Look at the Fool

Look at the Fool

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Tim Buckley's career reached a stalemate with the release of Look at the Fool in 1974. Buckley's poorly conceived material suffered from weak soul-rock arrangements, and more sadly, a deteriorated voice. Some fans view all his later efforts from the funky, sex-mad Greetings from L.A. to the burnt-out soul of Fool, as aberrations. Others take the view that his last three albums celebrate the blue-eyed soul tradition. On the whole, Greetings from L.A., Sefronia, and Look at the Fool are inconsistent next to the glorious, Happy Sad, the elegant Blue Afternoon, and the far-in psychedelic cabaret blues of Starsailor. On his last album, Buckley goes even deeper into the funk and R&B he began to experiment with on Greetings from L.A. His attempts to come over as a bad-ass Marvin Gaye clone fail miserably. The accompanying L.A. session musicians don't have a clue about what made Gaye funky, and Buckley's voice just isn't suited to the libidinous lover-man style he aspires to achieve. The material is pretty basic and there are few glimpses of the free-flowing adventurousness of old. --Reuben Dessay.

Product Description
Tim Buckley's 9th and final studio album, released in 1974, a year before his death in June 1975. 10 tracks.

Customer Reviews:

Fine reissue of a classic set.......2006-05-24

Think about the stupidest, most formulaic Hollywood movies you can think of: cheesy action pictures, fluffy, unfunny comedies, big but stiff epics. Now imagine that one of the greatest living composers was working in Hollywood, turning out astonishing, hauntingly beautiful and stirring musical scores for these throwaway movies. That's what you get with this set: music Henry Purcell composed for some two dozen often utterly forgettable plays (trust me--I've read a number of them!) Occasionally, when he teams up with a playwright worthy of his stature, such as John Dryden, Aphra Behn, or William Congreve, the results are even better, but for the most part you can enjoy the music here without knowing anything about the original plays.

This set originally appeared as separate LPs in the 70s and 80s, and has been long out of print. That's a pity, since Purcell spent a good deal of his short professional life in the theatre, either writing the incidental music contained on these CDs, or the music for his larger works, the semi-operas (King Arthur, The Fairy Queen, and the like). Almost all of these works are enjoyable gems; certainly, they represent a pinnacle of English 17th century music. Purcell had a genius for spinning musical gold out of the most leaden lyrics (check out his Odes and Welcome Songs on Hyperion if you don't believe me), and he does the same with the song texts in these plays.

Hogwood and the AAM offer clean, listenable performances, and the sound on these old analog discs has been cleaned up and brightened--although they were pretty good, even in the late 70s. As with most Hogwood, emotional extremes are kept to a minimum, so the "otherworldly" nature of late 17th century music, so often emphasised in more recent Baroque performances, doesn't come across here. It would be interesting to see what a group like The King's Consort would do with this music, but this set fills the major gap in the Purcell canon quite nicely.

My only beef with the reissue, as with many reissues, is that the liner notes are rather thin for a 6-cd set--the lyrics to the songs, for example, are especially missed. Still, it's a worthwhile set, and a must for fans of Purcell, English Baroque music, or anyone who just wants to experience a taste of the last days of the Restoration stage.

Average customer rating:

Buckley does it again!!!
Tim`s swan song
don't waste your time or money
Buckleys' Voice is Like No Other
Better than they say

Look at the Fool
Tim Buckley
Manufacturer: Manifesto Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

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General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Folk Rock | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Sefronia
Greetings from L.A.
The Dream Belongs to Me: Rarities & Unreleased 1968-1973
Honeyman
Works in Progress

ASIN: B000005DE0
Release Date: 1995-08-15

Tracks:

Look at The Fool
Bring It On Up
Helpless
Freeway Blues
Tijuana Moon
Ain't It Peculiar
Who Could Deny You
Mexicali Voodoo
Down In The Street
Wanda Lou

Product Description

1. Look At The Fool 2. Bring It On Up 3. Helpless 4. Freeway Blues 5. Tijuana Moon 6. Ain"t It Peculiar 7. Who Could Deny You 8. Mexicali Voodoo 9. Down In The Street 10. Wanda Lou

