Customer Reviews

Teenage Head

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

An all-time classic that has never received the unlimited worship it deserves. Anyone into the Stones, Stooges, MC5, Feelgoods etc who doesn't have this in the collection is only half the person they think they are. Not a duff track and several that will blow your head off. The Groovies fell down the crack between the '60s and punk and consequently never made the dough they should have. But at least this music hasn't staled or become over familiar, nearly 30 years later it still sounds as fresh as ever.

While other bands in the Bay Area were into their spaced out, unfocused drivel, the Flamin' Groovies were honing their skills on straight ahead, power driven, rock and roll. Probably the best American band that should've, but didn't hit the big time. The Groovies made some fine records, but Teenage Head remains their crowning acheivement. This recording is as fresh today as it was when it was released in 1971. The songwriting duo of Cyril Jordan and Roy Loney were probably the best in the business at the time, and the only real challangers in the field were Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. In fact comparisons of Teenage Head to the Stones Sticky Fingers LP were often pointed out. After hearing Teenage Head Jagger stated that the Groovies did a better job than the Stones did on Sticky Fingers. So why is Teenage Head such a great album? First of all, the material on the record varies from the hard driving Proto Punk anthemic title cut, to taut acoustic blues numbers such as a revamped version of Robert Johnson's 32-20 and City Lights, then moves into areas such as the high energy rockabilly number Evil Hearted Ada, or the easy going cool of Doctor Boogie, while containing a couple of power ballads such as Yesterdays Numbers and Whiskey Woman, along with a couple of no nonsense rockers like Have You Seen My Baby? and the fantastic High Flyin' Baby. What really makes this recording something special is the consistent high caliber of musicianship througout the whole affair which makes Teenage Head a virtually seamless masterpiece of manic rockin' out. Rarely does a record meet with its inteded purpose as well as it does on Teenage Head. The seven added bonus tracks of raw, well played, unapologetic, rock and roll only leaves you wanting more. Teenage Head is not just a very good record, but it is a great record. It is still influencing the more serious, no nonsense bands and musicians of today. This is a seminal rock and roll record which still is the definitive album in this genre. I suppose the comparisons to some of the Stones albums of the early seventies are warranted, but the Stones never did make an album this good. No sloppy, over the top theatrics on Teenage Head; just some tight, nicely crafted songs, which are played extremely well. Does that sound like any Stones album released? You owe it to yourself to see how it really should be done. God knows it isn't being done today!

I got this disc used at a bookstore in Washington DC a couple of years ago. What grabbed me was the cover photo - I had never heard of the band, but they looked like they were a no-nonsense gritty garage band. I had no idea what to expect.
I was initially surprised at variety of music they played, from rock to blues to rockabilly to Elvis-esque to mellow acoustic. (The disc also has bonus tracks, cover tunes, and live stuff). After listening to it the first time, I thought it was merely OK. After listening to it again, I started to hear the raw straight-to-the-amp guitar, the extended jams, and it's grown on me ever since. Liner notes make reference to Mick Jagger allegedly saying this album is better than the Stones' "Sticky Fingers" - I wouldn't go quite that far - but it's pretty darn close. (The piano player from the "Fingers" sessions even plays on 3 of the tracks.)

It was a lucky find for me - I recommend it.

This is mostly in response to the 2 earlier posts about this LP, (OK, date me). This will definitely appeal to the MC5/Stooges crowd, and indeed anyone who interested in where punk came from. Is it exactly like that - of course not, but it has the spirit and it is real RNR. Also check out the NY Dolls, Dictators, Carl Perkins, Pretty Things. It's timeless - just avoid the fluff and get the good stuff.

