Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Pavlov's Woody - Instrumentality
 | The Pavlov Institute Of Reverb Therapy presents Pavlov's Woody covering many traditional tunes with just enough individuality to keep them fresh. While a disc of covers can be a turnoff to some, when a band personalizes each track like this, giving it a new face while retaining the original kernel, it can be a rewarding adventure. |
Picks: Lumpy Gravy, White Water, Ramrod, Mr. Moto, Banzai Pipeline, Switchblade, El Conquistador, Guitarget, Peter Gunn, Paradise Cove, Surf Odyssey, Goofy Foot, Soul Surfer, Surface Tension, Scratch, Ace Of Spades, Pipeline, Nebulizer, Extremely Lumpy Gravy, Soul Surfin', Surf Rider, Pintor, Surfing Drums
Track by Track Review
Zappa Surf (Instrumental)
Frank Zappa's "Lumpy Gravy" is probably as trad as it gets. Double picked, with organ underneath, and lots of grins. Melodic and very playful. This is really fine!
Surf (Instrumental)
Dave Myers and the Surftones' "White Water" is morphed a little, retaining basic idea, but with changes to the intro and fast double picking in the main body. Faster by quite a bit than the original, it takes on a more modern and manic feel. Quite cool.
Rock (Instrumental)
Al Casey's "Ramrod" is trashed and fuzzed and sped up. Racing energy abounds and cool piano lines make it sing.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Belairs' "Mr. Moto" has been done to death. This is a competent take with interesting variations in the drums, the break, and the piano.
Surf (Instrumental)
Pavlov's Woody take Henry Mancini's "Banzai Pipeline" and smooth it out some, which is kinda strange for a song that depends on its stop-start structure. It works well, and the jammin' break is cool too. Very nice take, especially the piano.
Surf (Instrumental)
Big thick and thrashy, this Link Wray monster is made more interesting with great piano and intense guitar work. Like a never ending crescendo at the end of a set, you're completely worn out after just one listen.
Surf (Instrumental)
A fast version of the Chantays' "El Conquistador" is piano drenched and way cool. Lots of spunk.
Surf (Instrumental)
Lively Ones' "Guitarget" gets a traditional treatment, with a less splashy sound and lots of reverence.
Surf (Instrumental)
Lots of surf bands have covered Henry Mancini's "Peter Gunn" to varying degrees of success. This is not in the Dick Dale style, but rather in a reverent arrangement with gusto and whammy, and a great piano break. Very cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
This arrangement of the Surfmen's classic "Paradise Cove" changes from a tribal lament to a slow island flavored floater, a very nice change that renders it anew.
Surf (Instrumental)
Thick vibrato laden backtrack under a dribbling surf lead guitar. This gets to be very attractive in a playful way before it's done.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Lively Ones' "Goofy Foot" a.k.a. "Surf Battle" is traditionally done, with less fire than the hit, but plenty of flair and a screaming lead. The rearrangement affectively changes the focus while retaining the classic feel.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a slightly sped up version of Johnny Fortune's "Soul Surfer." More in a trad surf style than the original, it splashes and rings out in real surf style. Quite nice.
Surf (Instrumental)
Throbbing vibrato and softer lead tones delivery tasteful melody line. An excellent original from Don Simpson, with cool piano and a nifty hook. A very nice track.
Surf (Instrumental)
Nokie Edwards and Gene Moles developed this fine surf tune. Maybe closer to the Lively Ones than Moles' original, and with the fire of the Eddie and the Showmen screamer, this version is pure vintage surf.
Rock (Instrumental)
A throbbing vibrato rendering of the minimal classic Link Wray and his Raymen tune. Very respectful.
Surf (Instrumental)
Pavlov's Woody cover the Chantays' "Pipeline" with love and respect. The piano is great to hear, and the dry damped guitars make it interesting as well.
Surf (Instrumental)
Don Simpson's silky "Nebulizer" flows gently from a distant corner of space. The theremin or warbly keyboard adds a sci-fi feel to an otherwise very pretty lagoon kinda tune.
Surf (Instrumental)
Tweaked and futurized, this variation is like what the Surfaris did with "Punkline." Weird, geeky, and way fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Rhythm Kings' Pachuko Soul classic is presented with horn sounds from the keyboard. It works pretty well. Nice to see an adventurous surf band using this East LA style.
Surf (Instrumental)
This classic surf tune is warmly and respectfully submitted for your listening pleasure. While lacking the liquid Lively Ones sound, it is their arrangement and is very nicely played.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Pharos' "Pintor" has been covered recently on several releases. None have taken this stunning acoustic approach. This is a brilliant way to handle this, giving it a much more Mexican flavor. I love this.
Surf (Instrumental)
Bo Diddley's "Hush Your Mouth" surfed up the way Dick Dale did on his Surfers Choice LP. Great guitar work, with tone more like Dick's "Jungle Fever" single version. Rhythmic and tribal, and totally excellent!