Flamin' Groovies, Teenage Head, LP, Kama Sutra '76,Pink label, garage punk psych

$

50

Flamin Groovies

Teenage Head

Kama Sutra

1971 LP

Pink label

Original Issue

Teenage Head is The Flamin' Groovies third studio album, released in 1971. Released the same year as The Rolling Stones' classic album Sticky Fingers, Mick Jagger reportedly noticed the similarities between the albums and thought the Flamin' Groovies did the better take on the theme of classic blues and rock 'n roll revisited in a modern context.

·         Cyril Jordan - guitar, vocals

·         Roy Loney - guitar, vocals

·         Tim Lynch - guitar

·         George Alexander - bass

·         Danny Mihm - drums

·         Jim Dickinson - piano

An all-time classic that has never received the unlimited worship it deserves. Anyone into the Stones, Stooges, MC5, Feelgoods etc who doesn't have this in the collection is only half the person they think they are. Not a duff track and several that will blow your head off. The Groovies fell down the crack between the '60s and punk and consequently never made the dough they should have. But at least this music hasn't staled or become over familiar, nearly 30 years later it still sounds as fresh as ever.

While other bands in the Bay Area were into their spaced out, unfocused drivel, the Flamin' Groovies were honing their skills on straight ahead, power driven, rock and roll. Probably the best American band that should've, but didn't hit the big time. The Groovies made some fine records, but Teenage Head remains their crowning acheivement. This recording is as fresh today as it was when it was released in 1971. The songwriting duo of Cyril Jordan and Roy Loney were probably the best in the business at the time, and the only real challangers in the field were Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. In fact comparisons of Teenage Head to the Stones Sticky Fingers LP were often pointed out. After hearing Teenage Head Jagger stated that the Groovies did a better job than the Stones did on Sticky Fingers. So why is Teenage Head such a great album? First of all, the material on the record varies from the hard driving Proto Punk anthemic title cut, to taut acoustic blues numbers such as a revamped version of Robert Johnson's 32-20 and City Lights, then moves into areas such as the high energy rockabilly number Evil Hearted Ada, or the easy going cool of Doctor Boogie, while containing a couple of power ballads such as Yesterdays Numbers and Whiskey Woman, along with a couple of no nonsense rockers like Have You Seen My Baby? and the fantastic High Flyin' Baby. What really makes this recording something special is the consistent high caliber of musicianship througout the whole affair which makes Teenage Head a virtually seamless masterpiece of manic rockin' out. Rarely does a record meet with its inteded purpose as well as it does on Teenage Head. Teenage Head is not just a very good record, but it is a great record. It is still influencing the more serious, no nonsense bands and musicians of today. This is a seminal rock and roll record which still is the definitive album in this genre. I suppose the comparisons to some of the Stones albums of the early seventies are warranted, but the Stones never did make an album this good. No sloppy, over the top theatrics on Teenage Head; just some tight, nicely crafted songs, which are played extremely well. Does that sound like any Stones album released? You owe it to yourself to see how it really should be done. God knows it isn't being done today!

I got this disc used at a bookstore in Washington DC a couple of years ago. What grabbed me was the cover photo - I had never heard of the band, but they looked like they were a no-nonsense gritty garage band. I had no idea what to expect.

I was initially surprised at variety of music they played, from rock to blues to rockabilly to Elvis-esque to mellow acoustic. After listening to it the first time, I thought it was merely OK. After listening to it again, I started to hear the raw straight-to-the-amp guitar, the extended jams, and it's grown on me ever since. Liner notes make reference to Mick Jagger allegedly saying this album is better than the Stones' "Sticky Fingers" - I wouldn't go quite that far - but it's pretty darn close. (The piano player from the "Fingers" sessions even plays on 3 of the tracks.)

It was a lucky find for me - I recommend it.

Think the Rolling Stones around 1970-1971. Think of their classic album Sticky Fingers, and while you do that listen to Teenage Head the masterpiece from the Flamin' Groovies released in 1971. If you were to compare the two albums they would stack up very similar as they sound like almost the same album. Same country infused Gram Parsons flavor but with the street smart sleazy rock n' raunchy sort of feel. But the thing is, Teenage Head might be a better album than Sticky Fingers. One thing is for sure, it is way more consistent.

The rollicking power of 'High Flying Baby' which boasts one hell of a slide guitar riff, mixed with the balladry of 'City Lights' shows the depth and variety of the album. That's only the first two tracks. The albums title track is the equivalent of the Stones' 'Brown Sugar' or maybe even 'Bitch.' 'City Lights' could rival 'Wild Horses' and 'Yesterdays Numbers' minus the killer Mick Taylor solo would equal 'Sway.'

Teenage Head is an album of groove, an album of straight up rock n' roll garage style, and one of the most overlooked and forgotten albums of all time by one of the saddest forgot bands ever. This was their best as soon they would reinvent as a power-pop band. Teenage Head is for all time.

I really don't like the Rolling Stones. A few songs here and there are OK but albums like Exile, Let It Bleed, etc have always left me scratching my head wondering what the fuss was about and reaching for my Wilson Picket and Otis Redding records.

Anyhow, I avoided this record for years based on how it always gets compared to Sticky Fingers but picked it up because it was really cheap. It is VERY Stonesy but rocks much harder. The acoustic ballads are not my favorite, but the rockers like "High Flyin Baby," "Have You Seen My Baby" and the killer title track are great.

Their sound literally catches the 60s turning into the 70s. But even better than that there is a strange contemporary twist to the proceedings that shows style is timeless. It maybe a classic rock sound but this is no oldies trip. There is a proto-punk snottiness to Roy Loney's vocals that makes me believe that Iggy Pop may have has an album or two in his collection. I also wouldn't be surpised if Steve Wynn doesn't dig these guys as well. This is some fine Glimmer Twins style jamming here. You have the point by now..Get this if you want if you like that pure roots inflected rock. A digger's delight!

Side 1

1.   "High Flyin' Baby"

2.   "City Lights"

3.   "Have You Seen My Baby?" (Randy Newman)

4.   "Yesterday's Numbers"

Side 2

5.   "Teenage Head"

6.   "32-20" (Robert Johnson, new lyrics by Roy A. Loney)

7.   "Evil Hearted Ada" (Loney)

8.   "Doctor Boogie"

9.   "Whiskey Woman"

 LONG LIVE VINYL - VINYL SOUNDS LIKE ROCK N ROLL IS SUPPOSED TO BE!!!!

Condition

Cover:  Some wear on bottom edge, no breakthrough, tape on 2 open corners

Vinyl:  VG+, slight scuffs and scratches that do not affect play

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