Format: CD

Amazon.com

Tim Buckley's career reached a stalemate with the release of Look at the Fool in 1974. Buckley's poorly conceived material suffered from weak soul-rock arrangements, and more sadly, a deteriorated voice. Some fans view all his later efforts from the funky, sex-mad Greetings from L.A. to the burnt-out soul of Fool, as aberrations. Others take the view that his last three albums celebrate the blue-eyed soul tradition. On the whole, Greetings from L.A., Sefronia, and Look at the Fool are inconsistent next to the glorious, Happy Sad, the elegant Blue Afternoon, and the far-in psychedelic cabaret blues of Starsailor. On his last album, Buckley goes even deeper into the funk and R&B he began to experiment with on Greetings from L.A. His attempts to come over as a bad-ass Marvin Gaye clone fail miserably. The accompanying L.A. session musicians don't have a clue about what made Gaye funky, and Buckley's voice just isn't suited to the libidinous lover-man style he aspires to achieve. The material is pretty basic and there are few glimpses of the free-flowing adventurousness of old. --Reuben Dessay.

Customer Reviews:

Buckley does it again!!!.......2006-02-03

I don't think the amazon reviewer and I are listening to the same album ''a deteriorated voice'' i don't see any evidence of that he pushed the boundrys with further each album.(i have a live album from 1975 his voice gives me goosebumps it's so good)

I think the fact he refused to be a one trick pony and do the same album time after time to keep the critics happy might be upsetting for some people who aren't broad minded enough to except change; But for me it is just another expression of the true talent this exceptional singer had.

However if your not into your funk/soul i can understand this album not being to taste but he covered a few genre's in his short life he made nine studio albums...If you don't enjoy this check out the anthology for a overall view of his ability

Tim`s swan song.......2005-03-29

As other reviewers have, I`m glad to see, pointed out, this has always been mystifyingly underrated (just as - despite the sublime Once I was and Morning Glory - the angular, cod-psychedelic Goodbye and Hello has perennially been much overrated). The title song is gorgeous. And Tijuana Moon opens with this breath-halting lyric, sung virtually a capella in Tim`s divine falsetto:
`The padre told me all the hymns were born
out of the saxophone...`
Wanda Lu is Louie Louie in Rio, the whole thing in fact is suffused with sultry south-of-the-border sexuality (Tim loved the ladies as much as they loved him) and its Carnival time! This is dripping with soul and sex. It`s not TB at his greatest (look to Blue Afternoon or Happy Sad, or the crazed Starsailor, for that) but you`ll have a great time if played on the loud side.
Greetings From LA, an earlier album, was Tim`s gritty, dirty soul foray; this is exultant festival time. Enjoy.

don't waste your time or money.......2004-08-15

One of the worst albums I've ever listened to. The whole thing sounds stale and fake with no originality. Unfortunately, this was my introduction to his material and has put me off buying any of his other albums (although I may pick up some of his early work which is supposed to be excellent).

Buckleys' Voice is Like No Other.......2002-03-17

Say what you will about Tims' lack of "Being Commercial"..The one thing you can never say is that his voice is anything but GREAT! His control of the five plus octives just amazes you with his ability to climb and dance through the melody. I had the pleasure of being a friend of his. I have the Guild 12 string he used to play. The energy and love that Buckley put into his music is like no other. HE IS NOT THE BACKSTREET BOYS....THIS IS A REAL TALENT.

Better than they say.......2000-01-11

I have read many a bad review of this albumn but although it is different in style to his other work, it is just as good! I first heard the song Look at the fool on the Twenty Four Seven soundtrack which prompted me to buy this albumn. It is a brillent emotionally charged bluesy song, the rest of the songs are more upbeat and mowtown in style. Most of the songs do not contain the most inspiring lyrics but the tunes are incredibily catchy and addictive. This is a great funky album, perfect to put on before you go out for an evening!

Average customer rating:

A Comic-Opera Treasure!
an obscure delight!

