Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Raybeats - Guitar Beat
 | The line up of the Raybeats on this release features a post Overtones guitarist and bassist by the name of Danny Amis, whom you know from Los Straitjackets. There is a variety of instrumental material on this album. It is all also on the Guitar Beat CD. It's only partly a surf disc, but the legacy of this instro band is not to be denied. Great listening, a must have. |
Picks: Tight Turn, Big Black Sneakers, Tone Zone, The Backstroke, B-Gas Rickshaw, International Operator, Searching, The Calhoun Surf, Piranha Salad, Cocktails, Guitar Beat
Track by Track Review
R&B (Instrumental)
Screeching tires and crash boom. This gnarly sax lead R&B number is quite the low-down nasty tune.
Martini Surf (Instrumental)
Cool tune with nicely ringing guitar lines. Very simple, rhythmic, and heavily drum oriented. A great track! There's something very Mancini about the writing.
Guitar (Instrumental)
The keyboard leads off this eerie number with tortured guitar notes and less than sane sound.
Jazz Surf (Instrumental)
The sun is baking the pre-melanoma dermis, the kids have gone back to their rooms, and you're floating face up slowly cruising the length of the pool at Motel 6. A very pleasant afternoon to you sir! Cool funky number for a lazy afternoon dip.
Surf (Instrumental)
One of only two covers of this Jan and Dean instrumental. Unlike the J&D version, this is poundy and cool. The tom toms do the hot rod motor honors. Nice track!
Espionage (Instrumental)
Placing that long distance call before direct dial, MCI, or One Eight Hundred Collect used to require actually talking to an AT&T international operator, and that was always an adventure, not unlike entering the espionage game. This has that air of spies on the line and stalking in the shadows. Great track!
R&B (Instrumental)
Major drum action, and plenty of cool R&B Vegas coolness in the low down sax and guitar twin melody lines. The jazz influences are strong, and the rhythm is quite tasty.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is the first song Danny Amis ever wrote. He originally recorded it with his band the Overtones, and issued it as the flip to "Red Checker Wagon." This version is big, and very cool. It has a different character than either the first recording or the Los Straitjackets version. This recording has been covered several times, including by the Thrusters and the Neon Spores.
Las Vegas (Instrumental)
Finally, a lunch that bites back! The keyboards are quite unsettling, and the dissonant melody line is irritating in an endearing way. Las Vegas cool sleazy sound.
Exotic Rhythm (Instrumental)
The exotic rhythm and the cool melody pre date the lounge ethic of the nineties. This is a swell number.
Guitar (Instrumental)
A slow chunka chunka tune with big clean guitar lead. Quite nice, and relaxing.