Flamingo
THE FLAMIN' GROOVIES
The Flamin' Groovies were an American rock music band of the 1960s and ’70s. They began in San Francisco in 1965, founded by Cyril Jordan and Roy A. Loney. The Flamin Groovies’ early recordings reveal a debt to The Lovin’ Spoonful. Their first album, 1969’s ‘Supersnazz’, was something of a mixed bag, containing as it did both re-creations of 1950s rock and roll and more melodic, and songs that anticipated the power pop movement of the 1970s, a genre to which The Flamin' Groovies would eventually contribute significant work.
Their second album, 1970’s ‘Flamingo’, was a considerably stronger effort and revealed a band with a sly sense of humor and a musical approach that continued to draw upon ’50s rock and roll as well as upon the work of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
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In 1971 Roy Loney left The Flamin Groovies, and was replaced by singer and guitarist Chris Wilson, 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 maybe their 1972 anti-drug song ‘Slow Death’. In 1976, they teamed up with British producer Dave Edmunds, and recorded an album entitled ‘Shake Some Action’. This LP and the following effort, ‘Now’, are good examples of their somewhat self-conscious attempt to revive the sound of the classic mid-’60s pop groups.
The Flamin Groovies continued in the same style until somewhere early in the 1980s.
Members include George Alexander (born on May 18, 1946, San Mateo, CA), bass; Ron Greco, drums; Cyril Jordan (born in 1948 in San Francisco, CA), guitar; Roy Loney (born on April 13, 1946, San Francisco, CA), guitar, vocals; Tim Lynch (born on July 18, 1946, San Francisco, CA), guitar; Danny Mihm, drums. Later incarnations include James Farrell, guitar; Terry Rae, drums; Mike Wilhelm, guitar; Chris Wilson, vocals, guitar; David Wright, drums.
Group formed in San Francisco, CA, 1965; released eleven-inch EP Sneakers on Snazz label, 1969; signed to Epic, released first LP, Supersnazz, 1970; signed contract with Kama Sutra, relocated to New York; second LP Flamingo, 1970, followed by Teenage Head, 1971; released singles and a live EP; relocated to England, collaborated with musician/producer Dave Edmunds; Shake Some Action, recorded in 1972, released 1976; Still Shakin', a compilation of earlier recordings, released by Buddah, 1976; second Edmunds-produced LP, Now, released on Sire label, 1978; released Jumpin' in the Night, 1979; band effectively disbanded after 1979; released Bucket Full of Brains, which was recorded live in 1971, 1983.
In 1978 the Flamin' Groovies released the Edmundsproduced Now, comprising original material by Jordan and Wilson along with such covers as the Stones' "Blue Turns to Grey" and "Paint it Black" and the Beatles' "There's a Place." The following year the band released Jumpin' in the Night, produced by Jordan and Roger Becherian, which, in addition to Groovies originals, included covers by Warren Zevon, Roger McGuinn, Lennon/McCartney, David Crosby, and Bob Dylan.
Albums:
Sneakers (EP), Snazz, 1968.
Supersnazz, Epic, 1969.
Flamingo, Kama Sutra, 1970.
Teenage Head, Kama Sutra, 1971; reissued, Buddha, 1999.
Still Shakin', Buddah, 1976.
Shake Some Action, Sire, 1976.
Now, Sire, 1978.
Jumpin' in the Night, Sire, 1979.
Bucketful of Brains, Voxx, 1983.
Flamin' Groovies '68 (live), Eva, 1983.
Flamin' Groovies '70 (live), Eva, 1983.
Slow Death-Live!, Lolita, 1983.
Super Grease, Skydog, 1984.
Live at the Whiskey A Go-Go '79, Lolita, 1985.
Roadhouse, Edsel, 1986.
One Night Stand, Aim, 1987.
Groove In, Revenge, 1988.
Groovies Greatest Grooves, Sire, 1989.
The Rockfield Sessions, AIM, 1990.
Sixteen Tunes, Skydog, 1991.
Step Up, Aim, 1991.
Oh How Groovy, Discurios, 1992.
A Collection of Rare Demos and Live Recordings, Marilyn, 1993.
Rock Juice, National, 1993.
Rockin' at the Roundhouse: Live, Mystery, 1993.
Flamin' Groovies, Polydor, 1994.
California Born and Bred, Norton, 1995.
Live 68/70, New Rose, 1995.
Live at the Festival of the Sun, Aim, 1995.
Groove In, New Rose, 1996.
Supersneakers, Sundazed, 1996.
In Person! (live), Norton, 1997.
Oldies but Groovies, Aim, 1997.
Grease: The Complete Skydog Singles Collection, Norton, 1998.
Yesterday's Numbers, Camden, 1998.
Absolutely the Best, Varese, 1999.
Backtracks, Renaissance, 1999.
Slow Death, Norton, 2002.
Sources: Carly Page; Kevin O'Sullivan
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