-extra Quality- Tommy Bolin 1966 1976 Fever Box Set 15 Cdsl 2021 Here

Unearthing the Thunder: A Deep Dive into the "-Extra Quality- Tommy Bolin 1966 1976 Fever Box Set 15 Cdsl"

By: The Vintage Vault Staff

In the pantheon of rock guitarists who left us too soon, Tommy Bolin occupies a rarefied, bittersweet space. Unlike his contemporaries who enjoyed decades of retrospectives, Bolin’s entire studio output fits into a tragically slim window: one album with The James Gang (Miami), one monumental album with Deep Purple (Come Taste the Band), and two solo records (Teaser and Private Eyes).

But for the true connoisseur, that official discography is merely the tip of the iceberg. For years, the holy grail has been the elusive, out-of-print, and legendarily exhaustive collection known as the "-Extra Quality- Tommy Bolin 1966 1976 Fever Box Set 15 Cdsl."

If you are just now encountering this keyword in the dusty corners of collector forums or high-end auction sites, you have found the Rosetta Stone of Bolin’s genius. Let’s break down why this specific set—with its "Extra Quality" designation and massive 15-CD count—is the definitive archival document of a six-string savant.

1. The Pre-Fame Years (1966–1972) – Discs 1-3

These discs are archaeological treasures. You get unpolished, embryonic Bolin playing with bands like "Denny & The Triumphs" and "American Standard." The "-Extra Quality-" mastering here is a godsend; original acetates of 16-year-old Bolin wailing on a Fender Jaguar are usually unlistenable. This set clarifies the pick attack and harmonic ambition that foreshadowed his fusion work.

Review: Tommy Bolin – “Fever: The Complete 1966–1976 Recordings” (15-CD Box Set) – “Extra Quality” Edition

Verdict: 4/5 Stars (Essential for the obsessed completist; risky for the casual fan)

The Packaging & Concept Marketed as “Extra Quality,” this heavy-lift box set aims to document every known note Bolin committed to tape, from his teenage garage bands in Sioux City (1966) to his final live shows just weeks before his death in 1976. Spread across 15 CDs, the set is a behemoth—housed in a cardboard clamshell box with rudimentary but functional artwork. Do not expect the glossy booklet of a Dark Side of the Moon box. Expect photocopied images, set lists, and track times. The “Extra Quality” tag usually refers to the CD-R media (gold or premium grade) and improved digital transfers, not the graphic design.

Audio Quality (The Big Caveat) Here’s where you need to calibrate your expectations. This is not a remastered studio catalog.

• The Good: The 1973–1974 James Gang outtakes and the Spectrum (Zephyr) material are startlingly clear. The 1976 live recordings (Miami, Cleveland, Detroit) have genuine power—soundboard tapes with low crowd noise.
• The Mixed: Many of the 1966–1968 home recordings and rehearsal tapes are fifth-generation copies. Hiss, dropouts, and warble are present. That’s the archival reality.
• The “Extra Quality” Claim: Compared to earlier 10-CD bootlegs, this edition does use better source tapes. The hiss reduction is less intrusive. But don’t expect studio fidelity on Discs 1–2 or Discs 13–15.

Content Highlights (15 CDs Broken Down)

• CD 1-2 (1966–1969): Pre-Zephyr chaos. Teenage Bolin shredding through Cream and Hendrix covers. Historically fascinating; musically rough.
• CD 3-5 (Zephyr, 1969–1971): The true gem. Candy Givens’ vocals and Bolin’s nascent fusion playing. “Sun’s a Risin’” alternate takes are worth the price alone.
• CD 6-8 (James Gang, 1973–1974): Rawer mixes of Bang and Miami. Bolin’s guitar is pushed front and center—way better than the official releases if you want just the six-string.
• CD 9-11 (Teaser & solo demos, 1975): Unreleased studio jams, including a 14-minute “Homeward Strut” with extended piano solos.
• CD 12-15 (Live 1976): The “Fever” title track comes alive here. The final show (Miami, Dec. 3, 1976) is heartbreaking—brilliant playing but you can hear the exhaustion.

