Flim & The BB's - Tunnel (1984)

I picked this up out of a used bin during a trip to Dallas this past week. I don't recall ever buying a copy, but I must have dubbed a cassette of a college buddy's CD because when I stuck this disc in the tray I knew every dang tune and found myself humming along. Then there was the bonus of the jewel case having smooth edges and I don't know why that fascinates me, but it does. All this for $2!

Recorded direct-to-digital using the Mitsubishi X-80 and released on the Digital Music Products label. Pretty advanced music tech stuff for '84.

I couldn't find any press on this one, but that just means fewer people heard about this tasty, melodic, light fusion/smooth jazz in the same vein as Yellowjackets or maybe a more folksy version of Steps Ahead. I dig the thing and am glad I found a copy.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: My top picks are Light At The End Of The Tunnel, Room With A View Of You, Mermaid, Surprise Party, and High Roller.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I'm immediately taken back to the un-air-conditioned, Jim Walter-ish pre-fab house (below) in which I lived with two other music majors as a college upperclassman. My share of the rent was $75/month. My room didn't have closet, so technically it would be listed as a 2 bedroom, 1 bath house. It was a great place for parties and was often used for that purpose, particularly following concerts/recitals and finals weeks. There was always music in that house, both live and recorded - including this Flim & The BB's album, apparently.

I lived in this house 1987-88; the above photo was taken in 2002. Not much had changed then except that front 'porch' had been added. If Google is to be believed, the house stands today, I'm not sure how.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Vintage BB's (1991)
Big Notes (1985)

Flim & The BB's - Big Notes (1985)

These guys were great session musicians that were sidetracked by their love of the emergent digital technology. As a result, the music sounds as sterile as if it were recorded in an operating room. Heck, even one of the publishing companies on this CD is named "Music As Software" and it's released on the Digital Music Products label. This album was recorded direct-to-digital; there's no engineer or mixer listed in the credits and it doesn't sound like the music was mixed at all. That's a shame because when they focus on the music, it can be very adventurous smooth jazz (how often do you hear that adjective-noun combination?). I'm being unnecessarily harsh because, in my mind, I can hear what could have been.

Billboard, February 1, 1986, p. 80
What are these "non-CD fans" they mention?

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart
Peak on the Billboard Pop CD chart: #21

Tracks: All recording preferences aside, the better compositions are Heart Throb, At The Hop,and Atosha. The track Funhouse seems like the guys got a new synth and they're just playing around testing its sounds a capabilities (to be fair, there's a bit of that on each track).

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I had college buddies that were gaga over this group, so I heard their recordings often around the time of release.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Vintage BB's (1991)

Flim & The BB's - Vintage BB's (1991)

A "best of" compilation covering the band's recordings for DMP in the years 1982-91. This instrumental jazz group were some of the first musicians to utilize digital recording back in the late '70s. As a result, the band attracted music technology geeks as well as jazz geeks. There were several guys I went to college with who were ape over this group. I had one CD by the band, 1984's Tunnel, but I got rid of it not long after I bought it. This band's albums were similar to Yellowjackets; the music has some catchy tunes, the writing and arranging isn't derivative (except for a couple of pseudo-reggae tracks), and the playing is very good. What I don't like is the sound of their recorded music. It's all very present and seems as if there was no mixing done at all. For example, I'm listening to a piano solo right now and it is overpowered by the bass and drums in the mix. I've heard better balance from amateur groups. To the band's credit, these are some of the few jazz or pop recordings I've heard that have any dynamic contrast. As a result, you can't really listen to this CD in the car.

Tracks: I enjoy High Roller, Cakewalk, and Light At The End Of The Tunnel. The mix is so bad on the song Heart Throb, there are snare drum shots that sound more like gunplay than music (no, I don't think that was the intent). Hands down, the worst track here is Someday, a weak attempt at a power ballad with needless lyrics put to a melody that would have worked best as an instrumental.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I bought this disc at a used CD store in Victoria (Texas, not British Columbia), so it reminds me of driving to Victoria for some graduate classes.