Flamin’ Groovies
Let It Rock: Live from the San Francisco Civic Center 1980
Liberation Hall
The Flamin’ Groovies are one of those bands you’ve probably heard of more than actually heard. They have been an influential garage rock / power pop act since 1965. While they have released some influential albums, like Teenage Head and Shake Some Action, they never sold all that well. The only constant in the Groovies story has been songwriter / guitarist Cyril Jordan. Co-founder Roy Loney left the band in 1971 and was replaced by Chris Wilson. While none of their albums sold particularly well, they have influenced generations of garage and power pop bands.
Let It Rock: Live from the San Francisco Civic Center 1980 showcases the band on an unruly night toward the end of Wilson’s tenure with the band. The set is made up almost exclusively of covers of tunes by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Them, and other rock and roll stalwarts. The only Flamin’ Groovies original in the set is the encore of “Shake Some Action.”
This record is really for Flamin’ Groovies devotees. It’s not a good introduction to the band. Aside from the set being a rock and roll jukebox set of other people’s songs, the recording quality is muddy and the performances are ramshackle. It reminds me of listening to a tape of a Replacements show I saw. In the moment, the sloppy playing and off key vocals were charming. On tape, it was head scratching why I liked the performance. The one thing Let It Rock does convey is the energy and enthusiasm of the band playing those songs on that night.
