The Flock
Forming in late-'60s Chicago, the Flock forever languished in the shadow of the Chicago Transit Authority (later famous as just plain Chicago), whose peculiar approach to art rock -- incorporating horns and other unorthodox instrumentation into rock and jazz forms -- they also pursued. But though they clearly lacked Chicago's smash-hit-penning abilities, the Flock possessed a secret weapon in masterful violinist Jerry Goodman, and their genre-smashing compositions were often even more extreme, if not exactly Top 40 material.
Rick Canoff (vocals, saxophone) and Fred Glickstein (vocals, guitar, organ) were already performing in a garage band called the Exclusives in 1965 when they decided to rename themselves the Flock. The duo recorded a number of independent singles with various backing musicians over the next few years, but it wasn't until they discovered that their guitar tech, one Jerry Goodman, also happened to be a virtuoso violinist and invited him into the fold that the Flock's sound truly began to take shape. By 1969, the septet was completed by Jerry Smith (bass), Ron Karpman (drums), John Gerber (sax, flute, banjo), and Tom Webb (sax, flute), and had scored a deal with Columbia Records, for whom they recorded their groundbreaking eponymous debut that same year. But, not even enthusiastic endorsements from some of the era's most respected musicians (including English blues legend John Mayall, who famously dubbed them the "best American band" he'd heard and wrote the album's liner notes) could help sell the Flock's complicated music, which simply proved too unusual and inaccessible for most consumers. The band continued to plug along on the live circuit, including a stint at the prestigious 1970 Bath Festival (where they performed before a then-skyrocketing Led Zeppelin), but their label, Columbia, was already beginning to lose faith. Complicating matters further, 1971's Dinosaur Swamps proved a disappointing second effort, falling well short of its predecessor's inspirational flights; it is perhaps best-remembered for its beautiful cover artwork, rather than the songs contained within. A third LP, reportedly to be called "Flock Rock," was summarily shelved uncompleted, and the Flock had fallen apart by 1972. Violinist Goodman later worked with the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Dixie Dregs, among others, but except for a brief, disastrous reunion which yielded 1975's ill-received Inside Out album, the remaining members of the Flock soon faded into rock & roll obscurity.
© Eduardo Rivadavia /TiVo
Discography
20 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Truth - The Columbia Recordings 1969-1970
Progressive Rock - Released by Octave Records on Dec. 15, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Flock (Expanded Edition)
Rock - Released by Columbia - Legacy on Aug. 6, 1969
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dinosaur Swamps (Expanded Edition)
Rock - Released by Columbia - Legacy on Sep. 9, 1970
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Heaven Bound - The Lost Album
Progressive Rock - Released by Purple Pyramid Records on Jul. 22, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live in Europe
Rock - Released by Purple Pyramid Records on Jun. 1, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hooked On Gospel - Non-Stop Inspirational Hits
Gospel - Released by Planet Blue Records USA on Jan. 1, 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Magical Wings / What Would You Do If the Sun Died?
Rock - Released by Usa Records on Aug. 8, 1968
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Live In Concert 1969-1970 (Live)
Rock - Released by timeline on Apr. 8, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Flock Live 1969-70
Rock - Released by timeline on Apr. 29, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Can't You See (That I Really Love Her) / Hold on to My Mind
Rock - Released by Destination Records on Apr. 29, 1966
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
I Like You / Are You the Kind
Rock - Released by Destination Records on Mar. 30, 1966
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Take Me Back / Each Day is a Lonely Night
Rock - Released by Destination Records on Apr. 23, 1967
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
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Gadis party
Alternative & Indie - Released by Flock record on Jul. 4, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Welcome to My Life
Rock - Released by Creekling Records on Feb. 28, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Given the Reasons
Rock - Released by Creekling Records on Oct. 26, 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Say What You Like
Rock - Released by Creekling Records on Aug. 30, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hooked On Gospel - Non-Stop Inspirational Hits
Pop - Released by The Music Factory on Jan. 1, 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo