Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

The Dog's Bollocks Of U.S.A. Rock 'n' Roll Instrumentals Vol. 6 has less to offer the surf fan than volumes 1 thru 5. It continues the poor mastering, with many tracks having loads of stereo artifacts from the vinyl transfer process.

Picks: The 5 Counts - Fantasy, Buzzy Brant - Valley Of The Moon, Neil Darrow - Action Central, Phil Eddings and the River Ranch Boys - Okechobee Stomp, Jimmy Flint and the Stones - Piasano, Joel Hill - Hannibal's Hundred, The Huggins Bros. - Mr. Moto, The Love Potion - Mr. Far Out, The Pacers - New Wildwood Flower, The Renegades IV - Greensleeves, The Revs - Go Or Blow Twist, Nicky Roberts - Guadawa, Glenn Scott's Rhythm Rascals - Lil' Liza Jane, Simtec Simmons - Tea Box, The Joe Simon Band - Oon-Guela (Part 1), Bud Spudd and the Sprouts - Slow Jam, The Telstars - Spaghetti Strap

Rock (Instrumental)

"Fantasy" is a very dry number with a cool melody line and almost infectious backtrack. The drums are bongos, or at least hand drums of some kind. With reverb, it could have drifted into surf.

Rock (Instrumental)

This is a modestly interesting version of "Montevideo," with pumping bass and hand drums. It's kind of Champs-like at times.

Rock (Instrumental)

"Hot Rod" is a riff rocker that's not untypical of fifties b-sides. Rockin' piano and riffin' rhythm, lots of spunk, and not much melody.

Near Surf (Instrumental)

This is a very ho-hum commercial sounding effort. The melody is very nice, but the arrangement doesn't really say band. That said, "Run Like The Wind" is tasteful song with a bit of a desert feel and some exotic guitar lines in the middle.

Rock (Instrumental)

"Valley Of The Moon" has a very nice melody line, and the guitar delivering it is tremolo drenched for an almost surf sound. The drums are very cool, and the bass smooth. The chorus is a bit much, however. Overall, his sounds like it's out of the Nashville system.

Surf (Instrumental)

Bongos and walking bass, along with a simple dry melody riff and reverb drenched string pulls and surf rhythms. It's not a surf monster, but it is both obscure and unusual.

Country (Instrumental)

"Okechobee Stomp" is as country cool as the title suggests. The riff is playful and fun, and the tone rich. It definitely grows on you.

Surf (Instrumental)

While reverb drapes the guitar, it's obviously produced by an acoustic chamber. That said, this jam is kinda beach movie cool with just a touch more creds. Originally issued in February 1962.

Rock (Instrumental)

"Mashed Potatoes" is a modestly cool riff rocker. While from 1963, it has no connection to surf at all. truly just a primitive riff rocker.

Surf (Instrumental)

this cool single sports a fine melody line and clean sound. It's darn surfable. "Piasano" is a remake of The King Pins' "94 Second Surf." It's more professional I suppose, but also a bit less 'real'.

Rock (Instrumental)

Loud twang and whammy chords, horns in the break, and an intense and slightly exotic sound. It's the organ bridge that takes a sort of "(Ghost) Riders In the Sky" track down a notch.

Acoustic Guitar (Instrumental)

Issued in 1964 on Florida's Carellen label, the a-side is a decent acoustic rendering of Ernesto Lecuona's "Malaguena." It's a bit pompous, but still enjoyable.

Country Surf (Instrumental)

Straddling rock and country, this version of The Belairs' "Mr. Moto" is spunky and rather original. The original label was out of Dallas, Texas, and judging from the band's sound, it's likely rooted in some nearby community. Pretty cool!Night 333 (Suzy Q c/w Mr. Moto)

Rock (Instrumental)

Deep twang country dance slaughter of Hank Williams' "Jambalaya." While it's really fun, it's also not really memorable, and recorded in a fairly muddy fashion.

