The
Sneakers
EP (1968) -- the first release from the San Francisco-based
Flamin' Groovies
-- reflects the combo's earliest incarnation, featuring
Cyril Jordan
(guitar/vocals),
Roy Loney
Tim Lynch
(guitar),
George Alexander
(bass), and
Danny Mihm
(drums). After changing their name from "Lost and Found" in late 1966,
the Groovies
gained a significant following at their local concert performances in and around the fertile Bay Area scene. One of the primary distinguishing factors on the seven selections cut for their debut is the strong showing of original material combining the burgeoning
psychedelia
with a notable attitude vacillating between
folk
and
punk
. A perfect example is
"I'm Drowning,"
which opens with the juxtaposition of
jug band
met head on with a searing electric guitar. The upbeat good-time arrangement could easily be mistaken for the likes of
the Lovin' Spoonful
, who were clearly the motivation for
"Babes in the Sky."
So much so that the introduction is practically a note-for-note derivation of
John Sebastian
's ode to Music City U.S.A.,
"Nashville Cats."
The selection is delivered in a vintage style reminiscent of
Sopwith Camel
's
"Hello, Hello"
or the swinging and jazzy
New Vaudeville Band
novelty
hit
"Winchester Cathedral."
The other sides of
' sonic spectrum are examined on the mid-tempo
ballad
"Lovetime"
and the conversely heavy and
garage
-influenced
"Golden Clouds"
as well as the decidedly funkier
"Slide,"
which includes some propulsive fretwork from
Alexander
. The platter concludes with the cryptically titled
"Prelude in a Flat to Afternoon of a Pud,"
clocking in at a mere 84 seconds. While not entirely dismissible thanks to some truly inspired jamming, the instrumental rave-up seems to be more of an exercise in excess than anything else. Initial pressings of the EP have become eagerly sought after by collectors, as there were less than 2,000 copies in circulation.
Sundazed Music
issued a CD version of the
EP, coupled with ten songs from a set at
the Matrix
in San Francisco circa 1968 on the highly recommended
Supersneakers
(1996). ~ Lindsay Planer