Customer Reviews

Thunder Island

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If I could give this record 10 stars, I would do it on sound textures alone. Have thousands of records; have heard it all (go on ask me..oh yea I love that Diesel album too; love most of it, especially the '70s stuff: the Eagles and "Street Survivors," but if you put a gun to my head this album would be on my shortest list- maybe top three. It's what music is all about: escape, love, fun, heart, quirky melody, musical freedom. This guy not only played in Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne, but also jammed in the Joe Walsh circle, showing up on one of my other favs, "But Seriously Folks" on keys. He is a Beatle in California clothing. The whimsical pop/rock weekend ditty right off of '70s Block Iland, a total fantasy where the nuts are one mile off the mainland with no shortage of beer, wine and tents, playing in a sort of musical vollyball sand. Hearing Thunder Island in sunny August will spell you like a California surfer hearing his first Beach Boys' song. The title cut opens with a Joe Walsh slide setting the tone. "Night Shift," "Happy Too" and "Magic Moment" are my other loves. If your looking for that jem, the diamond in the ruff, no doubt if you haven't got a copy of this, don't ever think twice. IT will change your life.

I'm so glad to finally get this cd after being out of print for so long.THUNDER ISLAND is definately the best song on this cd,but there are several other good tunes to be heard on this cd such as LOVE IS COLD. Joe Walsh plays lead guitar on this album and does a great job. Ferguson lays down a very smooth style of an upbeat mixture of keyboard and electric guitar oriented rock and roll. I think this is Jay Ferguson second best cd behind 1979's REAL LIFE AIN'T THIS WAY.

The follow-up to "All Alone In The Endzone", "Thunder Island" #72, would be 29 year old Jay Ferguson's biggest hit album since the first JO JO GUNNE album in 1972. Here are some of the highlights off "Thunder Island":

"Thunder Island"- As mentioned in the other reviews, a real good feelin' song. Jay's first top 10 hit #9. Great slide guitar by Joe Walsh.

"Soulin'"- That laid back 70's feel. A great mix-tape song.

"Happy Birthday Baby" - Epic power ballad 1977 style.

"Losing Control" - An excellent rock number, should of been his follow-up hit!

"Cazumel" - The Jamaican feel. Great guitar and bass here. Good lyrics by Jay.

"Night Shift" - Has a slight disco feel, but a lot of artists did a little dab of disco back then. Still a good song.

"Babylon" - JO JO GUNNE cover. More commerical sounding.

"Love Is Cold" - Another good power ballad. Good slide guitar by Joe Walsh.

"Happy Too" - A fun loving tune, great guitar, "Whenever your happy, I'm happy too"!

"Magic Moment" - Another good feeling song from them 70's. "Merrily","Merrily","Merrily"....

His band on this record was: Stan Kipper -Drums Joey Murcia - guitar Tony Battaglia - guitar Harold Cowart - Bass Guest players: Joe Walsh - Guitar Ed Brown - Bass.


Just buy some Jay Ferguson he is a great artist, that has produced some tremendous music from 1968-1984.

THUNDER ISLAND is the best solo CD ever by former Spirit/Jo Jo Gunne lead singer Jay Ferguson, with the title song being one of the great summertime anthems of all time. It still gets played on many classic rock and classic hits radio stations even today, and it's great that this album has come out on CD. In an age where all of the alternative rock bands are viewed as gods in all of their glory, it's nice to see good, real pop-rock making a comeback with such reissues as this one.

This and "All Alone in the End Zone" are two very under-rated and under-appreciated albums from Jay Ferguson. While they were certainly not flops when they came out, they never achieved the status and acclaim they deserved. Joe Walsh and Joe Vitale were there to add their ideas and play on every cut, and it sounds like a good time was had by all.

In the late 70's, Ferguson, Walsh, and Vitale played on each others albums. The output of these three (essentially a supergroup) during that time was, in my opinion, some of the best music of the late 70's. Walsh's "But Seriously, Folks..." was one of those albums, and it is a classic. These albums are upbeat and fun, and they always lift my spirits. Recommending these to anyone who enjoys well written, straight-up rock 'n' roll, played by excellent musicians who are having a good time is a no-brainer.

Entire album brings back the innocent times of the mid- to late seventies, at which, I was nineteen and times were great. The music that Jay presents is that of lost horizons and island beauties. One cannot escape the summertime feeling when the songs are played. Fully, and thoroughly, enjoyed the purchase.

Finally Jay or his record company is releasing his solo projects. Unlike Randy California's blistering solo album Kapt. Kopter, Jay has stayed on the mello side {not taking anything away from the late great Randy, because I love his work also}, but it's nice to get mello every once in awhile. The guitar work of Joe Walsh is is unquestionable some of his best, along with the work on the soon to be released All Alone in the End Zone. My good friend Leigh Crutchfield who has had the chance to meet and interview Jay, says All Alone was by Jay's on admission his best solo prodject. Cudos to both the albums and it's about time they were released.

This is kind of an embarassment to Jay Ferguson. Why? It is a total sell out to just make money.

Jay was in Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne. These were cool groups. He is far from cool on this album (what a fruity looking picture on the cover. Nice hair do Jay!).

Setting that aside, Thunder Island was big in its time and totally reminiscent of the early 80's. Babylon is a re working of a far grittier Jo Jo Gunne tune. SOulin is ok

This is trying to cash in on the Jimmy Buffet vibe. But Jay was a legit rocker so it is hard to take seriously. Its like if Richie Blackmore sang in a barbershop quartet or Keith Moon sang Brill Building songs.

It is unnatural but definetly a guilty pleasure. Going from Run, run, run to Thunder Island...please!