Tim and Jeff Buckley

[Gentle Giant]

I'm a huge fan of Tim Buckley, and I'll never forget how I got turned on to him. He was the surprise musical guest at the very end of the very last episode of The Monkees, singing a mesmerizing version of "Song to the Siren." I also clearly recall the day, many years later, when I was driving, turned on the radio, and heard a cool new song and thought, "You know, I'd heard that Tim's son had a record out. Nobody could sing like Tim, but this is damn close. Must be him." Sure enough, it was "Grace."

Rare is the father and son in popular music whose independent careers are so artistically notable - and so tragically short. In a way, I'm cynical about the news below; on the other hand, I think it would be a good thing for younger Jeff fans to explore his father's work, and for Tim's fans to check out his son.

Buckleys resonating with Hollywood producer
By Chris Morris | June 16, 2005

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - A script currently making the rounds in Hollywood could further build interest in a pair of musicians, father and son, whose posthumous reputations have remained durable.

Writer-producer Train Houston has secured the rights to "Dream Brother: The Lives & Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley," Entertainment Weekly music critic David Browne's 2001 book about the titular singer-songwriters, and has penned a screenplay on their eerily entwined lives.

Tim Buckley, whose style ranged from accessible folk-pop to ethereal jazz-rock and lubricious funk, recorded nine studio albums from 1966-74 and penned such oft-covered tunes as "Morning Glory," "Buzzin' Fly" and "Song to the Siren." A heroin overdose in 1975 in Venice Beach, Calif., took his life at age 28.

His son Jeff attained a far brighter celebrity: His mercurial voice, masterful guitar playing and sensitive compositions stirred talk of great things ahead after the release of his sole studio album, 1994's "Grace." In 1997, at 30, he accidentally drowned in Memphis.

Says Houston: "I read (Browne's) book and fell in love with it. I had some similar touchstones in my life." He developed a script with Mark Ross at Tobey Maguire's Maguire Entertainment, but the production company backed out; he has established BulletProof Train with wife and producing partner Holly Houston as a home for the Buckley script and other projects.

Jeff Buckley is the focal point of Houston's script, with Tim appearing in flashbacks. Houston says of the younger Buckley's material, "You don't have that kind of emotional resonance in today's music."

Jeff's work has certainly resonated with TV music supervisors: Time magazine noted in November that his breathtaking cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," a track from "Grace," has been used by seven network shows.

Sony BMG's catalog line Legacy has kept the Buckley flame burning with a 2004 two-disc version of "Grace" (which has sold 790,000 copies to date) and a greatly expanded 2003 edition of Jeff's introductory EP "Live at Sin-E." It also has released two posthumous sets and a live DVD.

Indie publicist Howard Wuelfing, who directed Jeff Buckley's press campaign at Columbia, says of his ongoing appeal: "He had a huge amount of influence on contemporary musicians, and most of the musicians he influenced are very upfront about it. Consumers are made aware of that because the critics are quick to point that out."

But 30 years after Tim Buckley's death, his music, though revered in critical quarters, hasn't seen as spectacular an afterlife as Jeff's. Rhino Records released a two-CD career retrospective in 2001, and most of his individual albums remain in print through Warner and Manifesto. However, "Blue Afternoon" (1969) and "Starsailor" (1970), perhaps his finest work, are unavailable.

"Those records are too experimental for most people," says Evan Cohen, who heads the indie label Manifesto, whose six Tim Buckley titles include albums first released by Discreet Records, the firm run by Frank Zappa and Cohen's uncle Herb.

Cohen thinks the time is right for a compilation that puts all of Tim's work -- as dazzling in its way as Jeff's -- in one place. "In this (retail) environment, you've got to have a definitive boxed set to bring it to the people," he says.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

[Alastair]

Anything that gets "Starsailor" released on CD is fine by me.

I've read Lee Underwood's biography of Tim and, much as I love (and I mean LOVE) the music, Timmy seemed like a complete ass. From what I've read of Jeff, he wasn't the easiest person to get on with, either. I"m not sure an accurate film would sell, but I've been proved wrong before

[Chris D]

Good thing for Abbey "Starsailor" was out of print when he auctioned it. What did you net on that one, Jon?
It's also one record I've never heard. Bring out the complete box!

[Salvador Dali Lama]

i dont know tim's music but i absolutely love the younger buckley's work. it gets me in trouble on a regular basis.

not interested in the least bit in a movie though.

[Gentle Giant]

i dont know tim's music but i absolutely love the younger buckley's work. it gets me in trouble on a regular basis.

How so?

The great thing about Tim's discography is that he did so many different things you can favor a particular album based on the mood you're in. These are usually my three favorite:

[walto]

Jason, have you checked out any of Jeff's collaborations with Gary Lucas?

[Jon Abbey]

Good thing for Abbey "Starsailor" was out of print when he auctioned it. What did you net on that one, Jon?

yeah, that was why I sold it, although it never did anything for me, never a fan of either of these guys. it went somewhere for $80-$100, don't remember precisely.

[AntManBee]

Although the Buckleys deserve attention, I'm not particularly happy to see that Hollywood plans to dip its slimy fingers into the fates of Tim and Jeff.

In addition to GG's recommendations above:

Dream Letter An excellent recording of a sparkling 1968 London show, including Danny Thompson on bass and a handful of appealingly stripped down versions of "Goodbye & Hello" songs.

