Flamin’ Groovies – Let It Rock: Live from the San Francisco Civic Center 1980 (2024)

12-track live set list recorded on October 26, 1980, at the San Francisco Civic Center, with 3 bonus tracks recorded days prior at the Old Waldorf

This was a band that had some success in an era when disco, punk & new wave ruled the roost. My favorite LP of theirs was always “Jumpin’ In the Night” with its Elvis cum new wave rockabilly surge that was designed to go deep into the garage rock ears where the ballroom dancing moved from the American Bandstand scruffy linoleum floors into your Coca-Cola popcorn & red sticky candy apple brain.

Ah, it was blissful. I must have played “Jumpin’ In the Night” until the black grooves went white. The band had an edgy mainstream muscle similar to The Standells, Electric Prunes, The Music Machine, The Saints & The Dictators.

The San Francisco band itself with its garage & power pop pedigree also dipped generously into R&R & proto-punk while working the circuit since 1965! That’s longevity — even if there were lulls in their decades. But the latest incarnation’s been playing since 2013 with original member Cyril Jordan (guitar/vocals).

This never-before-released collection is loaded with raw-boned rock classics & interpreted with dowdy skill on Let It Rock: Live from the San Francisco Civic Center 1980 (Dropped Nov. 29/Liberation Hall). It was recorded before their major label (Sire Records) contract ran out in 1980. 12 cover songs recorded live with 3 bonus tracks. Produced by Terry Hammer, the album includes familiar tunes by Chuck Berry, The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Larry Williams, Big Joe Williams & some Brill Building songwriting suits.

The band in 1980 was Cyril with Chris Wilson (guitar/vocals), Mike Wilhelm (guitar/vocals), George Alexander (bass/vocals) & David Wright (drums). While this is not a recording to introduce the band to new ears, it will be of interest to aficionados of their rough & rowdy performances. It isn’t polished, it’s garage-band rough with that special fever – rock n’ roll. “River Deep, Mountain High,” & “Baby Please Don’t Go” are particularly good.

The effort & enthusiasm come through even when the performance is a bit uncombed. They compromise their far smoother studio approach for this live fire. They excel with the Chuck Berry & Rolling Stones-type melodies far better than the folkier “I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better” material. Guaranteed to bring you back to your youth.