FLAMIN' GROOVIES
Slow Death (Norton)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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This collection is subtitled Amazin' High Energy Rock N'Roll 1971-73!, and that's nearly all that need be said. After the departure of singer Roy Loney, guitarist Cyril Jordan was the undisputed leader of the band, and his rock 'n roll impulses overcame some of the pop direction that had become a growing factor in the group's sound. Of course, Jordan had his own pop impulses as well, exemplified by his appreciation of the work of Freddy Cannon. When the group covered Cannon's "Tallahassee Lassie," though, they turned it into a rock rave up.

"Tallahassee Lassie" was released as a single in the UK, where the post-Loney Groovies spent considerable time, but the rest of the material here is drawn from demos they recorded before hooking up with producer Dave Edmunds to record the legendary Shake Some Action. While the fidelity isn't consistently first rate, the energy is consistently high and this is music Flamin' Groovies fans will want to hear. They'll also want to read the 18 pages of Jordan's commentary on the times and travails of the band which are contained in the accompanying booklet. While Jordan still puts a group onstage with the old name now and then, the music is never going to get any better than this was, and Norton has done a service to the rock 'n roll world with this release.

Track List:

Sweet Little Rock And Roller * Slow Death * Let Me Rock * Dog Meat * Blues From Phyllis * Jumpin' Jack Flash * Roll Over Beethoven * Shake Some Action * When I Heard Your Name * Tallahassee Lassie

© 2002 - Shaun Dale