-extra Quality- Tommy Bolin 1966 1976 Fever Box Set 15: Cdsl
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 collection is generally structured chronologically, taking the listener through the distinct eras of Bolin's short but explosive career.
Many box sets slap a sticker that says "Remastered" and call it a day. Fever goes to war for Bolin’s legacy. -Extra Quality- Tommy Bolin 1966 1976 Fever Box Set 15 Cdsl
Before James Gang, Bolin co-founded the psychedelic/jazz-rock band Zephyr. Discs 4 and 5 contain outtakes from the first two Zephyr albums plus scorching live sets from the Fillmore West. Disc 6 showcases the short-lived "Energy," a power trio that acted as the literal bridge to his solo career.
You might ask, "Does Tommy Bolin really have 15 CDs worth of unreleased material?" This box set is the ultimate archive for
Absolutely. Bolin was a voracious taper and a prolific improviser. The 15 Cdsl set breaks down into four essential categories:
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. This is the meat for Purple fans
Discs 10 and 11 contain the Teaser and Private Eyes albums, but again, demos steal the show. Teaser's “Savannah Woman” is presented as a piano/vocal duet—gut-wrenching raw. Disc 12 is the Studio Jams: Bolin warming up for the Private Eyes tour by jamming with Jeff Beck and Jan Hammer in New York. The chemistry is volcanic.
Disc 13: The Miami Rehearsals (March 1976) – This is the centerpiece of the box. Recorded three months before his death, Bolin is playing with his final touring band (including bassist Reggie McBride). The sound quality is "soundboard" grade. He plays “Post Toaste” at double speed, laughing between verses. He forgets the words to “Wild Dogs” and improvises a haunting new verse about "the needle and the damage done."
Discs 14 & 15: Live at the Miami Jai-Alai Fronton (December 3, 1976) – The final show. Sixteen days before his death. Previously circulated as a muddy audience recording, Fever uses the newly unearthed master cassette from the venue’s sound booth. The mix is incredible. You hear Bolin’s fingers squeak on the strings during the intro to “Homeward Strut.” You hear the crowd murmur. You hear the band falter during “Lotus,” then recover. The final “Stratus” is a 17-minute death spiral of genius—every note feels like a gamble. When the tape cuts, you are left in silence, mourning what rock music lost.
This is the meat for Purple fans. While the official Come Taste the Band remasters exist, the Fever Box includes the Alan O'Duffy rough mixes and the instrumental backing tracks. You can hear Bolin layering guitars without Ritchie Blackmore's shadow. Disc 9 features the entire "Live in Osaka 1975" show where Bolin, fighting tendonitis and pressure, delivers a chaotic, emotional "Smoke on the Water" solo that lasts 14 minutes.