Search - John Sebastian :: Tarzana Kid

A Forgotten Gem Gets Re-Released

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 02/20/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As a solo artist, John Sebastian never achieved the success of his former band, the Lovin' Spoonful. His first solo single, "She's a Lady," peaked at a disappointing No. 84. In fact, his only Top 40 hit was his 1976 No. 1 single "Welcome Back" taken from the hit TV show "Welcome Back, Kotter." Sebastian's lack of record sales, however, was perhaps more a reflection of a change in the public's musical tastes than a lack of quality material from Sebastian. It's been years since Sebastian's Seventies output has been available domestically (not counting Rhino Handmade's limited edition FAITHFUL VIRTUE in 2001); so it's welcome news indeed that Collectors' Choice Music is re-releasing all five of his Seventies' albums.



Originally released in 1974, TARZANA KID was only Sebastian's third post-Spoonful studio album. And while it failed to chart, it did reunite him with Spoonful producer Erik Jacobsen. Although reviews at the time of its release were lukewarm at best, it is my personal favorite. The album relies mostly on outside writers (even though it had been three years since his last album). The album kicks off with a heartfelt cover of Jimmy Cliff's "Sitting in Limbo." Sebastian also performs his own funky version of Little Feat's "Dixie Chicken" with its songwriter Lowell George on guitar and background vocals. George and Sebastian also co-wrote and perform together on the gorgeous "Face of Appalachia," one of the album's highlights. Sebastian also reworks a couple of Spoonful songs, providing new interpretations of "Wild About My Lovin'" (with a terrific mandolin solo by Ry Cooder) and the bluesy "Sportin' Life." Of the two new Sebastian-penned songs, "Stories We Could Tell" (featuring Phil Everly on background vocals) should have been a hit single. With Buddy Emmons on steel guitar and Sebastian on autoharp, this song of life on the road is simply amazing. [However, since none of Sebastian's previous six singles had charted, Reprise wasn't interested in releasing--let alone promoting--anything as a single.] The other original, "Friends Again," is the most reminiscent of the old Spoonful sound with Sebastian on 5-string banjo and the Pointer Sisters providing background vocals. It's the kind of goodtime music that made songs like "Do You Believe in Magic" and "Daydream" such huge hits a decade earlier.



If you're a fan of the Spoonful or Sebastian's impromptu Woodstock performance and missed out on his solo albums when they were first released, this album will convince you that Sebastian still had the magic in the music. [Running Time - 33:03] HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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Simply Great

John Harwell | Grove City, OH USA | 05/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John Sebastian has never need intricate back-ups or production to satisfy true music lovers. His down-home style is straight forward and honest. I can honestly recommend this CD as an experience in true talent. To ME this is one of his best. I consider myself fortunate that it is available since I've worn out three copies on vinyl."