Flamin' Groovies 'teenage head' and 'flamingo'

GOOD STUFF

Rock on baby

Although they are largely unknown (in Belgium , at least), the Flamin' Groovies made certainly one hell of a record with Teenage Head, which is simply better than any straight rock record released in the same time. Stones? Faces? Oh no, this is the one to go for, this is one of those records that deserves better (just like the Minutemen's 'Double Nickels on the Dime' or Thin White Rope's 'Moonhead', or Fugazi's 'Repeater',...) and ought to be heard by every serious music lover.

Flamin' Groovies-Teenage Head ****

Think the Rolling Stones around 1970-1971. Think of their classic album Sticky Fingers, and while you do that listen to Teenage Head the masterpiece from the Flamin' Groovies released in 1971. If you were to compare the two albums they would stack up very similar as they sound like almost the same album. Same country infused Gram Parsons flavor but with the street smart sleazy rock n' raunchy sort of feel. But the thing is, Teenage Head might be a better album than Sticky Fingers. One thing is for sure, it is way more consistent.

The rollicking power of 'High Flying Baby' which boasts one hell of a slide guitar riff, mixed with the balladry of 'City Lights' shows the depth and variety of the album. That's only the first two tracks. The albums title track is the equivalent of the Stones' 'Brown Sugar' or maybe even 'Bitch.' 'City Lights' could rival 'Wild Horses' and 'Yesterdays Numbers' minus the killer Mick Taylor solo would equal 'Sway.'

Teenage Head is an album of groove, an album of straight up rock n' roll garage style, and one of the most overlooked and forgotten albums of all time by one of the saddest forgot bands ever. This was their best as soon they would reinvent as a power-pop band. Teenage Head is for all time.

The Groovies' 2 Buddah LP's(this one with "Flamingo",its predecessor)were America's best kept secret for almost a decade & it took a new version of the band(minus their incredible original singer)to bring these 2 gems back on the map...

Teenage Head epitomizes R& R's Genius & the original band is almost as good as the Stones or the MC 5,their major influences at the time.
There are ballads,country,boogie as well,everything is perfectly played with a sense of humor that illuminates the tracks & everyone with an interest in rock & roll should be in possession of this album.
God bless Roy Loney & Cyril Jordan for giving us those moments of pure joy!

Great record, unfortunately BMG hasn't paid a dime in mechanicals/royalties to Jordan or Loney since releasing this in 1999. Yet another screw-over by a ripoff record company.

this album just oozes with nitty-gritty, down-and-dirty guitar riffs and singing that sounds guttural and raunchy, with sex dripping from every word. In fact, most of these songs are about sex, getting with women, or teaching women a lesson. What better rock and roll topic is there. If you like the classic rolling stones albums, you'll like this.

The first time I heard 'em, it was thanks to a copy of Trouser Press and a BMG deal where I just threw in a best of to see what it was about. I enjoyed it and like so many cds, it got lost through a series of state to state moves. And you know what happens...you forget! So Christmas '07, I got that really great garage rock gargantuan Nuggets Vol 1. And if you got that, you know what that does...Must get more garage rock! So some pokin' around and next thing you know you come across The Flamin' Groovies. So After a little deliberation, I ordered this one. And it was worth every penny! So what do you get? A great concise Stonesy rock album with some really great covers in the form of a tight little set of bonus tracks! And to the Groovies credit, they actually straddle the line between making them own and being reverent. I think the solos on these bonus tracks and their own orignals are just right.(Their takes on Shakin' All Over and Louie Louie are choice!) Long enough to explore the groove but not turn all wanky. They are clearly enjoying themselves.
Their sound literally catches the 60s turning into the 70s. But even better than that there is a strange contemporary twist to the proceedings that shows style is timeless. It maybe a classic rock sound but this is no oldies trip. There is a proto-punk snottiness to Roy Loney's vocals that makes me believe that Iggy Pop may have has an album or two in his collection. I also wouldn't be surpised if Steve Wynn doesn't dig these guys as well. This is some fine Glimmer Twins style jamming here. You have the point by now..Get this if you want if you like that pure roots inflected rock. A digger's delight!