Flamin' Groovies '68EVA 12044 (France), 1984
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Live Recordings (mono) from The Matrix (a club housed some of the greatest band to San Francisco in the '60s and '70s - Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, Velvet Underground, The Doors and of course Flamin’ Groovies) recorded January 10 1968 (according to the sleeve notes). More probably, however, that they were recorded on the 26th or February 27th as implied in the sleeve notes for the Supersneakers booklet. These are the first recorded songs to be released by The Flamin' Groovies! There is one more song from this concert, Heartbreak Hotel, on California Born and Bread.
Side A
1. Cabiria (Roy A. Loney, Cyril Jordan), sounds like a kind of Rockabilly song played by The Lovin’ Spoonful.
2. The Slide (Roy A. Loney). It’s the same song as on Sneakers played live. It's a bit longer than the studio version with great playing from Tim, Cyril & George.
3. In Between (Roy A. Loney, Tim Lynch). A rare collaboration between Loney and Lynch this song has a more laid back folk-jugband feel.
4. Doin' My Time (Roy A. Loney). This song is more of the same and a bit laid back, influenced by The Lovin’ Spoonful again.
5. Night Owl Blues (John Sebastian). Unsurprisingly the band did a Lovin’ Spoonful cover (an instrumental) with Tim Lynch on harmonica.
Side B
1. Wild About My Lovin' (Traditional). Well, one more Lovin’ Spoonful cover!
2. Local Boy Makes Good (Roy A. Loney). One more in the style of Lovin’ Spoonful. Is that Tim Lynch singing?
3. Sportin' Life (Traditional). Well this is the third Spoonful cover and the bluesiest song.
4. My Yada (Roy A. Loney). Another good one from Sneakers.
5. Good Morning, Mr. Stone (Roy A. Loney). This is a gem! The best track on the album and it has never been released as a studio recording by Roy Loney! What a shame! The song has a bass which sounds a bit like The Doors and the song is very psychedelic. In a shorter version this song could have been a hit. It has a great melody and the chorus is one you remember. The instrumental passages on this nearly 8 minute version are just great! I just wish Roy will make a proper studio recording of this great song.
All of these tracks is on Supersneakers in better sound quality in the track sequence as below.
Cabria (Roy A. Loney, Cyril Jordan)
In Between (Roy A. Loney, Tim Lynch)
Doin’ My Time (Roy A. Loney)
Night Owl Blues (John Sebastian)
Wild About My Lovin’ (Traditional)
The Slide (Roy A. Loney)
My Yada (Roy A. Loney)
Local Boy Makes Good (Roy A. Loney)
Sportin’ Life (Traditional)
Good Morning Mr. Stone (Roy A. Loney)
The concert is very well recorded in mono and the band sound very much like they does on the Sneakers album. It's more cool and laid back than the later Loney material and I like it! 7/10