Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
It's growing on me April 3, 2004 M. C. Myers (La Mesa, CA United States) 8 out of 8 found this review helpful
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.
Too Cool For Words July 3, 2005 Gwen Rosewater (Healdsburg, CA) 6 out of 6 found this review helpful
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.
Tiny Tim - 'Girl' (Rounder) May 24, 2005 Mike Reed (USA) 5 out of 5 found this review helpful
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.
Great Fun; Never Disappoints; Not for Everyone February 26, 2005 David L Hutchins (Mesa, AZ) 5 out of 5 found this review helpful
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.
Are you ready for an amazing surprise? April 13, 2004 Johnny Heering (Bethel, CT United States) 5 out of 5 found this review helpful
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.
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