Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

Volume four continues to expose the ultra rare and the moderately obscure, with quite a bit of surf. Again, a fine sampling of unheard vintage rock 'n' roll / surf instros.

Picks: All American Surfer, Rumpus, Egyptian Surf, Jetster, Sunday Stranger, La Macarena, Cricket, Burma Road, Frankie and Johnny, Wipe Out, Undertow, Squad Car, Mr. Big, Tap Top, El Dorado, Wax 'Em Down, Road Runner, Around The Corner, Night Ride, Concussion, Blueberry Jam, Buttons and Bows, Expressway, Mexican Rock, Softly Falls The Morning Dew, Cruising Low, Bad Doreen, Damascas, The Scavenger, Rampage, Texas Tommy, Skippin' Home, Bumble Bee '65

Pre Surf (Instrumental)

The Busters pumped out many a sax driven monster in those heady pre-surf days. This rock solid rant powers and drives hard, with great drum work and tons of energy.

Rock (Instrumental)

"Rumpus" is a rhythm dominated tune that probably went over well at frat parties, and could have crossed over as well. The melody line is very similar to a couple of classic Texas tunes from many decades ago. The organ is pretty cheesy and overbearing in the break. The sound pretty darn murky.

Surf (Instrumental)

Trading on stereotypical Egyptian themes, this fine single was unearthed for a cover job in the early eighties by the Surf Raiders. The arrangement is pure garage surf. Melodic, infectious and energetic.

Surf (Instrumental)

The Chandelles take a riff of simple character, mess with with enough variation to prevent boredom, and end up creating a very cool surf groover. Original issue on Dot in 1963.

Rock Jam (Instrumental)

The toms rumble and the chords play out until the jammy guitar kicks in and the rockabilly beat takes over.

Mexican Surf (Instrumental)

This must be a Mexican single. Spanish phrases now and then, and the sound is similar to many early sixties Mexican rock instros. It has the moodiness of the Treble Spankers, and the suave of a spaghetti western. Even the chorus is cool.

Surf (Instrumental)

This great single uses behind the bridge plucking to simulate crickets, and sports a chunky rhythm track and surf guitar. Totally fun.

Near Surf (Instrumental)

This features a catchy rhythm track and a soft spoken guitar lead. It's not surf, but surely could be, and fits well next to many first year surf singles. Quite excellent.

Rock (Instrumental)

A great band name, and a grodie overdriven guitar bump out the classic R&B tune "Frankie and Johnny." Raw and immediate.

Surf (Instrumental)

The "Surf Beat" riff opens, the melody riff surfs and jams and glissandoes its way through a bit of flash and flair. Solid ultra obscure surf. Very cool.

Surf (Instrumental)

Nearly Lively Ones guitar tone vibrates through this very surfable tune. Not quite catchy enough to make your day, but a solid find for sure.

Sub Psychedelic Post Surf (Instrumental)

Slow and moody, with big whammy dips and slow wah wah, and bits of "Peter Gunn" for good measure. Mexican flavor to the melody, and gutty sound make it very surfable. This is not Paul Johnson's song. It is pretty darn cool.

Rock Jam (Instrumental)

Jammin' for a warmup - that's the sound of this. Drums drive, guitars jump, and the band is really not very tight. Not the "Free" song, or either of the signed bands that used that name.

Surf (Instrumental)

A guitar driven thing with dry rhythm guitar chords, reverbed leads. Infectious rhythmically, but melodically limited. Still, it's quite satisfying and fun. Lots of variations to keep it interesting.

Surf (Instrumental)

Heavy surf reverb, moody whammy, ominous melody riffs... it's a murder on the surf kinda tune, with marginal sound and lots of primal edge.

Surf (Instrumental)

The Avantis most familiar single "Wax 'Em Down" is a dry guitar chamber reverbed adventure in the surf culture. The waxing sound effects (wood sawing) and the basic progression issue forth a simpler more innocent view of surf music. Great drums, raw guitar, subservient organ, and a catchy riff are all here. A fine track.

Surf (Instrumental)

A big glissando opens this track up. It's neither the Bo Diddley song nor the Road Runners' instro. It's a jammy but catchy surf instro with enough going on to keep it from being dismissed.

Twang (Instrumental)

Duane Eddy style twang, with vibrato and a solid melody riff. While it's fairly light weight, it's not weak.

Surf (Instrumental)

Pure surf with Chantays style piano and generally similar sound. I presume this isn't the "(Ghost) Riders In The Sky" Ramrods, but I don't know for sure. Pretty heavy surf chunk and very cool.

Surf (Instrumental)

You could consider this a pre-surf single. Its strong reverbed guitar and raging drums are complimented by a nasty sax and thundering bass. The Holidays' "Concussion" is a riff rocker, but so were many early surf singles. It was originally issued on the Dixie label. Kinda like Al Casey's "Ramrod," kinda Duane Eddyish, with drums that sound like a surf band. Fast and powerful, with lots of drive and flair.

Fifties (Instrumental)

I found my thrill, or maybe my rockin' shoes. "Blueberry Jam" is a trashy take on the classic fifties tune.

Near Surf (Instrumental)

Echoed guitar rhythm and tribal drums beneath a tame lead. Kinda cool, and kinda interesting. It has a surf feel and a southern instro sound. The overdubbed applause after the break is very strange.

Near Surf (Instrumental)

Heavily echoed track with surf twang and choppy rhythms. It's like Duane Eddy primitive with surf corners.

Surf (Instrumental)

Big guitar twang with reverb. "Mexican Rock" reminds me a lot of the Evasions. The same blend of tones and rockabilly percussion, and similar melody style. A fine track!

Surf (Instrumental)

Great surf riffology and tribal drums, reverbed and twanged, with double picked flair here and there. Unusual, yet familiar.

Rock R&B (Instrumental)

Kinda sultry and bluesy, this tune bears a distant resemblance to "Comin' Home Baby." The break even predates funk/R&B instros of the sixties. While it's mostly a jam kinda track, it's also pretty interesting.

Surf (Instrumental)

Surf with two different passages, plus a different middle. Not at alike its contemporaries, but with fine reverb and surf drums a la the [Hollywood] Tornadoes. Is the name misspelled or is this a different band?

Near Surf (Instrumental)

Owing some of its life to "Istanbul," but not derivative, "Damascas" is an interesting twangster. A little bit middle eastern, and crudely recorded, yet interesting to listen to.

Surf (Instrumental)

This is a heavy riff dominated surf tune like might have come from the Surf Boys sessions. It's not the Dick Dale song.

Surf (Instrumental)

Surf twango over a rabid rhythm track that seems rushed. A good melody riff and durable style. Not the Rick and the Ravens instro, or the Revels either. Unusual.

Bo Diddley Surf (Instrumental)

The eyes of Texas are upon you, and Bo Diddley is in the car, so make sure your Stetson is on just right. Very infectious blend of the Lone Star State and primal rock rhythms chunked with vibrato guitar. Great track!

Rock (Instrumental)

Basic rock instro with reverbed handclaps and a sub carnival arrangement.

Post Surf (Instrumental)

The Ventures' "Bumble Bee" emboldened with a touch of fuzz and a taste of surf. Thin sound, but high energy and fun.