Weekend Reissue Roundup

This week's new reissue picks (label, release date, 1-5 stars):

The Flamin' Groovies: Jumpin' In The Night (DBK, April 12, 2005) ***

Rusted Root: 20th Century Masters: The Best Of Rusted Root (Mercury, April 12, 2005) ***

Charalambides: Our Bed Is Green (Kranky, April 19, 2005) ****

The Swallows: The Very Best Of The Swallows (Collectables, April 12, 2005) ***

     

This week's reissues include a once hard-to-find late-70's Flamin' Groovies album, a remaster of the only best-of available for Rusted Root, low-fi space rock from Houston-based Charalambides, and nearly forgotten pre-rock R&B/doo-wop outfit the Swallows.

The Flamin' Groovies: Jumpin' In The Night

This 1979 album, originally released on Sire records, was the Groovies' second to emerge following their 1976 breakthrough "Shake Some Action". Following that hit, the San Francisco band relocated to England and released two British Invasion style albums full of cover versions and similar sounding originals. While this one is an enjoyable enough album, it was considered a disappointment when it came out, very much seeming like an inferior retread of the previous album, The Flamin' Groovies Now! That said, there are some interesting and offbeat songs here, including the originals "Yes I Am" and the title track, plus the Byrds' "5D", David Crosby's "Lady Friend" and Warren Zevon's "Werewolves Of London" (which replaced a cover of "19th Nervous Breakdown" on the American edition). The album itself flopped, and the band was dropped from Sire. This reissue doesn't include "19th Nervous Breakdown" which would have been a welcome bonus cut.

Rusted Root: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Rusted Root [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Jam-band Rusted Root has officially been around long enough to hit the budget bins; and Mercury's budget-priced collection is the first anthology available for this band. Originally released in 2002, this remaster has better sound. It is a serviceable collection, although it only contains one song from their best album, Remember. Otherwise, most of their familiar songs are here, including "Ecstasy" "Send Me On My Way" and "Welcome To My Party". Also included is their cover of Santana's "Evil Ways" from the film Home For The Holidays. Their original albums are more cohesive than this one, but for those who just want an overview, this will do the job. And, the price is right; might be a good rest stop purchase on long road trips.

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