Anyone here like the Flamin Groovies?

[Ilash]

Picked up Teenage Head, the 1971 album from this not very well known band a few days and I was completely blown away. These guys are simply a great Stonesy rock and roll band that are equally at home with some choice covers as they are with their original tunes. And they're pretty diverse too. And tight as hell, let's not kid. So why weren't they bigger?

[Adam Crocker]

So why weren't they bigger?

Simple, they weren't playing the right music commercially for the 1970s, much like Big Star. (Granted Big Star got RAPED by bad distribution.)

It's worth noting though that the Groovies have two distinct phases. The first one is when Roy Loney was the lead singer and is capped off by Teenage Head. The second is after Loney left due public apathy and his bad relationship with Groovies' guitarist Cyril Jordan. After that Jordan took the Groovies to Europe and they moved towards jangle rock vein inspired by the Beatles and the Byrds. Weirdly enough they didn't get an album recorded until '76 and that was Shake Some Action. The single of the same name failed to crack the charts, but is an absolute classic song.

[Spike-X]

The Flamin' Groovies were a huge influence on Australian independent music, particularly the Hoodoo Gurus, who played Teenage Head in concert (a live recording of which is available on their Gorilla Biscuits: B-Sides and Rarities CD).

The Hitmen also have a killer version of Shake Some Action on their live Tora Tora DTK album. I really need to find that on CD.

[Ilash]

Simple, they weren't playing the right music commercially for the 1970s, much like Big Star. (Granted Big Star got RAPED by bad distribution.)

It's worth noting though that the Groovies have two distinct phases. The first one is when Roy Loney was the lead singer and is capped off by Teenage Head. The second is after Loney left due public apathy and his bad relationship with Groovies' guitarist Cyril Jordan. After that Jordan took the Groovies to Europe and they moved towards jangle rock vein inspired by the Beatles and the Byrds. Weirdly enough they didn't get an album recorded until '76 and that was Shake Some Action. The single of the same name failed to crack the charts, but is an absolute classic song.

Aside for Shake Some Action (the song), I actually haven't heard any of their other stuff and since you do seem to know a bit about them, perhaps you can tell me what's their other stuff is like?

[Adam Crocker]

Aside for Shake Some Action (the song), I actually haven't heard any of their other stuff and since you do seem to know a bit about them, perhaps you can tell me what's their other stuff is like?

Earlier stuff up to Teenage Head (which is just the albums Supersnazz and then Flamingo) is in line the overall Stonesy-meets-Sun sound. I haven't heard anything after Shake Some Action though. Roy Loney did some kickass solo work in a rockabilly vein.

I also found out from AMG's review of the album (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:d2kziklabb59) that Mick Jagger noted the similarities between it and Sticky Fingers and claimed that the Groovies did a better job.