I have been absolutely enchanted by the music these guys made. Their albums are uneven, but the good stuff is exceptionally good. I’ve been obsessed for months. Particularly as they got a little further into their career (further away from folk rock), the quality of the music got so much better. “Happy Together” is the least of it. I think these guys are brilliant. The Flo & Eddie albums are better still, even sublime. I can theorize why they were never a big act, but it’s a terrible shame because they had the songs, the performances, and it was perfect seventies rock. And of course, it didn’t help that the Turtles got screwed by White Whale. If only they had that one perfect album, their own Odyssey & Oracle, then the Turtles would have an entry point for for a deeper dive beyond the hits. My playlist on Spotify of “30 Turtles Songs” contains around 70 songs because I keep finding more that I like. 30 Turtles Songs, a playlist by mrdave236 on Spotify
I'll have to check it out. I read about it a little. It seems like the sort of the thing, among others, that guaranteed Flo & Eddie a cult following, and no more.
One question I've had about Flo and Eddie for a long time...how did they hook up with Marc Bolan and T. Rex and become his back up singers? They really added a lot to those great T. Rex records back in the 70s. I definitely agree that the Turtles are one of the great and underrated bands.
The Turtles might not have an Odessey and Oracle but Turtle Soup and Battle of the Bands are pretty darned close. I've turned a lot of people on to the band through those two records. Battle of the Bands especially.
Battle of the Bands was the one that did it for me also, way back in 1985. One of my favorite Turtles tracks is "Grim Reaper of Love", I first heard it just a few years ago on the "Nuggets: Los Angeles" CD.
Todd Rundgren. He produced the album, play vibes on Love My Way and brought Flo and Eddie in. Todd was the Zelig of pop music.
Great to see this thread. In the past I followed Flo and Eddie very closely. I've always enjoyed the "Flo and Eddie " albums/CD's. And can completely agree that they are a bit uneven. But most of their "serious" songs I could listen to over and over. In fact a month ago came across "The Best Of Flo and Eddie" (Rhino 1987 CD) and bought it. Even though I could have made my own CD from the releases I have. Thought it would be nice to have in the car. My favorite songs are their "road/musician" songs. Songs like Keep it Warm, Mama (Open up), Just Another Town, and Another Pop Stars Life. They ended up on several albums, singing background, becuase they were great and sort of became the "flavor of the year" so to speak. Not sure just how they fell into some of those recording. Would be interesting to know. As far as the Turtles go I was mainly familiar with their hits. And enjoyed them as well, just don't know their stuff in great detail.
how many members of the original band are still around. are mark and howard on speaking terms with them. would be nice to see that band playing together again
If they play anymore, I doubt they would bother to go back to the original band. They just like doing stuff together as a duo, making jokes, etc. Actually, that was prime Flo & Eddie. As of the past couple of decades, they mostly tour as "The Turtles" as part of oldies tours and just play the hits, straight. Which is sad.
All of the Turtles studio albums are good to great. The first two F&L albums are pretty solid as well.
The first two F&E records are really good. The next two, on Columbia, have their charms. The reggae album...well, I just pretend it doesn't exist even if I do have it.
They are worth more than that. The last couple times I saw them, they didn't even do "You Showed Me," let alone something like "Outside Chance."
I also love the Frank Zappa albums that Flo & Eddie are involved with.........but I'm somewhat in a minority in that opinion.
Their 1965-66 stuff I think were just as great. This song was probably recorded during that era but didn't get released till 1969 on Wooden Head. Don't know why it was held back.