Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Collection: Del-Fi Pool Party
 | This is a funny compilation, somehow quite reflective of the true Bob Keene as I perceive him to be. It sports 10 instros of varying quality, and five vocals. The Preston Epps track has so much vocal work, it is really hard to treat it as an instro. It's also not very interesting. The Bruce Johntson vocal track is, as you might expect from it's tile "Soupy Shuffle Stomp", a tribute to Soupy Sales, in Bruce's "Surfers Stomp" mold. The Enchanters' "Come On Let's Go" is like the Kingston Trio trying to be cool. Quite odd. "Mystery Artist" is so called because the tape reel was unlabeled and memories drew a blank. It's an attempt at a Paul Peterson kinda hit single. Jack Herbst's "Jimmy's Party" is actually a pretty fine pop single, the sort of thing that only missed "hit" status because no one bought it... well maybe because no DJ played it. It is that sort well crafted little single that the party teenybopper girls used to buy. A party disc for the next frat bash. |
Picks: High Dive, Wild Twist, La Bamba, The Goose - Part 1, Here Comes Ringo, Willie and the Hand Jive, Moon Shot, Mack The Knife, Hard Way Four, Swim Beat
Track by Track Review
High Dive Riff (Instrumental)
This typifies riff rock - a simple progression played over and over. The "Topsy Part Two" drum break is cool, but otherwise this is backtrack waiting for a vocal or melody or something.
Wild Twist Organ Riff (Instrumental)
A go-go jam, with no redeeming qualities, unless your looking for that perfect frat party record that no one will listen to while they shout to be heard in their meaningless verbal exchanges in search of the next lay.
Studio Fun (Instrumental)
With that Richie Valens bass sound, and rhythmically infectious drive, this is a fun track. It has no relationship to surf, but it is quite playful, in that shallow Hollywood studio session way. This will find a happy home at parties for the anesthetized. It seems to me to be one of those little nothing releases that still finds a way into your shoes, thus hiding from site while haunting your thoughts. Pure fun.
Piano Plink (Instrumental)
A slightly reverbed damped rhythm guitar under a rolling piano jam does not constitute an interesting song. It's gentle enough and pleasant, just of no consequence.
Piano Plink (Instrumental)
A basic British R&B progression and harmonica, with screaming girl crowd sounds overdubbed. No melody, but fun in a quaint way.
Diddley Bo (Instrumental)
Johnny Otis used the Bo Diddley beat for his hit. The Moongooners take that song, and do a slightly surfy version with sax replacing the vocals. It's quite a tribal thing, with lots of screams and shouts, and an infectious sound. Fun.
Articulated Studio (Instrumental)
This is the backtrack to "Soupy Shuffle Stomp." It's main value is the clarity of that great distorted keyboard Bruce Johnston employed so well. It's a jam, a party disc, and quite fun.
Pseudo Rock (Instrumental)
Studio bachelor pad pseudo rock... like Bobby Darin pumped up. This actually rocks pretty solid in a party fun way. I wanted to hate this, but found I liked it. It is infectious and fun.
Dance Party Theme (Instrumental)
This is an R&B single, a party jive, with noodly guitar work and rhythm plus. The shallow wah wah on the damped rhythm guitar chops dates it. It's a TV "Dance Party" theme kinda track. Pumped energy, but no melody. Sounds like it's from vinyl.
Dance Party Theme (Instrumental)
Well documented drum dominated backtrack sorta thing with lots of energy and crisp drums, and just too much fun to pass up. It's an all too familiar rock riff from James Brown's "Night Train."