Customer Reviews

Isle of View/Orginial Tap Dancing Kid

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

 

 

I remember this album from my youth. What I remember, was that it was the only record I purchased that did not have a paper liner. That was before the realities of production were made plain to me or any talk of QA/QC.

But the music was soooo nice. I have been looking for a while, but the prices were insane. then I found this set. Excellent quality sound, and the music stands. Smiles all around. hey man, pass that. .Oh right ,i don't do that no more.

I was fortunate enough to see Jimmie in OKC around 1979-80. His concert was two parts, meaning the first half was all acoustic, a short break and the second half was all electric. He started the second half with "the nest", I thought the walls were going to fly away. For what seemed like all night, the music just poured from the stage. The next day, I still couldn't get enough, I went out and bought all of his albums on vinyl, I still have them but unfortunately my turntable, like the 8-track, bid farewell about ten years ago.
So, a couple of weeks ago I was cruising Amazon.com and came across Isle of View / Original Tap Dancing Kid on CD and had to have it. Turns out it was the best thing I've bought in years. It's like 2 albums in one and every song is complete, no quick endings or stuff like that. The first time I played it, it was as if I were back at that concert. The quality was perfect. I must have listened to it 5 or 6 times. I felt like it was the day after the show all over again.
Thanks Amazon, I'm coming back for the rest of Jimmie's records.

eerie, unusual melodic 70's rock. I couldn't forget this album "Isle of View"
Finally found it on-line after years of blank looks at stores.

This is a wonderful CD. I hadn't heard these songs in years, and to hear them again was wonderful. The CD quality is good. I am very pleased with this purchase.

First, the track listing on this page is incomplete (or it was when I wrote this). It only lists the tracks from the 'Isle of View' album.
The nice thing about this CD is that you get both that album and the later 'The Original Tap Dancing Kid' album on the same disc (i.e. just the one CD). Don't be expecting two discs in the jewel case.
Jimmie Spheeris never really got famous enough to become a real legend when he was killed, though his fans may disagree. Even so, I sense a resurgence of interest in his work, and he's certainly somebody you should check out if you're a fan of the early seventies California sound.
His first album, 'Isle of View' sounds like a 'transition' album - it sounds a bit late sixties 'hippie' and a bit early seventies smooth. It's very much a 'first' album and has its rough edges, but it is very charming. The sound is largely soft and dreamy (Spheeris was never really a rocker), poetic, idealistic, a bit experimental. It's a bit like a musical time machine, if you fancy being transported back to 1971. Just light an incense stick and put on a cheesecloth shirt.
Move on to 1973 and 'The Original Tap Dancing Kid' is clearly a more polished and commercial album. The title track is a fun track that begins with a happy sounding bunch of people chattering before the music starts. It's a lively, catchy song. There are a few uptempo tracks that are mostly pretty good, though I'm not sure 'Village Vapors' entirely succeeds, and 'Sweet Wahini Mama' seems dated now. 'Shirtful of Apples' slows things down and recalls an innocent time (a not uncommon theme for Spheeris). 'Keeper of the Canyon' an 'Moon on the Water' are good examples of Jimmie's poetic, dreamy side - soft melodies that wash pleasantly over you. He was good at this sort of thing.
So this is a good value CD that's a great introduction to an obscure but unique and thankfully not yet forgotten artist.

I'm glad this became available. I was originally wanting Isle of View so the Tapdance Kid was a bonus. Cool tracks on it also.

For those who haven't heard of Jimmie, get ready: He'll blow you away. For those who already know of him, sit back and enjoy. Totally mesmerizing orchestration of guitar, piano, harp, etc. Either you'll be tapping your feet or in a relaxed, zen-type atmosphere. Also highly recommend "The Dragon is Dancing." He died too soon, but his music lives on.

It's wonderful having his music again. The sound isn't a good as I expected, but at least I have the music.