The Downsides

• No official metadata: Many tracks are mislabeled or listed as “unknown title.” You’ll need the Bolin discography wiki open.
• Price & Scarcity: Because it’s a unofficial set, it trades for $150–$300 on collector forums. Shipping often from Europe or Japan.
• Redundancy: If you own Come Together (Zephyr), Bang, Teaser, and Private Eyes, plus the Live at Ebbets Field CD, you already have about 60% of this box. The rest is for tape-traders.

Who is this for?

• The Bolin completist who needs the 1966 rehearsal of “Purple Haze” played on a cheap Teisco guitar.
• The guitarist who wants every isolated solo from 1974–1976.
• The archival junkie who loves the “what if” of a talent gone too soon.

Who should avoid?

• Anyone expecting a pristine, label-sanctioned box like The Teaser Remastered.
• Casual fans who only know “Wild Dogs” or “Post Toastee.”

Final Verdict The “Extra Quality” Tommy Bolin 1966–1976 Fever Box Set is a flawed, sprawling, unauthorized love letter. It’s the musical equivalent of a hoarder’s attic—chaotic, dusty, but stuffed with treasures. If you have the patience for lo-fi fidelity and a deep hunger to hear Bolin develop from a teenage shredder into a fusion visionary, this set is indispensable. Just know that “Extra Quality” refers to the effort, not the source tapes.

Best track (impossible to pick): CD 4, Track 7 – Zephyr’s “Hard Chargin’ Woman” (alternate mix). Bolin’s solo sounds like lightning in a bottle.

Unleashing the Guitar Wizardry: A Deep Dive into the "Fever" Box Set by Tommy Bolin (1966-1976)

The "Fever" Box Set is a comprehensive 15-CD collection that celebrates the life and work of Tommy Bolin, a legendary guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist who left an indelible mark on the music world. Spanning a decade of his career (1966-1976), this monumental set is a must-have for fans of rock, blues, and jazz.

The Life and Times of Tommy Bolin

Born on November 1, 1947, in Sioux City, Iowa, Tommy Bolin began playing guitar at a young age. He formed his first band, The Monsters, while still in high school and quickly gained a reputation as a talented and versatile musician. After stints with various local bands, Bolin joined the renowned jazz-rock ensemble, Blood, Sweat & Tears, in 1969. His tenure with the band yielded several notable recordings, including the hit single "Spinning Wheel."

The Fever Box Set: A Musical Odyssey

The "Fever" Box Set meticulously chronicles Bolin's remarkable career, featuring:

• Early Years (1966-1968): Bolin's formative years, showcasing his development as a guitarist and songwriter with local bands like The Monsters and The Brass Ring.
• Blood, Sweat & Tears (1969-1970): Bolin's time with BST, including his contributions to the albums "Blood, Sweat & Tears 3" and "4."
• Dreams and Pie Man (1970-1972): Bolin's forays into jazz-rock with his own groups, Dreams and Pie Man.
• The Tommy Bolin Band (1975-1976): Bolin's final studio recordings, showcasing his mastery of rock, blues, and jazz.

Highlights and Rarities

This exhaustive collection includes:

• Unreleased studio and live recordings: Bolin's unreleased material, offering a glimpse into his creative process.
• Rare and hard-to-find tracks: Bolin's early singles, album tracks, and session work.
• Remastered audio: Bolin's classic recordings, painstakingly remastered for optimal sound quality.

The Legacy of Tommy Bolin

Tommy Bolin's untimely passing on December 4, 1976, at the age of 29, shocked the music world. Despite his short career, Bolin's impact on rock, jazz, and blues is undeniable. His innovative guitar playing, soulful vocals, and eclectic songwriting style have inspired generations of musicians.

Conclusion

The "Fever" Box Set is an essential collection for fans of Tommy Bolin, rock music, and guitar enthusiasts. This meticulously curated 15-CD set offers a comprehensive look at Bolin's life, music, and legacy. With its wealth of unreleased material, rare tracks, and remastered audio, this box set is a treasure trove for anyone interested in exploring the life and work of this guitar wizard.

