The Flamin Groovies
Encyclopedia
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. 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
, and they also had a major influence on the power pop
genre.
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, 1970's 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.
The Flamin' Groovies headlined the Azkena outdoor rock festival in Mendizabala, Spain
, on September 11, 2004. 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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
of the 1960s and 1970s. They began in San Francisco in 1965, founded by Ron Greco, Cyril Jordan
Cyril Jordan
Cyril Jordan was born in San Francisco on 31 August 1948. He is a guitarist and founding member of San Francisco cult band The Flamin' Groovies. They are best remembered for their influential 1976 album Shake Some Action...
and Roy Loney. 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
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, and they also had a major influence on the power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
genre.
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 rollRock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
and more melodic songs that anticipated the power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
movement of the 1970s — a genre to which the Flamin' Groovies would eventually contribute significant work. They then released their second album, 1970's Flamingo. Teenage Head
Teenage Head (Flamin' Groovies album)
Teenage Head is The Flamin' Groovies third studio album, released in 1971. Released the same year as The Rolling Stones' classic album Sticky Fingers, Mick Jagger reportedly noticed the similarities between the albums and thought the Flamin' Groovies did the better take on the theme of classic...
was released in 1971 and is listed in the 2006 book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die is a musical reference book edited by Robert Dimery, first published in 2005. The most recent edition consists of a list of albums released between 1955 and 2010, part of a series from Quintessence Editions Ltd...
.
In 1971, Loney left the band and was replaced by singer and guitarist Chris Wilson (born September 10 1952, Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, was an early center for the labor movement, and major contributor to the American Industrial Revolution. The original home of the Boston Manufacturing Company, the city was a prototype for 19th century industrial city planning,...
), 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
Dave Edmunds
David 'Dave' Edmunds is a Welsh singer, guitarist and record producer. Although he is primarily associated with Pub rock and New Wave, and had numerous hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, his natural leaning has always been towards 1950s style rock and roll.-Early bands:As a teenager Edmunds first...
, 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.
The Flamin' Groovies headlined the Azkena outdoor rock festival in Mendizabala, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, on September 11, 2004. 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
The A-Bones
The A-Bones is a garage rock band from Brooklyn, New York. Their name was derived from a song by The Trashmen. The band was formed in 1984 by vocalist Billy Miller and his wife, drummer Miriam Linna; the couple had previously been the editors of the pop culture journal Kicks and later launched...
and Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo, sometimes abbreviated as YLT, is an American alternative rock band formed in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1984. Since 1992, the lineup has consisted of Ira Kaplan , Georgia Hubley , and James McNew .Despite achieving limited mainstream success, Yo La Tengo has been called "the quintessential...
.
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.
Albums
- SupersnazzSupersnazzSupersnazz is The Flamin' Groovies' first studio album, released in 1969 on the Epic label. It was their only album for a major company. Its commercial failure put an end to the group's major-company record career...
(1969, EpicEpic RecordsEpic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
BN 26487) - Flamingo (Kama Sutra KSBS 2021, 1970)
- Teenage HeadTeenage Head (Flamin' Groovies album)Teenage Head is The Flamin' Groovies third studio album, released in 1971. Released the same year as The Rolling Stones' classic album Sticky Fingers, Mick Jagger reportedly noticed the similarities between the albums and thought the Flamin' Groovies did the better take on the theme of classic...
(Kama Sutra KSBS 2031, August 1971) - Shake Some Action (Sire Records, June 1976) U.S. #142
- Flamin' Groovies Now (Sire RecordsSire RecordsSire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
, June 1978) - Jumpin' in the Night (Sire Records, July 1979)
- One Night Stand (July 1987)
- Rock Juice - as Flamin' Groovier (September 1993)
EPs
- Sneakers (1968)
- Grease (1973)
- More Grease (1974)
- The Gold Star Tapes (1984)
- Rockfield Sessions
- I'll Have a... Bucket of Brains
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 ExplainI Can't Explain"I Can't Explain" is a song by the English rock band The Who, written by Pete Townshend, and produced by Shel Talmy. The song was issued as a single in December 1964 in the United States and on 15 January 1965 in the United Kingdom.-Background:...
" b/w "Little Queenie" (1977) - "Sealed with a KissSealed with a Kiss"Sealed with a Kiss" is the title of a song written by Peter Udell and Gary Geld. It was first recorded by The Four Voices in 1960 as a single, but their recording was not a hit....
"
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)
Compilation albums
- Still Shakin (Buddah RecordsBuddah RecordsBuddah Records was founded in 1967 in New York City. The label was born out of Kama Sutra Records, an MGM Records-distributed label, which remained a key imprint following Buddah's founding...
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)
Book references
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