Customer Reviews

Outside Inside

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This CD does not reflect the wild comic fun of a live Tubes show, nor does it reflect their quirky songwriting ability of their 70's heyday (the CD "Dawn of the Tubes", which is becoming increasingly harder to find, does accomplish those feats, however). But O/I has some really good near-metal rock and roll. In particular, "Out of the Business", "No, Not Again", and the Earth, Wind, and Fire -flavored "Tip Of My Tongue" (with the song's chorus written chiefly by a member of EW&F - because The Tubes just couldn't find a chorus that worked) are stand-outs. Of course, everyone remembers the CD's opening track "She's A Beauty". Not my favorite Tubes song, but I'm grateful it got them some airplay and increased record sales. But to really appreciate The Tubes (short of travelling back in time to see them perform in concert in 1976) one must listen to their 1970's catalog. Their first two LPs of the 80's (1981's The Completion Backward Principle and Outside/Inside two years later) have some good rock and roll, but the earlier stuff showcases their creative songwriting that helped build their reputation and cult following.

There's more here then meets the eye...or the ear. Everyone will recognize "She's A Beauty", but the rest of the CD, is well worth listening....even though the other review listed here calls it "filler"! I gave this 5 stars because it's not only my favourite Tubes release, but it contains my favourite Tubes song...No Not Again. If you liked "Completion Backwards Principle" you will enjoy this CD as well. If you can still find copies of this CD, buy it! These guys were way ahead of there time, and there music still holds up, some 20 years later.

To many this was a Tubes sell out album as many songs were aimed directly at the charts, but there's really nothing wrong here unless you just want to deprive a band from having any mainstream success. The Tubes paid their dues through the 1970s setting a standard for wild weird shows that got them banned in many cities throughout the states. They played thousands of shows without the benefit of having any chart success, but as the 1980s dawned, the band, starting to get a bit long in the tooth, searched for chart success by spoofing the corporate yuppie idiot public with the fine "The Completion Backwards Principle" and sought to have more success with a straight-up pop effort. "She's a Beauty" put the band all over MTV and the rest of the album delivers fine pop songs. The beautiful 'Fantastic Delusion" the neck snapping R&B of "Tip of my Toungue" and the catchy "Theme Park" all work well under the expert production of David Foster. Also welcome is the hard rocking "Out of the Business" (with a killer hook). There's also the usual Tubes weirdness (Wild Women of Wongo, Drums, Monkey Time) to go along with the straight-ahead songs. The album was a sucess but petered out after a short run which pee-off Fee Waybill enough that he basically lambasted the public on the David Letterman Show with good reason. The band paid their dues, wrote great songs, were a second to none live act, but couldn't get no respect. I understand him completely. The band deserved better.

I will start this review by saying that this is the Tubes at their most commercial...but that is not a fault. Yes they were more punk & alternative when they were a "San Francisco" rock band, but this music is so darned good that I defy anyone who appreciates good music to put it down. Each song is well crafted and a real gem...great writing & performances abound along with David Foster's superb production values. Fidelity is nice as well. The import CD restores all of the artwork. You have to get this one if you like really good popular music that is well played & well written.

I always seem to be the guy who brings down the average...This was the follow-up to "The Completion Backward Principle", which managed to be funny and radio-friendly, and it did OK--no major hits, as I recall ("Talk to Ya Later" came closest)..."Outside Inside" continues in that same direction, and scored a big one with "She's A Beauty", typifying the Tubes' increasing efforts to broaden their audience. Lots of good rockers here--"No Not Again" (I like the key change at the coda), the melody to "Theme Park" is appropriately breathless and happy, and there's still a tip of the hat to the old days with the slightly naughty "Wild Women of Wongo" and "Tip of My Tongue", though, again, in the latter, cleverly masked by slick production for listening who ignore the lyrics. Oh yeah, there's the remake of "The Monkey Time" with Martha Davis from the Motels (does that take you back?)--"Are you ready for my monkey?"..."You better put that baby on a chain..." Good, encouraging stuff from these guys; this was about the time their star fell, though; actually, the time I jumped off the bandwagon as well--fickle public! Recommended.

