Groovies Greatest Grooves

At all points in their career the Flamin’ Groovies took perverse pride in their distinctively anachronistic brand of music. At a time when their San Francisco compatriots were fusing folk and country music with psychedelic experimentation, the Groovies traded in lovingly constructed approximations of ‘50s rock and roll, proudly bashing out covers by then passé artists like Chuck Berry and Slim Harpo. By the time The Rolling Stones finally resuscitated the Groovies style of Rock & Roll revivalism with their triptych of early seventies roots rock masterpieces, the Groovies had all ready moved on to the mannered, minor chord power-pop of “Shake Some Action” and “Jumpin’ In the Night.”Groovies Greatest Grooves, does a neat job of gathering together the best work of this once overlooked outfit. The high-octane rock of their earliest incarnation still sounds ferocious, while the shimmering pop perfection of “Slow Death,” “You Tore Me Down,” and “Don’t Lie To Me” has influenced countless modern indie acts. More consistent than any of their often patchy full lengths, Groovies Greatest Grooves provides an unbroken string of rock and roll delights.