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The Flamin' Groovies - Shake Some Action (1976)

Track listing:
  1. Shake Some Action 4:34
  2. Sometimes 2:21
  3. Yes It's True 2:31
  4. St. Louis Blues 2:39
  5. You Tore Me Down 2:50
  6. Please Please Girl 2:03
  7. Let The Boy Rock N' Roll 2:18
  8. Don't You Lie To Me 2:29
  9. She Said Yeah 1:38
  10. I'll Cry Alone 2:16
  11. Misery 1:39
  12. I Saw Her 2:42
  13. Teenage Confidential 2:47
  14. I Can't Hide 3:14

Notes

The Groovies disappeared into the wilds of Europe after Teenage Head, which barely earned them a cult following over here. They went through a few personnel changes, honed their sound to an even finer point, and developed a few more musical smarts. Then came Shake Some Action, the debut of the Flamin' Groovies' Mark II, where they rocked out British-style for most of it (while still acknowledging their American roots), only louder and more passionately than any British Invasion band had played since 1964. The sound was a complete anachronism in the mid-'70s, but it got them noticed and earned them a cult following. The guitar sound is straight 1964 Beatles (a la "Not a Second Time") alternating with Kinks material of the same era, the vocals are the plaintive wailing of lovesick young rock gods, and the effect is stunning even 20 years on. Maybe the greatest British Invasion album since 1964. Reissued by Australia's AIM Records on CD, and well worth tracking down as an import.