Top 10 Flo & Eddie Songs

Photo: Shelly S., CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Our Top 10 Flo & Eddie songs list looks at the songs that Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan released as the solo Flo & Eddie act. Many classic rock fans are very much aware that Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan were the founding member of the great 1960s band The Turtles. This was a group that celebrated some big-time commercial hits in the 1960s. However, after the band broke up, Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan embarked on a musical career that would involve many musical stops and engagements besides just their solo work as Flo & Eddie. Their first stop was to join up with Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention as the Phlorescent Leech & Eddie.

During their time with Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention, Flo & Eddie would begin releasing their own solo albums. At the same time, they would become much sought after for their incredible vocal harmonies and skills in the recording studio. The two would spend many years working with countless bands and artists and found themselves on hundreds of albums. They worked and recorded with such brilliant artists that crossed so many genres such as Alice Cooper, Stephen Stills, The Psychedelic Furs, Blondie, Jefferson Airplane , The Ramones and many more. One of their most popular studio recordings was when they sang backing vocals for Bruce Springsteen on Springsteen’s first hit single, “Hungry Heart,” from The River album in 1980.

It’s tough to put a Flo & Eddie songs compilation together because they’ve done so many different things throughout their career. Between the songs they composed and recorded with their band The Turtles, the music they did with Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention and all the studio recordings they became involved with, how does one choose just 10 Flo and Eddie songs to present? In order to make it a little bit easier, we decided just to pick songs from the Flo & Eddie solo albums. And even that was difficult because they have released so many great solo records. We tried to mix it up a bit just to showcase the genius of Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan on this top 10 Flo & Eddie songs list.

# 10 – Boogie

We open up our top 10 Flo & Eddie songs list with the live version of the song “Boogie.” This is off Flo & Eddie’s most recent album entitled New York “Times.” The album was released in 2009. We start out with this one because it just defines how much fun Flo & Eddie had in concert. It’s a bit chaotic, rowdy, and based on blues changes. But when you’re listening to this, you know you want to be there too. And isn’t that the point of all of this? The tune “Boogie” originally appeared in Flo & Eddie’s film Down and Dirty Duck.

# 9 – Burn The House

Continuing with our list of top 10 Flo & Eddie songs, we listen to the humorous song entitled “Burn The House.” It’s amazing how sweet a melody they could write as they sang a song about burning down the house. This tune has harmonies to die for and such brilliant chord changes. You wish, at times, it was more of a serious song, but then that would ruin how great this is. You either love this, or you don’t. WE LOVE IT! The song was released on the album entitled The Phlorescent Leech and Eddie. The album was released in 1970. This was Flo & Eddie’s first solo album of original material.

# 8 – Hot

In the number eight spot on our top 10 Flo & Eddie songs list, we present the song entitled “Hot.” The song was released on the album entitled Moving Targets. This was one of the most popular, if not the most popular, Flo & Eddie solo albums. The song “Hot,” has a bit of an early Steely Dan feel. And maybe we hear that because Steely Dan guitarist Jeff Baxter plays on this tune, as well as one-time short-lived Chicago guitarist Donnie Dacus. The Moving Targets album was released in 1976.

# 7 – Let Me Make Love To You

In the number seven position, our top 10 Flo & Eddie songs list is the song entitled “Let Me Make Love To You.” This great Flo & Eddie song reminds us of the material they wrote in The Turtles. The song was released on the album entitled Illegal, Immoral and Fattening. The album was released in 1975. The song featured the legendary drummer Aynsley Dunbar and Flo & Eddie, former Mothers Of Invention bandmate Ian Underwood. The great Leland Sklar who played with Linda Ronstadt and pretty much every band signed to Elektra Records played bass on the song.

# 6 – I Been Born Again

Landing in the number six spot on our top 10 Flo & Eddie songs list, we present the song “I Been Born Again.” There is a very heavy Frank Zappa vibe on this one. The song is defined by a great jazz-rock groove augmented by some excellent horn fills and Frank Zappa-style vibes. But of course the highlight of the song is the suburb vocals by Flo & Eddie that are just captivating in this track. Frank Zappa’s sensational keyboardist Don Preston lays down some great keyboard solos on this one.

# 5 – Cheap

At the halfway point on our top 10 Flo & Eddie songs list is the Flo & Eddie classic cut entitled “Cheap.” The song first appeared in the animated movie entitled Down and Dirty Duck. It was an animated film that starred Flo & Eddie that was inspired by the success of the animated adult film Fritz The Cat. Down and Dirty Duck was released in 1974. The song was recorded with different lyrics in 1975 and released on the Flo & Eddie album Illegal, Immoral and Fattening.

# 4 – Those Guys

At the number four spot on our top 10 Flo & Eddie songs list, we present the song “Those Guys.” You have to love this one. The camp in this is almost overwhelming. The song was released on the album entitled Rock Steady With Flo & Eddie. The album was released in 1981. The entire album was filled with songs in the rocksteady & reggae genres with the humor of Flo & Eddie. It doesn’t get better than this.

# 3 – Elenore

Moving along on our top 10 Flo & Eddie songs list, we turn to a song first released from Flo & Eddie with their band The Turtles in 1968. However, Flo & Eddie recorded a newer version with a lot more energy and speed on their 1976 album Moving Targets. This is such a great version we had to include it on this Flo & Eddie songs list.

# 2 – Feel Older Now

The song “Feel Older Now” was released on Flo & Eddie’s debut solo album The Phlorescent Leech and Eddie. This is just a kicking song that contains all the elements of the music of Flo & Eddie that we love. First and foremost are the sensational vocals that Flo & Eddie always delivered on album after album. The heavy metal camp screams they sing on this one are just perfect. There’s a sort of big time Eleanor style chorus on the track along with some ripping guitar work that just ignites this great rock and roll number from Flo & Eddie.

# 1 – Keep It Warm

We close out our top 10 Flo & Eddie songs list with the classic track “Keep It Warm.” This is just one of the great 70s gems you never get tired of listening too. There’s a bit of a Todd Rundgren feel to the intro, although his producing talents had nothing to do with this song. Add a little Chicago style horns to the music and Flo & Eddie’s ode to the Beatles and Beach Boys within the song and you have almost the perfect rock and roll pop song with it’s dark lyrics, sweet melody and moments of hope at the end. This is one of the really brilliant highlights in the wonderful and brilliant career of Flo & Eddie.