Dittersdorf: Arcifanfano, King of Fools

Manufacturer: Video Artists Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Anna Russell Takes On... Nabucco & The Magic Flute
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ASIN: B000003LIK
Release Date: 1994-12-12

Tracks:

Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Overture
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Chorus - We've Traveled Far (Semplicina, Gloriosa, Garbata, Sordidone, Malgoverno, Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - Approach! What Is Your Name, Sir? (Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - With A Sword That Is Sterner Than Moses (Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - Unhappy Oddling (Gloriosa)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - My Fair Skin, My Bare Chin (Gloriosa)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - Was Ever There Insanity (Sordidone)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - Snugly Hidden Safe From Prying (Sordidone)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - Madness Beyond All Measure (Malgoverno)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - When The Purse Is Clinking (Malgoverno)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - There, Like A Vapor (Semplicina)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - O Look So Woeful (Semplicina)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - Such As She Seems To Be Frigid (Garbata)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - Let's Sing, Let's All Be Jolly (Garbata)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Recitative - For All Types Of Confusion
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act I: Aria - The Fierce One Lives Only For The Slaughter
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - I Beg You To Stop (Malgoverna, Gloriosa, Garbata)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Aria - We Praise The Sun For Beauty (Malgoverna)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - Bumpkin, Coarse-grained (Gloriosa, Garbata)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Aria - If You Will Love Me, I Will Love You (Garbata)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - No, They Cannot Persuade Me! (Gloriosa)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Aria - Lovely Ladies, You Enjoying (Gloriosa)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - Where's My Lover, Sweetheart (Sordidone)

Tracks:

Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Aria - Sordidone, Be A Bunny
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - Are You Hiding? (Sordidone, Garbata)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Duet - See Comely Phyllis Wander (Garbata, Sordidone)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - Don't Come Near Me (Semplicina, Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Aria - The High And Mighty Lion (Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - Quiet At Last (Semplicina)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Duet - Semplicina, Do You Hear Me? (Semplicina)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Quartet - Ever More Bitter Shall Be My Raging (Gloriosa, Garbata, Malgoverno, Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Recitative - What Now? What New Forms Of Madness? (Gloriosa, Sordidone, Malgoverno, Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act II: Chorus - Long Live King Arcifanfano (Semplicina, Gloriosa, Garbata, Sordidone, Malgoverno, Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - Earth, Our Dearest, Good And Nearest (Sordidone)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - That His Sowing Yield A Growing (Malgoverno)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - What Has The Fool Committed (Malgoverna, Gloriosa)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - Ask Of Beauty, She Will Answer (Gloriosa)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - Hop And Stop It! (Furibondo, Gloriosa)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - All Of This Planet, I Cry To Each Man (Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - What's Unleashed These Dreadful Roars? (Garbata, Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - I'm Simple And I'm Candid (Garbata)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - What Mischief And Load This Purse Is!
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - Goddess Bright As Morning
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - Mother Always Used To Tell Me (Sordidone, Semplicina)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - What A Lot I Need What I Need Lot's Of! (Sordidone)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - May He Not Come To Harm (Semplicina)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Aria - There's A Devil In A Ducat (Semplicina)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - Gather, O Subjects, About Us (Gloriosa, Garbata, Semplicina)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Duet - If You Marry Me (Semplicina)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Chorus - With Curiosity All Aflame (Semplicina, Gloriosa, Garbata, Sordidone, Malgoverno, Furibondo)
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Recitative - Quiet, Please, We Implore You!
Arcifanfano, King Of Fools: Act III: Chorus - The Wise And The Mad Have Got One Word For Their Dwelling

Customer Reviews:

A Comic-Opera Treasure!.......2007-01-28

Dittersdorf is a sort of working-man's Mozart; in fact, this opera sounds similar to some of Mozart's early operas. But Mozart sought to break the rules and to explore new musical ideas; Dittersdorf is not an innovator...yet he is no less a master! This performance, too, is a materpiece of refined (not always!) comedy; the arias include some extremely difficult vocal leaps and trills, yet the primary joy is the witty verse. W.H. Auden (no less!) ramrodded this translation to English. And Anna Russell, famed for her "Analysis of Wagner's Ring Cycle" steals every scene she's in! Ad-libbing shamelessly, her introductory aria, all by itself, is worth more than the purchase price!

an obscure delight!.......2002-07-31

Eleanor Steber's image on the cover of this set caught my eye while rummaging through the cut-out bins of San Francisco on a recent opera whirlwind. What a lost treasure this performance is - recorded "LIVE" in NYC 1965! All the principles shine, their energy ebullient. Don't hesitate, buy it and smile before it disappears.