SupersnazzEPIC BN 26487, 1969
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Produced by Stephen R. Goldman.
Mike Lang: Keyboards.
Curtis Amy: Saxophone
Tank Jernigan: Saxophone?
Tom Scott: Clarinet
Coastin' Hank (probably Rick Estrin?): Harmonica
Jack Nitzsche: String arrangement (A Part From That), horn arrangement (The Girl Can't Help It).
The record companies got interested in The Flamin’ Groovies when they heard about their Sneakers album they recorded themselves and manage to sell all 2000 copies. They got a recording contract with one of the major labels, Epic, and found themselves in L.A. with producer Stephen R. Goldman recording an album with an astonishing big budget. The result was a great and very well produced album with great songs and performance by the band. Two singles were released from the album, both with covers on the A sides and originals on the B's. "Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu"/"The First One's Free" went top 40 in San Francisco. "Something Else"/"Laurie Did It" followed.
Side A
1) Love Have Mercy (Roy A. Loney). This four and a half minute rocker sets the pace for the album. If their main influence had been Lovin’ Spoonful, now it’s pure old rock’n’roll. A bit like Creedence Clearwater Revival, but wilder. I don't know if Roy invented the riff but Bill Wyman made a song very simular to this one with his Rytm Kings 32 years later called "Tell You A Secret". Is it a coincidence that the album is called "Groovin '"?
2) The Girl Can’t Help It (Bobby Throup). One more wild rock’n roll number in this great cover from Little Richard. The band is reinforced by saxophones on this one.
3) Laurie Did It (Roy A. Loney) is the sad story about Laurie who did everything so well (even took her own life). It’s a very good ballad a bit like the Rolling Stones
4) Apart From That (Roy A. Loney - Cyril Jordan) is a ballad again with strings arranged by Jack Nitzche and a very good song again with strange lyrics: There’s a big fat ugly man around the corner / And his big fat ugly eyes are going blind / His big fat ugly brain has stopped providing him alive / Apart from that he’s fine.
5) Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu (Smith-Vincent). It’s time for rock’n’roll again with this great Huey ”Piano” Smith song. The band is reinforced again with piano and saxophones.
Side B
1) The First One’s Free (Roy A. Loney) is a great boogie tune with great harmonica solo and the band reinforced with piano and organ.
2) Pagan Rachel (Roy A. Loney). A very good song again with a jazzy laid back feel and very good piano.
3. Somethin' Else (Cochran) / Pistol Packin' Mama (Dexter). Two blistering covers and we’re into good time rock’n’ roll again.
4) Brushfire (Roy A. Loney - Cyril Jordan). A very good song again with great fuzz guitars and a psychedelic choir and with a hypnotic chord sequence that could go on forever.
5) Bam Balam (Roy A. Loney - Cyril Jordan). This is the most up tempo song on the album, avery catchy melody with a jazz feel reinforced by piano and clarinets!
6) Around The Corner (Roy A. Loney - Cyril Jordan). This song with its nonsense lyrics is pure classic Flamin’ Groovies and has a sound very much like Roy’s first solo album with acoustic guitars in the background and some piano. A great end to a great album.
Summary:
This album is a classic and is a way better that the first album. The band has found a style which suits them and the production is great. I’ll give it 8/10 because it has one or two covers too many which is a pity because their original songs are so strong.