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.
To fully appreciate the breadth of the , one must understand the chameleon-like career of Tommy Bolin. Unlike many of his contemporaries who stayed confined to a single subgenre, Bolin seamlessly blurred the lines between heavy psych-rock, mainstream hard rock, and complex jazz fusion.
While "Fever" is technically considered an , it is highly prized for compiling nearly every significant reel Bolin left behind. Since its release, much of this material has been officially remastered and reissued in smaller volumes by the Tommy Bolin Memorial Fund and the Tommy Bolin Archives.
Bolin's career took off in the 1960s, performing with various bands, including the Preston Playboys and the Soul Brothers. In 1975, he joined the jazz-rock fusion band, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and later formed his own group, Tommy Bolin Band. Throughout his career, Bolin collaborated with numerous renowned artists, such as Zeep, Liza, and Danny Seraphine.
CD 1 features recordings from Patch of Blue , a band Bolin joined at just 15 years old in Correctionville, Iowa. These tracks, including a lengthy "Beatles Jam," showcase his raw, precocious talent before he moved to Colorado. -Extra Quality- Tommy Bolin 1966 1976 Fever Box Set 15 Cdsl
1976 tours and culminates on Disk 15 with his final show at the Jai-Alai Fronton in Miami on the night before he died of a heroin overdose. Box Set Highlights (15 CDs) Content Highlights Patch of Blue (1966) and Beatles Jam with Dave Brown. (1970) and jazz-fusion sessions in NYC (1971). sessions and the Jeff Beck Jam live at Tulagi's and Arts Bar & Grill (1973). James Gang Tommy & Friends at Ebbets Field (1974). Acoustic demos and Tommy Bolin Band live in Albany (1976). in Sioux City and Seven Seas Lounge in Miami (1976). CD 13–14 Demos for solo albums Private Eyes
The "Fever" box set, a fan-club release from 1995, is the ultimate time capsule. Compiled without the glossy sheen of a major label, it presents Bolin in his most natural and revealing element: the live show, the late-night jam session, and the creative chaos of the rehearsal studio. As one Brazilian blog noted about the box set's first disc, "A qualidade do som não é lá grandes coisas, mas vale a pena pelo registro histórico" (The sound quality isn't great, but it's worth it for the historical record). This honest ethos is the set's greatest strength. Bootleg traders and download sites have long heralded this collection for its "Extra Quality" — a term often associated with pristine, lossless audio rips of these rare sessions. The set serves as a crucial historical record, capturing numerous moments that were unreleased by the Tommy Bolin Archives at the time of its compilation.
For the fan whose collection is already of "Extra Quality," this box set remains the holy grail. It is a time capsule, a piece of rock history, and the most complete aural biography of Tommy Bolin ever assembled. It captures a man who could play with the raw fire of Jimi Hendrix, the melodic sophistication of Jeff Beck, and the songwriting sensibility of a classic rock icon—all in a single solo. As customer reviews often state, the physical presentation can be inconsistent, but the music inside is an invaluable, sometimes haunting, always brilliant celebration of a guitar hero who left us far too soon.
10/10. A monument to what a box set should be: complete, uncompromising, and absolutely heartbreaking. If you are just now encountering this keyword
The is a comprehensive 15-CD collection that serves as a definitive sonic history of the virtuoso guitarist’s brief but prolific career. Released as an official limited edition by the Tommy Bolin Fan Club , this set rzrecord provides a deep dive into Bolin's musical evolution, from his early garage rock beginnings to his final performance just hours before his death in 1976. Musical Scope and Evolution
The final discs center on his solo masterpieces, Teaser and Private Eyes , backed by his exceptional touring groups. These tracks illustrate his brilliance as a frontman, singer, and songwriter just before his life was cut short. 💿 Inside the 15-CD Tracklist: What to Expect
While various iterations of Bolin archives exist, the 15-CD "Fever" configuration stands out because it avoids standard album tracks in favor of rare, unreleased, and radically alternate material. 1. Rehearsals and Jams
This monumental collection is a testament to Tommy Bolin's enduring legacy and a must-have for music enthusiasts. Unlike many of his contemporaries who stayed confined
Avoiding the "loudness wars" brickwalling, allowing Bolin's subtle volume dynamics and touch-sensitive picking to shine through. 🎸 Why This Box Set Matters Today
This collection acts as a musical chronological journey, with discs focusing on specific eras of his career. According to The Highway Star, the collection includes highlights such as:
In collector circles, the tag "-Extra Quality-" refers to the audio optimization of this specific release.
The set was originally marketed for die-hard collectors at a premium price (approx. $500 at its initial 1995 release). It remains a definitive archive for fans, featuring rare interviews and studio outtakes that provide a deep dive into the "Fever" of his creative output.
: Transition into his work with the James Gang , Deep Purple , and his solo career (the Teaser and Private Eyes eras). Legacy & Quality