Search - Leo Kottke :: Time Step

Leo Produces Another Winner

Royo | Tucson AZ | 12/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having followed Leo Kottke since 1974 I can honestly say this album is a keeper. All the tunes are vintage Kottke but "Rings", written as sort of a joke by Alex Harvey and Ed Reeves, is fantastic. I've seen Leo perform this tune live several times and I'd really love to have a recording of it without the backup band. Emmylou Harris was also a nice surprise on this record. I never got this particular album when I was trying to get everything Leo recorded as soon as it came out but found a vinyl copy at Amoeba Records in LA last year."

Good Stuff

David L. Lavallee | Peoria, Il United States | 09/01/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a fan of Leo since his first album, and I have this one on vinyl. It is worth having if only for Bungle Party, which is great word-salad, 'shoe-leather futures,with memories of dirt'; and the beautiful, lilting 'Julie's House ', with a guest vocal from non-other than Emmylou Harris, whose sandals I am unworthy to loosen"

A fine blend of Kottke's voice and musicianship

jimnypivo | west of Chicago, USA | 01/02/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In a recent review of Leo Kottke's `Great Big Boy', I savaged the artist's choice of songs and vocal stylings on that disc. I recommended 1983's `Time Step' to Amazon searchers instead.



'Time Step', from Leo's Chrysalis stage of metamorphosis, is an excellent mixture of well-chosen ballads and great instrumentals.



Leo and producer T-Bone Burnett select some sure-fire matches of melody and lyric to Leo's voice. `Rings', `Julie's House', and `Running All Night Long' are well-suited to Leo's clear and manly baritone. Emmylou Harris' stellar backing vocals in all the tunes don't hurt none either.



Leo's version of `Saginaw, Michigan' is perhaps the best I've ever heard since Lefty Frizzell's original. Maybe it's his flawless slide guitar playing.



However, it is the honesty of Kottke's voice that is the key to its appeal. You can feel it in his rendition of Kris Kristofferson's sentimental "Here Comes That Rainbow Again".



I always love surprise bonuses. And on `Time Step' we're treated to a twelfth track not identified on the label, a delightful version of the Allman Brothers' instrumental, `Little Martha'.



Quality, balance, honesty, and bonus. How can you beat that?



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