOTS OF VIBRATION IN HIS THROAT. NO-ONE COULD TOP THE BEATLES ON "GIRL" BUT TINY MAKES IT HIS OWN. HIS VERSION OF "STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN" IS THE SAME ARRANGEMENT USED BY PAT BOONE ( IN A METAL MOOD ). THE SONG IS JAZZ! FOR TRADITIONAL TINY TIM FANS THERE IS "OVER THE RAINBOW". HE STRUGGLES SLIGHTLY WITH THE HIGH NOTES BUT ULTIMATELY THIS CD IS A TRIUMPH FOR THE LATE, GREAT TINY TIM. GOOD LINER NOTES AND PHOTO OF TINY SHOPPING IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE DIAPERS AISLE. THIS IS GOOD STUFF.
THIS IS ONE OF THE RARE TINY TIM CD THAT MAY BE ENJOYED BY A LARGER AUDIENCE. I RATE IT HIGH BECAUSE I "GET" IT AND MY REVIEW IS GEARED TOWARDS TIM FANS. IF YOU DON"T HAVE A VERY OPEN MIND OR ARE NOT ALREADY A TIM FAN BUYER BEWARE.
THOSE WHO HAVE JUST DISCOVERED TINY TIM FROM SHOWS SUCH AS HOWARD STERN WILL FIND THIS A GREAT STARTER CD.

One listen of 'Over the Rainbow' is all it takes. A truly remarkable recording.

Enjoy this CD with an open mind. Sly Cigarette couldn't be more timely since the defeat of the Tobacco Bill on the Hill recently.

Hey Jude, with its Cha Cha Cha beat is a hoot! It is must listening.

The music will have you tapping your feet, singing along - generally having a great time.

And tomorrow you'll find yourself singing some of these oldies in the shower!

Jude Gardner Omaha

Tiny Tim and Brave Combo -- a match made in Pop heaven! Tiny could still use his falsetto when he wanted to, but much of this recording features his rich baritone. As was his forte, this collection features great historical songs like "That Old Feeling," "Sly Cigarette," "New York, New York," "All That I Want Is You" and "Stardust" -- plus renditions of Pop Hits like "Girl" and "Hey Jude" (Lennon-McCartney) and "Stairway to Heaven" (Page-Plant). The classic "Over the Rainbow" is a high point. God Bless Tiny Tim!