When the predecessor of this album, "The Completion Backwards Principle" was released, I heard two reactions from my friends. From those who had never heard the Tubes before, their comments were along these lines: "Hey - there's a new band called the Tubes and they're great!" From those who had been long time fans of the group, their reactions were negative and they expressed disappointment that the Tubes had "sold out." I was alone in my reaction, for I had been a fan for a long time, and yet felt that they had delivered an excellent, albeit more commercial offering for the public to suck up (and for which the Tubes might actually make some well-deserved money, for a change!)

When I heard the cut, "Tip Of My Tongue" on San Francisco's "KSAN The Jive 95," I rushed to the music store to get my copy of "Outside Inside." I was so impressed with "Tip Of My Tongue," that even if it had been the only good tune on the tape, I would have counted it worth the cost.

This is why I'm so shocked to read other amazon reviewers writing that the only good tune is the first track, "She's A Beauty." I'm sorry, but that is just a false statement. I know people all have their own tastes, etc., but it's just untrue to say that all of the other tunes are just "filler."

My tastes in music have never been what anyone would call mainstream. There are no best of the 70s or best of the 80s or best of the 90s compilations out there that have even ONE tune on them that represents what I like. Therefore, I think I'm qualified to make the following statement: The Tubes DID present a more commercial type of music on "The Completion Backwards Principle," and "Outside Inside." However, just because it is more comercial doesn't mean it's not good. Those two albums are excellent - the songs show talent in all areas: Writing, singing, musicianship and recording technique.

Could it be that the reason they titled this album "Outside Inside" is because for YEARS they were thoroughly OUTside the mainstream in their approach to music, and then they put together two albums which were closer to being INside the mainstream? It's a thought. Even if this is true, there's STILL enough of the Tubes' own individualism and signature to keep these two albums very interesting. (You gotta love it when Martha sings, "You better keep that thing on a chain!" on "Monkey Time.")

If you are an 80s music fan, these two albums are mandatory to your collection.

This album is surprizingly hard to find considering it is a Tubes classic. A wonderful spoof of "corporate rock", this album has something for everyone from the top fourty hit "She's a Beauty" to the jungle beat of "Wild Women of Wongo". Though at first listening "Tip Of My Tongue" comes off as a unpbeat love song, a careful examination of the lyrics reveals it to be what I consider one of the dirtiest songs in rock & roll history. Very reminisent of Peter Gabriel's "Kiss That Frog". From start to finish, this is a fun album.

I'm a brand new Tubes fan, strangely. I just 'discovered' them maybe 3 months ago. I started out liking some of their stuff, got hooked on the live version of "white punks" which got me to listen a little harder to their other material. I was doing a kitchen project in our house and had "Outside Inside" running the entire time - like 3 nights in a row. I started out barely familiar with the songs, and each pass of this record pulled me in more and still continues to surprise me. It's a incredible pop record. People accuse it of being overly radio friendly but I actually find this to be a pretty risky - or at least challenging - album. I've been into Theme Park lately. That middle section with that amazing vocal processing (whoooOOOAAAAaahhhh, etc) - it's kind of spooky, and I still can't figure out how they did it. A lot of wonderful ear-candy throughout; it makes me miss the days when labels would support such a huge expenditure of money and time for non-single tracks ("Wongo" is a production tour de force that never had any hope of charting). So today I looked up some of the credits and see names like Massenburg (mixing), Martha Davis (!! - never would've guessed that was her), Jerry Hey (horn arrangements), and I thought, "Ah, no wonder". This record was created by the best of the best, and it's really immediately evident that it cost a fortune. It's a gorgeous sounding album but never sounds slick or gimmicky - there is no formula here. It sounds fun, confident, and right. It reminds me of Thomas Dolby's "Aliens ate my Buick" in that respect. Listening to this from beginning to end is like going on a really great, wild ride.

I was just feeling nostalgic for this. I've been keeping my eyes open for this for years but could never find it in any store. Was time to order online - mission accomplished!

This is one of those CD's that wasn't all that popular, with the exception of, "She's a Beauty"; however, it is an outstanding album. It rocks and 's a little funky and simply a great collection of music.