From Amazon.com
Excellent Album
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: I highly reccomend this ablum. If you are a Hot Tuna fan you will love this album. It was the last Hot Tuna album to feature Sammy Piaza on drums. The album has a good mix of rock, blues and country music. There is also a good mix of Jorma's finger-picking guitar style along with his siering solos. There is a nice panning effect on the album that breaks up the guitar solos so different parts of the solos come out of different speakers. The album also features great songs such as I See The Light, Day To Day Out The Window Blues, Easy Now and Living Just For You. This one's a keeper.
The start of something strong...
Album Rating: (4 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: I am a late-coming fan of Hot Tuna. I just didn't seem to hear about them as a kid; but man-o-man am I making up for it now! I tend to prefer heavier sounds and this is, to me, the start of a run of albums that really hits that style. Not all the songs are wailing guitars but all of the songs are really, really, good. If you are a 70's-era-music-aficionado then you really should enjoy "Phosphorescent Rat".
Great Hot Tuna CD Reissue
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: THE PHOSPHORESCENT RAT was Hot Tuna's first release as a separate entity from the Jefferson Airplane, and is, along with AMERICA'S CHOICE, YELLOW FEVER/HOPPKORV, and BURGERS, one of the first Hot Tuna releases you should buy. All of the songs, except the two acoustic pieces, are great as is the playing by all three members, especially guitarist-singer-songwriter Jorma Kaukonen. This CD is a must own for any serious fan of folk- and country-inspired blues-rock.
Hot Fn! Tuna
Album Rating: (4 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: I grew up rockin to HOT TUNA. And as a young Drummer "The Phosphorescent Rat" was a great album. Unfortunately back in the seventies somebody scracthed my LP (probably when the party was on). But now there is the CD. And nobody is scratching this baby!
"Easy Now" don't let this one pass by you again!!
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various recordings from the 60's and 70's.
The 4th Hot Tuna recording (2nd studio) signaled tremendous risk taking by Jorma Kaukonen. "The Phosphorescent Rat" would lay the foundation in parts for what Jorma called the "Metal Years" ("America's Choice", "Yellow Fever", and "Hoppkorv").
The irony of the change of sound from "Burgers" is those that cut their teeth on rock and roll starting in the 1960's liked to talk about open-mindedness and tolerance. The second some of these fans heard the first notes of "Easy Now" they never gave this period of Hot Tuna a fair and honest shake.
Jorma went with his convictions of adding some more powerful tunes for the studio albums. The results showed he was right on the money.
"I See The Light" would become a Hot Tuna classic. Upbeat, catchy, and with incredible tightness this gets the record off to the proper path. "Letter To The North Star" showed how with the flick of a switch Jorma could change directions and give us a song of beauty. "Easy Now" is a blowtorch. Stand back from the speakers because it is an all out assault on the ears. Heavy, relentless, and leaving you wanting more. The "riff" is timeless a tribute to a master musician.
"Corners Without Exits" and "In The Kingdom" once again show the softer side but that doesn't mean they are not attention grabbers! Superlative in his craftsmanship of the tunes Jorma, along with Jack, and Sammy (His final appearance on record for them) make every note count.
Jorma can't resist one more rocker "Living Just For You" and why not? To those that closed their eyes and ears to any Tuna after "Burgers" give the next 4 albums another chance, the sandwich tastes even better these days.
Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"
Purchases
1 I See the Light
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