The Flock would go on to record other ace songs, but what is arguably the band’s finest moment comes on side 1, track 1 of album No. 1 — the instrumental duet “Introduction.”
A collision of psychedelic rock and classical music, the number features the band’s most dramatic player, the violinist Jerry Goodman. At five minutes long, it’s an intricate and ultimately aggressive piece of music held together by the flowing guitar work of bandleader Fred Glickstein.
“Introduction” goes from a whisper to a scream, with passages both conventional and savage. The hard rock comes into play only at the end, as the seven-member Flock emerges only to play one crushing final chord.
Like their hometown contemporaries Chicago Transit Authority, the Flock relied heavily on electric guitar and horns. But the sound took a wicked quantum leap thanks to Goodman, a conservatory-trained violinist who had been the band’s guitar tech. (Perhaps the apt comparison here is with Al Kooper’s first version of Blood, Sweat and Tears, another ambitious brass band fond of psychedelic-influenced experimentation.)
What made the Flock interesting — radical dynamics, flirtations with audio anarchy, oddball lyrics and high-pitched vocals — also seemed to doom any hopes of rock stardom. Theirs was head music, influenced as much by “Bitches Brew” as “Revolver.” (CTA, meanwhile, became the hugely successful Chicago after ditching any hippie influences.)
“The Flock” (1969) released by Columbia, contains only six songs, thanks to the inclusion of a 15-minute blues workout.
Bluesmaster John Mayall wrote the album liner notes after catching the band at Aaron Russo’s Kinetic Playground in Chicago (think Fillmore Midwest).
“I got close to going berserk over their prodigious and varied musical talent,” Mayall said. “(It’s) an exciting new direction in contemporary music, a subtle fusion of sounds drawn from the bedrock of blues, jazz, gospel, rock, country and many other sources.” (Mayall later used a violinist in his jazz-rock fusion band.)
Back to the album. “Introduction” runs directly into “Clown,” another of the band’s best songs sung by Glickstein.
At almost 8 minutes, “Clown” plays like a Chicago Transit Authority-style rocker until just past the 2-minute mark, when Goodman cranks through a violin solo, embossed by Jerry Smith’s insistent bass work. After that, we’re in for an extended some psychedelic/prog variations with a wisp of raga. The band sounds lost at some point, like they’re tuning up on acid. A sax solo helicopters in from afar. With a minute to spare, the band returns to the safety of rock. The label didn’t hear a single.
Distant ethereal vocals announce the arrival of “I Am the Tall Tree.” Pastoral violin and perhaps flute.
The lyrics paint curious images:
Brown sugar lips through the naked eye
Blimp floating high on an aqua sky
Ride the slide narrow to wide
As deep as creation’s infinity
Indeed. There’s still time for one of those Flock 180s, as singers cry in alarm, “The rushes are coming, the rushes are coming.” Zappa meets Gilbert & Sullivan.
The next two numbers feature fine vocals and guitar work from Fred Glickstein. After some startling scratching by Goodman, we’re into fuzz guitar and a rousing cover of the Kinks’ “Tired of Waiting on You.”
“Store Bought Store Thought” — a fan favorite — charges in as another straight-up rock song, albeit with twinkly King Crimson-like interlude. The lyrics go sci-fi:
Robot, robot, arms and legs
Teeth, bones, hair, it’s all there
Robot, robot, arms and legs
Battery’s dead, head’s dead.
(Mechanical man, mechanical man!)
“Truth” seems a typical ’60s white boy blues, until we hear the violin take the lead in place of electric guitar. Terrific for a while. Lengthy blues jams were common enough in those days; this one provides one of the band’s rare nods to hipster conventions.
The debut album proved to be the Flock’s finest hour, by far. Followup “Dinosaur Swamps” (1970) had its moments, but the band collapsed in its wake.
“The Flock” appears to be out of print, after a CD release in 1996. “The Flock” album was combined with “Dinosaur Swamps” on a bargain CD. There exists a best of the Flock album with decent sound.
