Flamin' Groovies
| Flamin' Groovies | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | The Flamin' Groovies Flamin' Groovier |
| Origin | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Genres | Pub rock, rockabilly, power pop, protopunk, blues rock |
| Years active | 1965–1992 |
| Labels | Epic, Kama Sutra, Sire |
| Associated acts | The Barracudas |
| Website | Chris Wilson site Cyril Jordan site |
| Past members | |
| Cyril Jordan Roy Loney Tim Lynch George Alexander Chris Wilson Ron Greco Danny Mihm James Ferrell Dave Wright Michael Wilhelm Paul Zahl Jack Johnson Mark Dunwoody Terry Rae Michael stone. |
Flamin' Groovies were an American rock music band of the 1960s and 1970s. They began in San Francisco in 1965, founded by Ron Greco, Cyril Jordan and Roy Loney.[1] They are perhaps best known for their song "Shake Some Action", which was later featured in the 1995 movie Clueless. The group have been called one of the forerunners of punk rock,[2] and they also had a major influence on the power pop genre.[3]
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[edit] Career
Their first album, 1969's Supersnazz, featured Jordan (guitar, vocals), Loney (guitar, vocals), George Alexander (bass, harmonica, vocals), Tim Lynch (guitar, harmonica, vocals) and Danny Mihm (drums). It contained both re-creations of 1950s rock and roll and more melodic songs that anticipated the power pop movement of the 1970s — a genre to which the Flamin' Groovies would eventually contribute significant work. They then released their second album, 1970s Flamingo. Teenage Head was released in 1971 and is listed in the 2006 book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
In 1971, Loney left the band and was replaced by singer and guitarist Chris Wilson (born September 10 1952, Waltham, Massachusetts), who, along with Jordan, began to move the group in a more overtly power-pop direction. Between 1971 and 1976, very little was heard of the group except their 1972 anti-drug song "Slow Death" (co-written by Loney). In 1976, they teamed up with British producer Dave Edmunds, and recorded Shake Some Action.
After some re-recordings of their older material featuring only Jordan and Alexander from the original band, the Groovies disbanded in 1992.[4]
The Flamin' Groovies headlined the Azkena outdoor rock festival in Mendizabala, Spain, on September 11, 2004.[5] In 2005, Jordan founded a new band, Magic Christian.
In 2008, Loney and Jordan reunited and embarked on a brief tour, backed by members of The A-Bones and Yo La Tengo.
Another larger-scale reunion appears on the recent Chris Wilson album, Love Over Money (2010). Roy Loney, George Alexander, James Ferrell and Mike Wilhelm all appear on the CD, as does Procol Harum’s keyboard legend Matthew Fisher and Barracudas guitarist Robin Wills. The album is available on the French Rock Paradise label.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Supersnazz (1969, Epic BN 26487)
- Flamingo (Kama Sutra KSBS 2021, 1970)
- Teenage Head (Kama Sutra KSBS 2031, August 1971)
- Shake Some Action (Sire Records, June 1976) U.S. #142[6]
- Flamin' Groovies Now (Sire Records, June 1978)
- Jumpin' in the Night (Sire Records, July 1979)
- One Night Stand (July 1987)
- Rock Juice - as Flamin' Groovier (September 1993)
[edit] EPs
- Sneakers (1968)
- Grease (1973)
- More Grease (1974)
- The Gold Star Tapes (1984)
- Rockfield Sessions
- I'll Have a... Bucket of Brains
[edit] Singles
- "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" b/w "The First One's Free" (1969)
- "Somethin' Else" b/w "Laurie Did It" (1970)
- "Have You Seen My Baby?" b/w "Yesterday's Numbers" (1971)
- "Teenage Head" b/w "Evil Hearted Ada" (1971)
- "Slow Death" b/w "Tallahassee Lassie" (June 1972)
- "Married Woman" b/w "Get a Shot of Rhythm and Blues" (1972)
- "You Tore Me Down" b/w "Him or Me" (1974)
- "I Can't Hide" b/w "Teenage Confidential" (1976)
- "Teenage Head" (Rerelease) b/w "Headin' for the Texas Border" (1976)
- "I Can't Explain" b/w "Little Queenie" (1977)
- "Sealed with a Kiss"
[edit] Live albums
- Slow Death, Live!
- Bucketful of Brains
- Flamin' Groovies '68
- Flamin' Groovies '70
- 68/70
- Rockin' at the Roundhouse (1993) (Live recordings from 1976 and 1978)
- The Flamin' Groovies In Person (1971 live recording) (2006)
[edit] Compilation albums
- Still Shakin' (Buddah Records BDS 5683, 1976)
- Super Grease (1984)
- Groove In
- Groovies' Greatest Grooves (July 1989)
- California Born and Bred (1995)
- Supersneakers (1996)
- Yesterday's Numbers (1998)
- Grease: The Complete Skydog Singles Collection (1998)
- Slow Death (2002)
- Bust Out at Full Speed: The Sire Years (2006)
- At Full Speed... The Complete Sire Recordings (2006)
- This Band Is Red Hot (2008)
[edit] Notes
- Sneakers was a 17:10 long 10" EP.
- Flamingo was released in Germany as This Is the Flamin' Groovies.
- Half of Still Shakin consisted of tracks from Flamingo and Teenage Head, the rest were outtakes.
[edit] Book references
- Buckley, Peter (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. London: Rough Guides. ISBN 1-85828-201-2.
- Jon Storey, John Bottomley (1988). Bucketfull of Groovies: The Flamin’ Groovies Story. London: Bucketfull of Brains.
[edit] References
- ^ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 345–346. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
- ^ Buckley 2003, p. 322, "The Flamin' Groovies really had more in common with the MC5, who deployed the same twin-guitar assault on white rock. Both would become regarded as forerunners of the punk rock movement,"
- ^ http://www.magnetmagazine.com/2002/09/07/power-pop-the-70s-the-birth-of-uncool/
- ^ The Music of Cyril Jordan
- ^ Wolfgangsvault.com[dead link]
- ^ Billboard, Allmusic
[edit] External links
- Flamin' Groovies bio at allmusic.com
- www.flamin-groovy.com - Chris Wilson Official Site with Flamin Groovies timeline, news and biog
- http://www.myspace.com/flamingroovies
- http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/FlaminGroovies/ fan exchange group
- http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=flamin_groovies biography
- Flamin' Groovies interview
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