Customer Reviews

Groovies Greatest Grooves

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

During Cyril Jordan's years as The Groovies' leader, they produced one great album ("Shake Some Action") and several very uneven ones. While the albums released after "Shake Some Action" all had their moments, they were often dragged down by hastilly-written filler material and odd cover choices. This compilation and "Shake Some Action" are the only essential purchases of that era. Most of the great songs from each album are included, showing how at their best, The Groovies were one of the most exicting rock bands of the decade. If you're only a casual fan who has heard a song or two off a sampler of 70's power-pop, this is really all you need. Some will complain about the absense of material from the Roy Loney years with the exception of one song. While the band was great in that period and I feel a good compilation of those years needs to be produced urgently, the decision to leave if off this compilation may be wise. The band changed imensley when the leader changed, so its almost as if The Groovies were two different bands. The early band favored raw roots rock with a sense of humor. The latter band were very much power-pop revisionists of the British Invasion and played without any trace of irony. Having equal amounts of both periods on the same sampler may have led to a disjointed feeling. If they were to make one, it would be critical to put it in chronological order to show the evolution. Also the inclusion of the classic "Slow Death" with short-time vocalist Chris Wilson is a wise decision, as this is a classic song that wasn't included on any of the studio albums. If you don't want to purchase the albums, this compilation would be a good choice. At their best, The Groovies were one of the best rock 'n' roll bands in the world.

The Flamin' Groovies were like two separate bands. The first with original vocalist Roy Loney is grossly under showcased here with just the classics "Teenage Head" and "Slow Death" as a token nod to a line-up that actually made the group's best music. This collection mainly highlights the albums by the Loney-less later line up led by guitarist Cyril Jordan and vocalist Chris White whose biggest claim to fame is the proto- power pop classic/anthem "Shake Some Action" included here along with an overview of the rest of that line-up's output which owes a lot to the mid sixties Beatles and maybe more to The Byrds jangly Rickenbacker 12 string sound. As they went on the original ideas became less and less and they did a lot of cover versions (Beatles, Stones, Byrds, Dylan etc.). Still this compilation is a fun rock n'roll party record, but a little more of the earlier stuff would've been nice.

It is a shame this band never reached the commercial success that their music warranted. Possibly the Big Guy Upstairs got them mixed them up with the Knack when it was supposed to be their shot at the big time. Anyway, there are a couple of really classic songs on this album which deserve wider recognition. The opening to Shake Some Action has to be the one of the best ever. If John Lennon ever heard these guys he would be really proud. Anyone reading this should do whatever it takes to track down anything by the Sunnyboys or Radio Birdman, Australian bands circa 1976-1983, who were heavily influenced by the Groovies; although they both have a harder edge. In particular look out for 'Aloha Steve and Dano' by Radio Birdman which uses the Hawaii Five-O theme in a way you will really dig. Good luck.

Listen, I love "Shake some action" so much, it's such an awwesome song, that I give this band a free pass to anything else. The essence of rock and roll is beautifully encompassed within that absolutely perfect song.

However, this is a critique and therefore I must take an honest look at all the material on this compilation. The Flamin Groovies were an uneven and inconsistent band. There is a reason why they are a "cult" band and never achieved mainstream success. The cream usually rises to the top.

I'll admit, I am not that familiar with the history of this band to create a credible review (freedom to write what I want is so fantastic!). I believe that this band took creative turns depending on who was leading them...which explains the different directions that the band took.

Nonetheless, here's the bottom line with this compilation..."Shake some action", "slow death" Tallahassie Lassie", and "Yeah my baby" is as strong of a 1-2-3-4 punch as one can have. Those songs all share the raw yet melodic workings of this flying below the radar band. However, the rest of the material, while certainly of quality, doesn't come close to the primal energy of those first songs.

Most of the other songs sound like stereotypical emenating of 1960's Brittish 1st wave music (these guys, I believe, were a San Francisco band). It can be very disappointing. For instance, I want the "Shake some action" energy and vibe on the cover of "River Deep/Mountain high". This one is so weak (check out Eric Burdon's rendition, that should blow the roof off of where ever you may be listening to it).

The overall problem is that (excuse this pun) the lesser songs (on a greatest grooves compialtion) cannot even come close to holding a candle to those first 4 songs.

I always listen to the good stuff and I never even consider lsitening to the rest.

Average Nuggets-inspired rock music. As a fan of music of the 60's and 70's I was hoping for better.

Flamin' groovies are quite possibly the best "classic rock" band you've never heard of... Being a cult band they never hit commercial success. Why? Well, because they played the wrong kind of music (bluesy rock 'n' roll, with a pinch of British Invasion in the mix) in an era which was soon going to be dominated by "hippie culture and raga-rock freakouts" as the All Music Guide states. Let's be honest: most alleged "classic" rock sounds outdated and definitely overrated but the Flamin' are just as good today as they were 30 years ago! This collection contains truly their best songs and is therefore the record to own!

Not every song is out of the park, but when they are on, the groovies have some of the best American rock pop out there. "Shake Some Action" and "Jumpin' in the Night" should make anyone's playlist for pop music. If you haven't heard them, and like a hard-edged, guitar-driven pop sound, give them a listen.

Next to the Modern Lovers self-titled CD this is quite possibly the 2nd best CD ever :)

I love this CD. A terrific compilation of a little-known band who deserve more recognition. Lots of great cuts on this one!

this is classic garage rock!one of the grandaddies of the genre,this cd is an efficient overview of this underrated and underappreciated band.features samples from most of the lineups.