Jerry Goodman moved on to John McLaughlin’s fiery Mahavishnu Orchestra and toured with the rock-jazz fusionists Dixie Dreggs, both all-instrumental bands. He released a trio of solo albums in the 1980s and continued to work into the new century.
Over the years, Glickstein gathered the Flock in a couple of forms, touring and squeezing out one lightly regarded studio album in 1975. Note: The Flock discussed in this review is technically the second edition of the band, the first releasing some pop singles from 1966-68.
Here’s an outstanding, high-quality video of Goodman and Glickstein playing “Introduction”:
My band, “The Knight Raiders” opened for the Flock back in the 60’s, and they were such a good hard rocking band with the touch of the violin and playing two saxes at once! Such an enjoyable experience!
I am hard looking for a track of a Flock Album. Can remenber it was a multtracked Violin giving the impression of downcoming birds or Archeopterix. took abot 5 min .Anybody knows what I mean?
thx , greetings FRED from Germany
my band from 1964: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK-fwrVVP6Q (bass)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWfNnsfE84A (trumpet)
Greetings Fred,
Saw your note about The Flock. I would guarantee the song you are talking about is on their Dinosaur Swamp album. It might be the song Big Bird. I have a digital version of that song if you want to contact me. OUTSTANDING Chicago group. dooblydoo at mail dot com
I’m looking for flock’s lyrics, but i can’t find anything … somebody can help me?
Back in the 60’s radio stations played lots of good music. One evening, I had to drive ten miles to the KFC to get a bucket of chicken for the family. As I rode, TRUTH by the Flock came on. I grooved all the way and when I came out of the Colonel’s it was still on! The next day I sought out and bought that album. Still one of my favorites. And here’s a clue – If you like this album, check out the first album by Dreams. More jazz. No violin. Great brass.
Found a mint copy for 50 cents at Half-Price books…find of the century!
I’m kinda partial to this album, my old roommate helped arrange some of the songs on this album; he also was involved with arrangements for tThe Cry’n Shames’ “Synthesis” album (1969).
I still keep in touch with Fred Glickstein and crossed paths with Jerry Smith, also in 1969, living in an apartment on Chicago’s north side, on Lake Michigan. Rick Mann and i collaborated on a band called “Buckshot” in 1970. The band truly broke ground with this innovative work!
I have a question about the Chicago band Buckshot. Can anyone answer it?
I bought the first album back in 1969 when my local FM 98.3 rock station played Store Bought- Store Thought. It blew my mind as to how they put that song together. The whole album was great! I still have that album and just listened to it again yesterday. Still great after all these years.
Unbelievable 2 minor classic albums i will never ever forget when i first bought their first album self-titled way back in’69 gee it brought back memories followed by Dinosaur Swamps there was something weird and wonderful about their music Store Bought Store Thought for memory Big Bird Green Slice & the title of one of the songs too Hornschmeyer’s Island, and the strange Uranian Circus
Such an unforgettable song and band. The violin has kept me wonderfully haunted all these years. I was vocalist for a rock blues band and had played violin for 2 years in middle school. This album and its a beautiful day were being played on the underground radio stations … made me want to start playing violin again … so here I am at 65 years old checking out pawn shops for a decent fiddle to start taking lessons again.
Thanks for the memories, The Flock.
I have slide pics of flock at some large concerts and trip to england — trying to find band members to give to them. They’re most excellent. The pics from Europe were especially intriguing. If anyone remembers what this famous show was, please let me know.
I’ve always loved Jerry Goodman’s playing. Whether with The Flock, Mahavishnu Orchestra or Jan Hammer Group, his fluid runs, and sheer virtuosity always contributes an additional dimension to the musical soundscape.
also love the 2nd album: dinosaur swamps.
Just looked this up on spotify.
holy crap.
.
thanks.
OMG I heard this playing in a record shop sometime in the early 70s and even though I haven’t heard it since I remember it almost note for note. The way music triggers memory is awesome!