Blue Afternoon 1969 album which is almost as good as "Happy Sad".

[VIBEr]

Anything that gets "Starsailor" released on CD is fine by me.

I've read Lee Underwood's biography of Tim....

I prefer Underwood's bio of Tim (Blue Melody), which I think anyone who is a fan of Tim's would prefer to the Browne book. Lots of small details I was interested in, including a detailed recalling of the five versions of the touring Starsailor band. I wish there was some recording of the version that included Emmett Chapman on the electric Chapman Stick.

For any fans of the music of Starsailor, I would also recommend scoring a video of the bootlegged PBS Boboquivari television show from 1970 where Buckley performs a half-hour set. I found one on ebay for not-too-expensive of a price, and it was worth it to me to have it in my video collection. Nothing I've ever seen quite compares to it.

[Gentle Giant]

Jason, have you checked out any of Jeff's collaborations with Gary Lucas?

No, but I'd be curious to learn about them. I'm trying to steer clear of all the Jeff product that (pardon me for saying so) his mother is shoveling onto the marketplace. She may be doing it for all the right reasons, but there are so many live sets out you can't help but wonder if Jeff would've wanted all this stuff released. There's a documentary that screened in Boston a while ago during a film festival but I was out of town at the time. I'd be interested in checking that out if it gets a broader release.

[Gentle Giant]

Although the Buckleys deserve attention, I'm not particularly happy to see that Hollywood plans to dip its slimy fingers into the fates of Tim and Jeff.

In addition to GG's recommendations above:

Dream Letter An excellent recording of a sparkling 1968 London show, including Danny Thompson on bass and a handful of appealingly stripped down versions of "Goodbye & Hello" songs.

Blue Afternoon 1969 album which is almost as good as "Happy Sad".

I'd absolutely second these. In fact, if anyone's interested in Buckley and doesn't want to shell out for individual albums, I'd almost (almost) recommend Dream Letter over the recent compilation. His "Pleasant Street/You Keep Me Hanging On" medley is brilliant. Also, it has my favorite version of Fred Neil's "The Dolphins."

Blue Afternoon features a few songs that I really love (especially "I Must Have Been Blind"). I think the deal was that Buckley recorded Lorca and Blue Afternoon at roughly the same time for different labels. Lorca is a little darker and jazzier.

[Gentle Giant]

I prefer Underwood's bio of Tim (Blue Melody), which I think anyone who is a fan of Tim's would prefer to the Browne book. Lots of small details I was interested in, including a detailed recalling of the five versions of the touring Starsailor band. I wish there was some recording of the version that included Emmett Chapman on the electric Chapman Stick.

For any fans of the music of Starsailor, I would also recommend scoring a video of the bootlegged PBS Boboquivari television show from 1970 where Buckley performs a half-hour set. I found one on ebay for not-too-expensive of a price, and it was worth it to me to have it in my video collection. Nothing I've ever seen quite compares to it.

timbuckley.com has some video clips; not sure any are from this, but he's a neat perfomer to watch.

[AntManBee]

Blue Afternoon features a few songs that I really love (especially "I Must Have Been Blind").

A brilliant track! I also love "The River".

[AntManBee]

I'm trying to steer clear of all the Jeff product that (pardon me for saying so) his mother is shoveling onto the marketplace. She may be doing it for all the right reasons, but there are so many live sets out you can't help but wonder if Jeff would've wanted all this stuff released.

One you should lend an ear however is "Mystery White Boy".

I'm not sure how many Lucas/Buckley albums there are by now snce I gave up after the first one which was a tremendous disappointment to me. After that I adapted the GG stance, avoiding the posthumous albums.

[john williams]

No, but I'd be curious to learn about them. I'm trying to steer clear of all the Jeff product that (pardon me for saying so) his mother is shoveling onto the marketplace. She may be doing it for all the right reasons, but there are so many live sets out you can't help but wonder if Jeff would've wanted all this stuff released.

I actually think Jeff's mother has been pretty careful about what has been released. I also think the Lucas collaboration is the weakest of any Buckley releases. I would recommend the 'Grace' deluxe edition, 'Live at Sine-e' and the 'Paris Olympia' concert. However, I agree that 'My Sweetheart the Drunk' or whatever it was called was pretty patchy but it was the first pothstumous release. I am certain Buckley had a tremendous fondness for the "sine-e" recordings and the posthumous releases seem to be getting better in quality IMO. The last two being 'Grace (deluxe)' which has a whole second disk of amazing recordings and 'Sine e' which is pre-grace acoustic solo sets. Listen first then judge I say.

I like 'Dream Letter' the best of all the Tim Buckley albums.

[AntManBee]

I forgot to say that the "Honeyman" live is excellent too, better than any of Tim's regular studio albums from his later years.

[Gentle Giant]

I forgot to say that the "Honeyman" live is excellent too, better than any of Tim's regular studio albums from his later years.

I agree, and Live at the Troubador is great for anyone who likes the Lorca/Blue Afternoon material.

[lazarus]

I´m a big fan of Tim Buckley. As a matter of fact he´s one of my most loved music heroes.
I like all his albums except the last two (but I agree with GG that his version of Dolphins is very fine).

I´m very glad that I have "Starsailor" and "Blue Afternoon" on vinyl because a life without these great albums would be much poorer. It´s a shame they´re not available on cd.

I also like Jeff very much. "Grace" is one of my favorite rock albums from the 90´s.