The James Gang with Tommy Bolin “Must Be Love” from The Midnight Special.

Well, the long wait is over. Here’s another version different from what we posted last night of the James Gang with Tommy Bolin performing Must Be Love. Yes it’s exciting to see Tommy in a video playing live that we haven’t seen before. But……
This also brings to mind a few other thoughts - first and foremost is it’s too bad Tommy wasn’t yet ready to step into the lead singer role. As we know he got to be great doing that. So we wait and we wait and we wait and finally we get this Midnight Special episode released with Tommy Bolin and hold your breath …. here comes - Oops wait a minute. Is it the Roy Kenner band?
As with Zephyr, the James Gang without a really dynamic front man a.k.a. Tommy Bolin, none of the members of Zephyr or the James Gang could keep a national career going without Tommy or Joe Walsh etc. In fact, the members of Zephyr gave up on being Zephyr - they formed a new band called The Bees. Warner Brothers wouldn’t let them do that because they wanted to play off of the limited success that Zephyr had. Commercially that didn’t work out very well because they were missing one key component, Tommy Bolin. He was ready to go solo when he left Zephyr. Of course the James Gang tried a variety of guitar players after Joe left and the one that got the most traction with of course was the one with Tommy. But Tommy didn’t WANT to be in the James Gang!! He had already formed his first solo band, but because of variety of issues, none of them creative, they couldn’t catch a break. So Tommy was broke and he had to take a hand out which Joe Walsh (not Barry Fey) gave him when he got him the gig in the James Gang. So again we get to watch Mr. irrelevant - Roy Kenner for most of the screen time here.

[Dagm]

Yeahhhh! Thank you! The Midnight Special rules. Tommy is one of the very best to ever touch an electric guitar!

[JWirtel]

Tommy had the looks, the chops, distinct voice, songwriting power...Nice fellah...Helped a lotta people...Just couldn't help himself...A part of him in everyone..Saw him with Mk4 and the last show in Miami...never will forget him

[KathyWilber-hysq]

Wow!!! I had no idea that Tommy Bolin was ever a part of The James Gang, and I thought I knew everything about The James Gang??? Because I am very familiar with The James Gang with Joe Walsh being there, but I just must have missed some of my music lessons with this killer band from the past!!! Ernie Wilber 🤘👹🤘✌️

[uwehornung]

I'm a Bolin fan, but I think Roy Kenner did a fine job, he had a tuneful voice. You hear his soul/RnB background and there is nothing wrong with that. He wasn't Mr Metal, but not everyone has to be.

[utubesigninsux]

Brilliant!! Tommy even better than last night's version. Thanks very much!

[richardholland]

Bad A** video of Tommy...The Ultimate!

[makala]

I'll just say this. Zephyr infact had a 'dynamic' frontperson in Candy Givens. Also "Sunset Ride" was Zephyr's best album, made after Bolin left. Fey's mismangement and corruption doomed Zephyr.

[scsmith]

What a Treasure ! where did you find this ?

[foghatrocks]

Roy Kenner was not irrelevant, he was a pretty good vocalist.

[richardperusse]

allright....next friday, another Midnight special with 2 songs of James gang....

[stephensticht]

Ya gotta luv the singers painted pinkie Bump anyone?

[tommybolinarchives]

11
Views
Apr 20
2024
Well, the long wait is over. Here’s another version different from what we posted last night of the James Gang with Tommy Bolin performing Must Be Love. Yes it’s exciting to see Tommy in a video playing live that we haven’t seen before. But……
This also brings to mind a few other thoughts - first and foremost is it’s too bad Tommy wasn’t yet ready to step into the lead singer role. As we know he got to be great doing that. So we wait and we wait and we wait and finally we get this Midnight Special episode released with Tommy Bolin and hold your breath …. here comes - Oops wait a minute. Is it the Roy Kenner band?
As with Zephyr, the James Gang without a really dynamic front man a.k.a. Tommy Bolin, none of the members of Zephyr or the James Gang could keep a national career going without Tommy or Joe Walsh etc. In fact, the members of Zephyr gave up on being Zephyr - they formed a new band called The Bees. Warner Brothers wouldn’t let them do that because they wanted to play off of the limited success that Zephyr had. Commercially that didn’t work out very well because they were missing one key component, Tommy Bolin. He was ready to go solo when he left Zephyr. Of course the James Gang tried a variety of guitar players after Joe left and the one that got the most traction with of course was the one with Tommy. But Tommy didn’t WANT to be in the James Gang!! He had already formed his first solo band, but because of variety of issues, none of them creative, they couldn’t catch a break. So Tommy was broke and he had to take a hand out which Joe Walsh (not Barry Fey) gave him when he got him the gig in the James Gang. So again we get to watch Mr. irrelevant - Roy Kenner for most of the screen time here.

[gotarock]

This audience's shoes are too tight. One of the funkiest rock & roll songs ever cut. Let's dance.

[temandkk]

The guitar playing is great...but the song...sucks...😂