Vinyl Junkie #6 - Private Eyes

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Greetings and good morning from snowy (again) Denver, Colorado! I got this one, Tommy Bolin's 1976 album, Private Eyes, in excellent condition, for six bucks! An in demand session guitarist (notably, he played on jazz fusion drummer Billy Cobham's classic 1973 album, Spectrum,) Tommy Bolin replaced Joe Walsh in the James Gang for two albums, replaced Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple for one studio and three live albums, grew tired of being seen as a "replacement," recorded two solo albums, and died of a drug overdose at the age of 25 while touring with Jeff Beck in support of Private Eyes. The album is chock full of acid rock, funk rock, tender ballads, and even a lovely little Samba. And now, on to the funk rocker, "Shake the Devil," which opens side two. Of course, I have a story. (If you haven't noticed by now, I always have a story, having lived a fun life filled with interesting friends!) Back in the 1980's, I lived with three friends in what was officially dubbed "The Big Funkin' Party House." Often, during an all-night party, we would make a spur of the moment decision to go skiing, and off we went, usually accompanied by whoever happened to be hanging out with us that night. Which placed us, on this particular morning, at Keystone Ski Area. My buddy brought his Walkman, and was listening to his copy of Private Eyes as he skied. This was eventually lent to one of our friends, who got caught up in the funky "Shake the Devil," stopped paying attention to what he was doing, and wiped out. I'm taking total yard sale. Trashed Walkman. "What the hell?" "I was Shakin' the Devil." Although I'm pretty sure that people will point out that the fact that we were drinking wine and smoking weed on the chairlift contributed mightily to the crash, do not underestimate the power of "Shake the Devil." Private Eyes. I've owned it on cassette, CD, and on my iPod. And now I have it on vinyl. Rock on, my friends! (Info verified by Wikipedia)