Customer Reviews

Time Step

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

 

 

Having followed Leo Kottke since 1974 I can honestly say this album is a keeper. All the tunes are vintage Kottke but "Rings", written as sort of a joke by Alex Harvey and Ed Reeves, is fantastic. I've seen Leo perform this tune live several times and I'd really love to have a recording of it without the backup band. Emmylou Harris was also a nice surprise on this record. I never got this particular album when I was trying to get everything Leo recorded as soon as it came out but found a vinyl copy at Amoeba Records in LA last year.

I have been a fan of Leo since his first album, and I have this one on vinyl. It is worth having if only for Bungle Party, which is great word-salad, 'shoe-leather futures,with memories of dirt'; and the beautiful, lilting 'Julie's House ', with a guest vocal from non-other than Emmylou Harris, whose sandals I am unworthy to loosen

In a recent review of Leo Kottke's `Great Big Boy', I savaged the artist's choice of songs and vocal stylings on that disc. I recommended 1983's `Time Step' to Amazon searchers instead.

'Time Step', from Leo's Chrysalis stage of metamorphosis, is an excellent mixture of well-chosen ballads and great instrumentals.

Leo and producer T-Bone Burnett select some sure-fire matches of melody and lyric to Leo's voice. `Rings', `Julie's House', and `Running All Night Long' are well-suited to Leo's clear and manly baritone. Emmylou Harris' stellar backing vocals in all the tunes don't hurt none either.

Leo's version of `Saginaw, Michigan' is perhaps the best I've ever heard since Lefty Frizzell's original. Maybe it's his flawless slide guitar playing.

However, it is the honesty of Kottke's voice that is the key to its appeal. You can feel it in his rendition of Kris Kristofferson's sentimental "Here Comes That Rainbow Again".

I always love surprise bonuses. And on `Time Step' we're treated to a twelfth track not identified on the label, a delightful version of the Allman Brothers' instrumental, `Little Martha'.

Quality, balance, honesty, and bonus. How can you beat that?

Strange to consider writing a Leo Kottke review and starting off about his vocals--but it's plain that his weary/tired groan finally finds its comfort zone. Credit T-Bone Burnett for production wisdom and selection for that--and Leo's ability with his fragmented rambling to minimize damage where possible ("The Bungle Party").

Instead, he pours some warmth into the father-in-law-joke of "Saginaw, Michigan" and the spirit of generosity on Kris Kristofferson's "Here Comes that Rainbow Again." It's not easy but certainly possible, however, to overlook the contemplative "Starving," "Running All Night Long" or the monotonous "The Wrong Track." Better yet, "Rings" and "Julie's House" are vibrant with sensitivity (and Emmylou Harris's background vocals), but the winner is "I'll Break Out Again Tonight," a ballad of a love-and-homesick convict. Points also for polite guitar noodling on "Mr. Fonebone."

I wish though that he had included here the version of "Little Martha" that appeared on the Chrysalis instrumental package; he and Albert Lee made that float on glass slippers.

This is an important recording as Leo Kottke was starting to sing more than he had in the past. I appreciate the variety as the album is not 100% instrumentals and I personally like the honest no-frills vocals. Add to that T-Bone Burnett's productions skills and you have a pretty good recording. However, I prefer My Father's Face, a later recording again produced by T-Bone Burnett

This is a cassette I used to have and lost years ago. I've been hoping to replace it for many years but could never find it....Just found it today and bought it again. It was like finding a long lost friend! I love several of the tracks which have a quasi-country feel, and am thrilled to have it in my collection again.