Slow Death Live!Lolita 5004 1983
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Bucketful Of BrainsVoxx Records VXS 200.015 1983
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In Person!!!!Norton 255 1997
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Roy Loney: Guitar, Lead Vocals This is the final recording of the Loney era Flamin' Groovies from June 30 Fillmore West (broadcasted by KSAN) to be found on three slightly different albums. |
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Tim Lynch had left the band after the recdording of Teenage Head and his place had been taken over by James Ferrell. The show was broadcasted on the radio and someone was recording it on a reel to reel or a cassette recorder. The quality of the tape (I think all three records have used the same tape source) is not very good but had been enhanced, especially on "In Person". The performance is very good but I had prefered more original songs in place for the covers. The main difference between the albums (except for the sound quality) is that "Bucketful Of Brains" has the complete broadcasted concert with the tracks sequenced as below. "In Person" had the same (probaly correct) track sequence but had omitted everything but the end of the first track "I Can't Explain". The reason is that the sound is very bad on the first 3/4 of the track. For the same reason (probably) the "Slow Death Live" release had a different track sequence (within brackets below) and didn't start with "I Can't Explain" which is shortened about one minute in the beginning. "Louie Louie" is in mono on "In Person" because the stereo tape has many drop outs in one channel. They have also cut off almost half of "Roadhouse" (bass solo and drum solo), which actually is for the better. You can listen to the concert at Wolfgang's Vault.
1 (8). Intro / I Can't Explain (Townshend)
A fine version close in style to the version on the Teenage Head Sessions. They certanly had problems with the soundboard mix in the beginning and there are also many drop outs in the tape.
2 (1). Sweet Little Rock'n'Roller (C. Berry)
The band rocks on this Chuck Berry number.
3 (2). Have You Seen My Baby? (Newman)
This version is quite close to the Teenage Head version but with even more energy.
4 (5). Road House (Loney/Jordan)
A good version again but the sound quality during the bass solo and drum solo is awful. But if you listen to the "In Person" version they have cut it off.
5 (3). Doctor Boogie (Loney/Jordan)
A fine version again of a "Teenage Head" song where Roy sings an octave higher than on the studio version.
6 (6). Slow Death (Loney/Jordan)
This is the disc's high point. It is the only recording with Roy & Flamin' Groovies in the then recently composed classic. It is remarkable similar to the later recorded studio version with Chris Wilson on vocals.
7 (7). Shakin' All Over (Kidd)
This is a favorite Groovies we have heard before. It's not the best sound quality, but there is nothing wrong with the performance.
8 (9). Teenage Head (Loney/Jordan)
Nothing can go wrong in a live version of the title track from the then recently released "Teenage Head" album. And it doesn't. Great version!
9 (10). Louie Louie (R. Berry)
This is another Groovies garage classic favourite we have heard before with a great drum solo from Danny Mihm
10 (4). Walkin' the Dog (Thomas)
Well, we have heard this one before, haven't we? A great performance again but the sound quality of the "Still Shakin" version is a way better.
The "In Person release has two bonus tracks from Matrix first released on "Flamin' Groovies '70".
11. I'm A Man (mono)
12. Headin' For The Texas Border (mono)
This recording is only for die hard Flamin' Groovies fans. But for them is a must as it's the last recorded concert with the band with Roy Loney on vocals and also the only recorded concert with James Ferrell before Roy left the band. In short: "Slow death live sounds terrible and has the tracks in a wrong order (5/10). On Bucketful Of Brains they have put the songs in the right sequence (6/10). By some clever mastering work they have made "In Person" listenable (7/10).