Groovies' Greatest Grooves

Amazon.com
Always out of place, the Flamin Groovies were almost always great. When San Francisco was drowning in late-'60s hippie excess, the Groovies responded with tight, riff-heavy pop songs such as "Teenage Head" and "High-Flyin' Baby." Predictably enough, not too many people noticed. So what do the Groovies do? They move to England, transform themselves into a hard-rocking, jangly merseybeat outfit, and release the critically acclaimed Shake Some Action. The year was 1976, a period better known for punk than for retro-pop. Oh well and too bad for the Groovies, but not so bad for us, as this collection demonstrates. With should-have-been hits like "You Tore Me Down" and "Slow Death," Groovies' Greatest Grooves is the perfect introduction to San Francisco's most accomplished misfits. --Percy Keegan

Groovies' Greatest Grooves,The Flamin' Groovies,Sire / London/Rhino,Pop,Power Pop,Proto-Punk,Rock,Rock & Roll,Rock/Pop,Roots Rock

Groovies' Greatest Grooves

Average customer rating:

Timeless 60s sound
Well-selected sampler of the Cyril Jordan years of the Groovies
Teenage Head
Props & dues
A must have!

Groovies' Greatest Grooves
The Flamin' Groovies
Manufacturer: Sire / London/Rhino
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Proto Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Roots Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Power Pop | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Teenage Head
Shake Some Action
Supersnazz
Flamingo
#1 Record/Radio City

ASIN: B000005JAV
Release Date: 1989-07-10

Tracks:

Shake Some Action
Teenage Head
Slow Death
Tallahassee Lassie
Yeah My Baby
Yes It's True
First Plane Home
In The U.S.A.
Between The Lines
Don't You Lie To Me
You Tore Me Down
I'll Cry Alone
Please Please Girl
Down Down Down
Yes I Am
Teenage Confidential
I Can't Hide
Absolutely Sweet Marie
Don't Put Me On
I Saw Her
All I Wanted
Jumpin' In The Night
There's A Place
River Deep, Mountain High

Amazon.com

Always out of place, the Flamin Groovies were almost always great. When San Francisco was drowning in late-'60s hippie excess, the Groovies responded with tight, riff-heavy pop songs such as "Teenage Head" and "High-Flyin' Baby." Predictably enough, not too many people noticed. So what do the Groovies do? They move to England, transform themselves into a hard-rocking, jangly merseybeat outfit, and release the critically acclaimed Shake Some Action. The year was 1976, a period better known for punk than for retro-pop. Oh well and too bad for the Groovies, but not so bad for us, as this collection demonstrates. With should-have-been hits like "You Tore Me Down" and "Slow Death," Groovies' Greatest Grooves is the perfect introduction to San Francisco's most accomplished misfits. --Percy Keegan

Customer Reviews:

Timeless 60s sound .......2006-08-12

This `best of' compilation really showcases the Groovies talents, an excellent place to start for anyone hungering for more of the sound of Buffalo Springfield/Chuck Berry/Byrds/Stones/British Invasion. From the hard-edged Teenage Head to the psychedelic rocker Shake Some Action what really stands out is the Groovies completely unpretentious approach to creating some great music that doesn't underestimate its audience but still rocks out. The Groovies hold up very well into the new millennium. If you like this, the next album to pick up is Teenage Head.

Well-selected sampler of the Cyril Jordan years of the Groovies.......2006-06-28

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.

Teenage Head.......2005-08-30

A fabulous collection of original rock classics. Songs like Teenage Head are some of the greatest songs ever. It is no surprise Dave Edmunds produced many of the songs like "yeah my baby" and "Between the Lines" you hear this sound today in bands like Mondo Daio, Hives, Jet and others. It is a good fun album.

Props & dues.......2004-04-06

One of the few releases of the Flamin' Groovies where the artists are actually getting paid by the record company. Most of the rest on the market are bootlegs and artist ripoffs. Another exception is Norton's "Slow Death" released in 2002.

A must have!.......2001-07-19

I can't remember why I ended up buying this album but it is certainly one of my favorites. The entire collection is excellent but stand outs "Slow Death" and "Tallahassee Lassie" get some heavy rotation (and additional volume) at home. Another reviewer suggested the group "Radio Birdman" for people who like the Groovies and in a strange coincidence, I'm listening to their "Essential '74-78" CD as I write this review. Check both of these bands out!