Surf (Instrumental)

Long sad vibrato chords bring forth a cool and moody melody played with lots of vibrato and reverb. "Mr. Miff" is a slowish song with a lot of charm. The slow playing out of the notes in the chords adds a real sense of romance to this song. This is the same track as "Mr. Miff" by The July 4 [Cameo 480 (Frightened Little Girl c/w Mr. Miff)]. I cannot find any data on The Love Potion.

Rock (Instrumental)

Thin guitar and plinky piano duel over a minimal progression for lead duties. Non-melodic, with a jam quality. The Originals hailed from Angleton, and were also on the Van label.

Near Surf (Instrumental)

This is a thoroughly rethought version of Chet Atkins' "Wildwood Flower." The melody stands, but the guitar uses syncopated echo and there are some surfable tones here and there.

Near Surf (Instrumental)

This is a pretty cool cover of the traditional instro "Greensleeves." It's very twangy and likely played on a Fender. The early electric piano/organ verse is quite cool, bringing a sort of Johnny & The Hurricanes feel to this twanger.

Rock (Instrumental)

This single has a cool rhythm sound and chord action, along with a very good, slightly country melody line. Quite nice! The Revs' "Go Or Blow Twist" was the b-side of the vocal "Go Or Blow."

Rock (Instrumental)

Here we have a basic country boogie with the requisite grin and spunk, and uplifting energy. It's quite fun, but also very common regarding its arrangement and structure.

Rock (Instrumental)

Boy is this goofy! Bing Crosby's 1931 hit is all sideways with over-dramatic pacing, upright base, mandolin-ish guitar, guitar echo, and gimmicky use of the volume knob on the ax. The sleeve lists this as Nicky Roberts, but it's his band The Three bars without his vocals. Cinema C103 Three Bars With Nicky Roberts (Spacemen [Three Bars] c/w Simpatica)

Rock (Instrumental)

Gimmicky guitar tricks and a relentless sultry jungle rhythm, double picked frenzies, and more. "Guadawa" starts out like you won't really care, but it's not long before you're hooked! Way strange and cool.

Rock (Instrumental)

Spunky drums and and endless riff with some cool piano lines and humping bass. "Royal Shuffle" is just like a large number of fifties small label instros.

Country (Instrumental)

This traditional song gets a romping country treatment, with banjo and guitar and twang. It's darn fun. There are a lot of simple country instros like this that are just plain infectious.

Beat Box Rock (Instrumental)

This is an early beat box recording from 1967 with guitarist Simtec Simmons and two members of his Chicago band The Tea Boxes. It's way better than you might expect, and actually very modern sounding. The tremolo guitar jams admirable in a manner that's not all that dissimilar to Dick Hyman's "The Mintotaur." Maurci 45-105 (Tea Pot c/w Tea Box)

Psychedelic (Instrumental)

"Oon-Guela (Part 1)" is a fuzz and movie scene number with bongos and a relentless riff. Think of it as a psych jam in Hollywood with fuzz and you'll get the idea. It's better than most such tracks for sure.

Rock (Instrumental)

This 1959 single is an R&B flavored riff rocker. A simple progression and tinkly piano. Honest, but unremarkable.

Pop Rock (Instrumental)

This is one unnecessary version of Ernesto Lecuona's "Malaguena," with relentless bongos and cheesy chorus. Some nice twang lines, but mostly forgettable.

Blues (Instrumental)

Reverb on the guitar and some surf plucking, but "Slow Jam" is just what it says, a slow blues jam. "Slow Jam" is quite intense, with a raw sax break and loud sound. Phoenix, Arizona was the home of this black R&B band.

Echoplex Indian Surf (Instrumental)

Surf guitars and Echoplex and a direct rip off of "Apache" that evolves into a Las Vegas stop-start grind. The Indian tom-toms are cool.

Rock (Instrumental)

Echoed guitar plays a tasteful melody line against heavily echoed chords. "Spaghetti Strap" is a rockin' instro with a genuine band sound and energy.