Phil Flowers - Unreleased Speed Label LP MP3
Guzzo
8,611 Posts
A few months ago I posted a picture of an unreleased album on the New York based Speed Label by A group called Phil Flowers and the Flower Shop. Several people asked me to post MP3's from the album and its only now that I've been able to settle into my new apartment and finally get my computer set up for recording. I've had to get both a new mixer and a new computer and I haven't figured out the best way to get them working together properly but I didn't want to keep stalling on putting this album out there for people to hear, so here is the first track from the album (Side A) for you guys to hear, an eight+ minute cover of Bob Dylans "Like A Rolling Stone". Enjoy
Comments
Can't tell from the photo--is there a catalog number?
...which has a four plus minute edit, and a six plus minute edit on the other side.
Flowers was a DC area guy. When I was spinning down there a few months ago, Birdman9 found an early gospel album by Flowers in a thrift.
Funny his name should come up, as I scored a Phil Flowers album in a used store just the other day. It's called Phil Flowers Sings A Tribute (on the Guest Star label), and was accidentally filed under "various artists" because it LOOKS like a compilation (pictures of Johnny Ace, Buddy Holly, and Ritchie Valens are on the cover - Flowers sings one song from each, plus a bunch of originals).
He had another Guest Star album too, I Am The Greatest (no, this wasn't a tribute to Cassius Clay; yes, Flowers at least appears on the cover). Real good straightahead R&B, supposedly recorded live (can't tell, since there's hardly any crowd noise, but it does have "nightclub echo").
Interesting that as much as we've talked about Speed Records on the Strut, I never knew that they recorded any non-Latin acts. Going by that bare-bones cover, you'd almost think this was a vanity-press job.
Yeah, just about every scene that now has a hipster-collector following, he's done at some point: black rock 'n' roll (50's style), black rock (70's style), frat-house R&B, deep southern soul, etc. He'd probably be booked for the Ponderosa Stomp if he were still alive.
Although, interestingly enough, the two Guest Star albums are mainly originals (as far as I can tell). They are right in the "frat-house R&B" thing, as you've noted, but he's not leaning on cover versions like most in that field. (Even though "Carol Lee" from I Am The Greatest! may as well be a ripoff of Cookie & the Cupcakes'"Matilda").
Anybody heard his Dot album, Our Man In Washington? I'll admit to passing this up, many years ago, because it looked so damn cheesy!
The album cover is put together the same way the Folkways covers are done, I am now at work so I can't reference the cover itself or remember if there was anything on the back.
Faux Rills[/b]: there is no catalog number, I remember o-dub having a theory on the album but I don't remember what it was
MannyB[/b] when you're down to talk about it give me a ring (I think you got my number)
I have this LP. There are definitely some decent tracks on it, although
some covers are kind of pointless, like doing songs Otis Redding is known
for in a very Redding-esque style. Still, worth picking up for the originals.
My favorite Flowers release that I own is a 45, "The Cleopatra" on Josie from 1963:
Describes some great dance moves like "now move your head side-to-side like a
cobra snake" ... I played this song at a swing dance/soul night recently and
was rewarded by seeing people actually doing the moves as described in the song!
I'd love to hear more from this Speed LP - I have the "Rolling Stone" single
and was not expecting that to be on there ... MORE PLEASE!
i like the phil flowers lp on dot, if you find it under 20, i'd suggest pick it up. it's not a great album as a whole, but theres some really good tracks, not cheesy.
peace,xavier
But to address a previous question - this LP aside, Speed was a Latin soul label and to the best of my knowledge, there were no other non-Latin releases on it.
Pickwick: The copy Guzzo has, if I'm not mistaken, is a test-pressing or at the very least, a promo, thus explaining its "minimalism."
Hell, with Levy, sure, anything is possible. But the LP never came out so whatever plans Levy had with it, never materialized.
no numbers on label or cover, but
run-in grooves read PF-10A / PF-10B.
I think the copies that are out there are promos so that would explain that. I can't remember if Guzzo's copy is a test pressing or a promo - looks like a promo though, no?
Look closer at that label - to the left of the hole it says "For Promo Only."
I will trade
800927 $1 records for it immediately.Very nice LP.
I also like the "Our Man in Washington" LP. Completely different sound on that one to "Alpha and Omega."
Last year I went to an estate sale in DC of the guy who took the cover photo to "Our Man in Washington." Not only did I find a mint copy of the LP but I also got a few 8x10 photos from the shoot that weren't used for the cover.