Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Richie Allen and the Pacific Surfers - Surfer's Slide
 | This is the second of two albums from Richie Allen & The Pacific Surfers, one of the many studio sessions of Richard Podolor. His unique style was heard on session by everyone from Sandy Nelson to the Chocolate Watchband. Richie was also the guitarist behind the Devons, the Super Stocks, and most of the Hondells studio sessions |
Picks: Surfers Slide, Sunday Surfer, The Lonely Surfer, Ridin' The Woodie, Swing Low (Sweet Chariot), Surfers Hop, A Touch Of Blue, Malibu Run, Surf Man, Comin' Back To You, Undercurrent, Tidal Wave
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
A surf film style instro, great to drive to... light and airy and happy. Cool plucky piano. Also released as "Not So Quiet." Great to drive to.
Mandolin Surf (Instrumental)
Homer and Jethro light, with mandolin and surf band and a chorus. Also known as "Sunday Picnic."
The Lonely Surfer Surf Lite (Instrumental)
"The Lonely Surfer" is a Sunday drive kinda song with tremolo and shimmering tone, coupled with plinky piano and a light rock beat. Also released as "Lonely Guitarist."
Indian Surf (Instrumental)
An Indian tune, heavy on the tom-toms. A great melody line is played over a whammied series of notes a la the usual "Peter Gunn" intro or "Church Key." It's a very cool track that was also issued as "Redskin."
Swing Low (Sweet Chariot) Gospel Surf (Instrumental)
Rich tremolo shimmer somehow makes it alright that "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" gets included here. It's unusual, but certainly not special.
Hoe-down Surf (Instrumental)
Can you spell hoe-down? A Virginia reel with a vibrato lead, like Buck Owens on a surf board. Thoroughly infectious and way cool! Makes you wanna wear checkered shirts and kerchiefs!
Pretty Surf (Instrumental)
"A Touch Of Blue" is a very pretty and sad slow dance number with a romantic flow. On the unusual side, and pretty low energy. The chords are island gorgeous.
Studio Surf (Instrumental)
Similar to "The Lonely Surfer," but with low notes and a sax. A studio structured tune. "Malibu Run" was also issued as "Room 304."
Ominous Surf (Instrumental)
Also known as "Cave Man" on a pre-surf single, Richie Podolor does it yet again. Heard within the confines of this song are the base elements for several other Podolor tunes. He often wrote pieces with enough things happening that subsections or runs could be morphed into whole new songs with yet more little foundation lines. Amazing writer.
Never On Sunday Surf (Instrumental)
A "Never On Sunday" approach to surf, light and plucky. Lovely tone in a very poppy setting, not unlike the lighter side of the Sandals.
Link Wray Surf (Instrumental)
Based on Link Wray's "Rumble," it's slower, vibrato laden, and ominous in a shimmering tremolo kinda way.
Swell Surf (Instrumental)
Based on Henry Mancini's "Peter Gunn," "Ground Swell" is an ominous low-E and sax track. Quite derivative, but cool. "Tidal Wave" is "Ground Swell" remixed.