What you're holding is nothing less than a remarkable historical document. Coming off a number two record in Reading, PA ("I Need Love Now"), the group was booked to play a WXAC record hop on February 16, 1968. For the event, engineer Clay Barclay masterminded a novel idea. Prior to the show, the Flowerz spent one long, 18-hour day at Barclay's Shillington recording facility. There they printed to tape high-octane versions of highlights from their live set.
During the performance, not only was Flowerz' on-stage sound amplified, but the musicians played [mostly] in sync with the pre-recorded tape which was also pumped out through the PA system. Barclay's rationale was that this ingenious concept would result in twice the energy and excitement. And from all reports, it succeeded big time!
Despite a few technical issues (like the band not always recalling what the next cued track on the tape was), the Flowerz plowed through song after song with confidence. Between cuts, the school's own disc jockeys emceed the event. Fortunately, most of their entertaining dialogue was captured for posterity.
On this CD are those pre-recorded studio tracks (the composite live sound wasn't recorded) along with the playful on-stage banter. For anyone who wishes to relive an authentic '60s teen dance, this artifact is the Holy Grail.
With talent, tight musicianship and team spirit on their side, the mighty Flowerz run circles around your prototypical teenage rock and roll combo. Aside from their way cool originals, the band lashes out rippin' versions of the rock hits of the day (a prerequisite of bands from that era). As you'll hear for yourself, many of these remakes give the "hits" a run for their money. Sure, the Flowerz were fertilized by a hearty appetite of Stones, Animals, and Byrds records-but managed to blossom with their own patented kick-butt sound.
Prejudice aside (yes, I run the label), singer Jeff Stout is unquestionably in the same league as top shelf '60s punkmeisters that include the Chocolate Watch Band's Dave Aguilar and the Electras' Tim Elfving (lest we forget Starlite and Barclay recording artist Steve Musser, who not only is known to '60s aficionados for his snarling vocal on the apocalyptic "I Can't See You," but also produced both Flowerz killer singles).
Musically speaking, these 22 Flowerz tracks (most of which have never been circulated) are as exciting as the genre gets. The band's chemistry adds up to something really special. Mike Leece and Barry Tucci's harmonious guitar counterpoint, Larry Skillman's grounded bass lines, Bill Sheffer's atmospheric organ parts and Jim Leinbach's rock solid drumming all add up to one heck of a great band. By nudging the established song tempos into overdrive (their secret weapon), you have the formula for a '60s garage-a-holic's wet dream.
Roll over Mick Jagger. Eat your heart out Eric Burdon. I hear the Flowerz are coming up strong and looking for a fight. Or was that Flyte...
by Erik Lindgren, February, 1998
Tracks
1. I Need Love Now (Mike Leece, Steve Musser) - 2:53
2. Talkin' About Love (Barry Tucci) - 2:43
3. Flyte (Barry Tucci, Steve Musser) - 2:17
4. Ups And Downs (Mark Lindsay, Terry Melcher) - 2:13
5. Hey Joe (Billy Roberts) - 2:40
6. Under My Thumb (Keith Richards, Mick Jagger) - 2:24
7. It's My Life (Carl D'Errico, Roger Atkins) - 2:51
8. Come On Down To My Boat (Jerry Goldstein, Wes Farrell) - 2:16
9. Let's Spend The Night Together (Keith Richards, Mick Jagger) - 3:15
10.Heart Of Stone (Keith Richards, Mick Jagger) - 3:12
11.Gimme Some Lovin' (Muff Winwood, Spencer Davis, Steve Winwood) - 2:44
12.Bend Me Shape Me (Larry Weiss, Scott English) - 2:19
13.Light My Fire (Jim Morrison, John Densmore, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger) - 2:29
14.Wonderland By Night (Klaus Günter Neumann, Lincoln Chase) - 3:32
15.My Sad Story (Barry Tucci) - 2:08
16.All Day And All Of The Night (Ray Davies) - 2:13
17.Do You Believe In Magic (John Sebastian) - 1:58
18.Rumble (Fred Lincoln Wray, Sr., Milton Grant) - 2:47
19.He Was A Friend Of Mine (Roger McGuinn) - 2:10
20.Little Latin Lupe Lu (Bill Medley) - 2:41
21.WXAC Concert Report - 1:32
22.Saturday Morning (Barry Tucci) - 2:30
The Flowerz
*Barry Tucci - Guitar, Vocals
*Bill Sheffer - Keyboards, Vocals
*Jeff Stout - Percussion, Vocals
*Jim Leinbach - Drums, Vocals
*Larry Skillman - Bass, Vocals
*Mike Leece - Guitar, Vocals