Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Collection: The Dog's Bollocks of American R&R Instrumentals Volume 5 - All Night!
 | Volume five sports many more obscuros, but with a smaller portion of "picks" amid the 33 tracks. Still, it is amazing that all five volumes so far can contain so many first time reissued surf obscuros. |
Picks: (Do) The Spy, The Whip, Green Tomatoes, Happy Guitar, Lobo, Harem Bells, The ?, Teen Machine, Return To Me, Turmoil, Moon Guitar, Third Man Theme, Hi Hat, Tchaikovsky Rides Again, Cobknocker, Earthquake, Tiger Paws, Volcano, Take That, Night Creature, Hey, Sorento, Trouble On Main Street, Free Flight, Pine Tree Hop, Money, Black Rock, All Night, Gambler's Guitar, Can't Face The Crowd, Moonshine, Cashing In, Moon In The Afternoon, Nervous Boogie
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
A round about melody riff, some glissandoes, big surf twang, and a jammy break. Rumbles and grumbles and grooves in the tube. This sounds like the Lancers who did that raw version of "Baja."
Rock (Instrumental)
This ranting track fires with all barrels, double picks the guitar at times, and pounds the drums. It's not surf, but the energy is certainly in the pocket, and the twin saxes reminds me of the Crossfires... just a little less chunky.
Rock (Instrumental)
Born of Booker T. and the MG's' "Green Onions," this is less interesting and pretty murky. Whirly organ like in the Wailers' "Mashi" and heavily echoed guitar.
Near Surf Country (Instrumental)
This country instro reminds me of Buck Owens, but uses tone from a later period. The bridge riff is the Big Ben bells, and the rhythm is totally infectious. Fun track.
Near Surf (Instrumental)
The melody line here is less Mexican and more middle eastern. The rhythm track is subdued, and the lead edgy and almost surfy. This has the aural quality of some Mexican singles of the mid sixties, but is not played like those.
Surf (Instrumental)
Damped and well reverbed guitar plucking out a very cool pattern. It's not melodic, but the idea is splendid. I think this is a cover, but I can't quite place the original, though it sounds like a late 30's-early 40's big band number. Plucked all the way through, it's quite different.
Surf (Instrumental)
Slow moody raw surf. "The ?" is nicely varied verse to verse, and very cool too. "The ?" is from who the hell knows where? Groovy.
Rock (Instrumental)
Speaking of the Gamblers, this is a follow-on to 1961's "Moon Dawg" c/w "LSD-25." The drummer on this session is Mel Taylor just before he joined the Ventures. It's a cheesy organ dominated piece, not even remotely similar to "Moon Dawg" in style. The lead guitar employs a pretty intense tone for 1961.
Surf (Instrumental)
Nearly MOR, this melodic almost European instro is smooth, but pretty unremarkable. It seems aimed squarely at the average radio listener of the day, and not at all a real rocker.
Rock (Instrumental)
This is a 1965 single with a post surf feel, low-E guitar, slight reverb, and go-go drums. The riff is serviceable, and the band is loose to say the least. Still, it's like stepping into a garage in a San Jose suburb.
Moon Guitar MOR (Instrumental)
European polished guitar and almost violin-plucked accompaniment in a very light weight and frothy sounding arrangement. As close to MOR as you can get without being MOR, or maybe it is.
Third Man Theme Rock (Instrumental)
The often covered "Third Man Theme" (in MOR circles, anyway) finds a tweaky new lean on life. It's unusual, but not particularly interesting.
Hi Hat Surf (Instrumental)
Heavy surf guitar, hi hat and kick drum Peter Gunning, and a moderate riff over a walking bass line. It really doesn't have a direction - more of a jam.
Near Surf (Instrumental)
The marvelous Titans give us their reinterpretation of a classic Tchaikovsky melody. Much less interesting than most of their instros, yet stands up very well among their peers.
Cobknocker Near Surf (Instrumental)
Slightly reverbed damped pluckery, with a moderate progression repeated too often against a carnival backtrack. Unusual, maybe even a little Mexican flavored, but lacking staying power.
Surf (Instrumental)
This surf tune is very close to the Treasures' "Minor Chaos" right down to the rolling thunder drums and riff. It's just missing the break. The slight variations and the completely different break set it apart. very echoey, but effective and way fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
Soft surf reverb guitar, brushed drums, and a very suave riff. This is alluring to a fault, and very catchy. It's primitive, but very cool.
Near Surf (Instrumental)
Dry rhythm progression stuff with choked guitar and honkin' sax. Only the gimmick from the guitar keeps this from being anything more than a riff rocker.
Surf (Instrumental)
It starts out like it's going to become real catchy, and it almost makes it. Unfortunately, it never advances beyond the jam stage.
Surf (Instrumental)
Rhythmic and shimmering with surfable vibrato, "Night Creature" is catchy and fun. It's shuffle beat and the occasional screams make nice with the lead guitar.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a surf cover of "Sorento," which is often called "Sea and Shore." Just moderately interesting, though the ultra high guitar in the bridge is pretty cool.
Near Surf (Instrumental)
This near surf instro romps and rocks with spirit and an infectious countrified beat. Almost melodic, yet guitar hero jammy at times. Cool whammy and a rolling highway feel.
Sub Psychedelic Post Surf (Instrumental)
Post surf guitar, effected and cowboy cool, plays a cactus melody that works well on the open highway. The melody riff is simple but well crafted and delivered.
Rock (Instrumental)
Cowboys and rhythms, guitars and sax, and a rockin' early sixties beat. Lots of energy, and a kinda Texas feel.
Surf (Instrumental)
Rough hewn and just Barrett Strong's "Money" repeated too many time, though the flying surf guitar break is pretty fun.
Near Surf (Instrumental)
This guitar riff has been used to death, and the jammin' bridges are mindless, even if well done. Seems to me to be a between songs stage flash exercise. Still, it has so much flash and flair that it survives the test of time.
Surf (Instrumental)
Echoed guitar and a very cool riff that could be surfed up pretty easily. This sounds like it's early sixties, and almost surf. Infectious and interesting.
Country (Instrumental)
This infectious walking country instro is bouncy and fun, with a train time feel. The shimmer of the lead guitar is rich and cowboy cool.
Can't Face The Crowd MOR (Instrumental)
Big chambered tom toms and plucky guitar under a saucy sax... makes for an MOR cocktail for the older set.
Country (Instrumental)
Country twang and still raidin' boogie. Way fun, but a long way from original or significant. The fiddles and piano are very cool!
Country Near Surf (Instrumental)
Vibrato guitar, nearly surf in sound, drives this moderate tempo piece. Melodic and very surfable.
Twang (Instrumental)
Echoed guitar and a warm melody line. This was also done by Bruno and the Gladiators I think. Kinda chumpy.
Nervous Boogie Country (Instrumental)
This country rock boogie features piano and rockabilly drums. It bounces along, but has no destination.