FlamingoKama Sutra 2021, 1970
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Produced by Richard Robinson.
Piano: Commander Cody (tracks: A2, A5, B1)
Recorded March and April 1970.
Supersnazz sunk without trace in the American sea of records. It was poorly promoted by the label and a tour around USA didn’t help. On the tour they met bands such as The Stooges and MC5. The raw sound of these bands impressed the Groovies and they went for a heavier sound. In New York they met producer Richard Robinson who helped them forming a deal with Kama Sutra records (the label for their old heroes The Lovin’ Spoonful). They went in to the studio and cut this raw album full of energy and probably mostly recorded live in the studio.
Side A
1) Gonna Rock Tonite (Roy A. Loney). The album starts with this raw rock boogie where each instrumentalist has his own solo. It really rocks!
2) Comin After Me (Roy A. Loney - Cyril Jordan) really shows how the sound had become more raw and dirty than the previous album. It’s pure and dirty rock’n roll.
3) Headin For The Texas Border (Roy A. Loney - Cyril Jordan). Well this is punk rock with a rock steady riff that could move walls!
4) Sweet Roll Me On Down (Roy A. Loney - Cyril Jordan) is a real fun Rockabilly / Country song with acoustic guitars and great harmony vocals.
5) Keep A Knockin (Penniman), a cover played even faster than the original version!
Side B
1) Second Cousin (Roy A. Loney) is about Jerry Lee Lewis (who married his second cousin). A great rockin’ number with a piano somewhere in the background.
2) Childhood's End (Roy A. Loney). This is the first of two slow number on this record. A great Country and Western waltz!
3) Jailbait (Roy A. Loney - Cyril Jordan) is one of the heaviest numbers on the record with one more rock steady riff.
4) She's Falling Apart (Roy A. Loney) is a psychedelic masterpiece! It may have suited better on the Supersnazz album but who cares? Here it is and sounds like nothing else on the album with heavy reverb and even a cello solo! In the end of the song everything changes and the song transforms into a boogie and then fades out.
5) Road House (Roy A. Loney - Cyril Jordan). Flamin’ Groovies had just won a competition who could play the fastest tempo and they won! Well, that’s what it sounds like anyway. Somewhere in the middle the bass and drums comes out of synch. I read in an interview with Roy that they liked how the song sort of collapses and then strangely comes together again, that they decided to keep that version!
Summary:
It’s not a single weak song on this album. It’s one cover, but it fits in. It’s not as well produced as Supersnazz, it sounds that it’s just recorded more or less live in the studio. But this new rawer sound fits these songs very well. I’ll give it 8/10
The album was re-released on CD with some extra bonus tracks.
Big Beat UK CDWIK 925 released it in in 1995 with the following bonus tracks recorded live in the studio:
Walking the Dog (Thomas)
Somethin' Else (Cochran-Sheeley)
My Girl Josephine (Domino-Bartholomew)
Louie, Louie (Richard Berry)
Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie 'Flu (Smith-Vincent)
Going Out Theme (Loney-Jordan-Alexander-Lynch-Mihm)
Bonus tracks on Buddha CD 74321 71691 2 (1999)
My Girl Josephine (Bartholomew/Domino)
Around and Around (Berry)
Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu (Smith/Vincent)
Somethin' Else (Cochran/Sheeley)
Rumble (Grant/Wray Sr.)
Going Out Theme (Alexander/Jordan/Loney/Lynch/Mihm)