Recommended for: Fans of rock, jazz, and blues; guitar enthusiasts; and anyone interested in the life and work of Tommy Bolin.

Discography:

The "Fever" Box Set includes the following 15 CDs:

• CD 1-3: Early Years (1966-1968)
• CD 4-6: Blood, Sweat & Tears (1969-1970)
• CD 7-9: Dreams and Pie Man (1970-1972)
• CD 10-12: The Tommy Bolin Band (1975-1976)
• CD 13-15: Unreleased and Rare Tracks

This monumental collection is a testament to Tommy Bolin's enduring legacy and a must-have for music enthusiasts.

Part 1: The Early Years & The James Gang (CDs 1–4)

• CD 1: The Beginnings (1966–1969): Features extremely rare recordings from Bolin’s early teen bands, including The Moby Grapes (not to be confused with the famous band) and American Standard. This disc offers a raw look at his roots in Colorado R&B and blues circuits.
• CD 2: Energy (1971–1972): Focuses on the band Energy, a jazz-rock fusion group. These tracks highlight the influence of artists like John McLaughlin and serve as the bridge between his blues roots and his fusion work with Billy Cobham.
• CD 3: Billy Cobham’s Spectrum Sessions: A pivotal moment in fusion history. Includes outtakes and alternate mixes from the legendary Spectrum album, where Bolin’s guitar work on tracks like "Stratus" cemented him as a fusion icon.
• CD 4: The James Gang – Miami & Bang: Covers his tenure replacing Joe Walsh. Includes the Bang (1973) and Miami (1974) albums, featuring high-energy rockers like "Standing in the Rain" and "Red Skies," showcasing his ability to lead a hard rock outfit.

Overview

This box set is the ultimate archive for fans of Tommy Bolin, the guitarist who successfully bridged the gap between jazz-fusion, funk, and hard rock. Known for his work with The James Gang, Billy Cobham, and Deep Purple, Bolin was a prodigious talent whose life was cut short at age 25. This collection aims to present the complete picture of his musical evolution, featuring unreleased studio tracks, alternate takes, rare live recordings, and the studio albums that defined his legacy.

The Embryonic Years (Discs 1-2: 1966–1970)

We start with raw, hissy 4-track recordings of The Den', Bolin’s first band. These aren’t for the faint of heart; they are for the obsessed. You hear a teenager wrestling with the blues, mimicking Clapton and Hendrix, but crucially, you hear the legato—that smooth, liquid attack—already forming. The unreleased instrumental “Fever Dream (Take 1)” is a revelation: a 12-minute psychedelic workout that predicts fusion years before Miles Davis crossed over.

Tommy Bolin: Fever (1966–1976) – The 15-CD Box Set

Title: Fever: 1966–1976 Artist: Tommy Bolin Format: 15 CD Deluxe Box Set Release Context: A definitive archival collection celebrating the life and work of the guitarist virtuoso Tommy Bolin, spanning from his early days in Colorado to his tragic passing in 1976.

The Anatomy of the Box: What’s on 15 Discs?

You might ask, "Does Tommy Bolin really have 15 CDs worth of unreleased material?"

Absolutely. Bolin was a voracious taper and a prolific improviser. The 15 Cdsl set breaks down into four essential categories:

The Fusion Forge (Discs 3-5: 1973–1975)

This is where the "Extra Quality" remastering earns its price tag. Billy Cobham’s Spectrum (1973) is represented not just by the final mix, but by the isolated guitar stems. Listening to “Stratus” without the horns or drums reveals Bolin’s right-hand picking technique: a percussive, almost flamenco-style attack that turned his Les Paul into a drum kit.

These discs also include the legendary Energy sessions with drummer Narada Michael Walden. The alternate take of “The Grind” features a guitar solo so fast and clean that the producers had to slow the tape down to verify it was human. -Extra Quality- Tommy Bolin 1966 1976 Fever Box Set 15 Cdsl