Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Collection: Paul Buff Presents The Pal And Original Sound Studio Archives, Vol. 6
 | There's not much on this release to drag you in. Lots of studio trash and half developed tracks. |
Picks: The Hollywood Persuaders - Grunion Run, North Beach, The Pal Studio Band - Waltz, The Rhythm Surfers - Big City Surfer
Track by Track Review
Paul Buff - Bolero Death Song
Rock (Instrumental)
Minimal, underdeveloped, and uninteresting.
Mike Dineri - Saxville Rock (Instrumental)
This sax instro has all the charm and soulful feel of the silly surfers sessions, i.e. none!
Dino Dupree and the Pharaohs - Jive N' Rock (Instrumental)
"Jive N'" is just a riff that never unfolds into anything interesting. Some cool piano work, but mostly this is dismissible.
The Hollywood Persuaders - Grunion Run Rock (Instrumental)
This is a bluesy Frank Zappa guitar instro, traditionally arranged and fluid. It's not particularly interesting, except from a historical perspective, though it's very well played and recorded.
The Hollywood Persuaders - Evil Underneath
Rock (Instrumental)
Imagine what a song sounds like three minutes after it's conceived... that would come after this. Stripped down, a very basic riff, and completely predictable studio lizard ideas.
The Hollywood Persuaders - Rollin' Rock (Instrumental)
Some interesting drum work and semi-mariachi horns. "Rollin'" is riff rock, yet its unusual drums make it more than just riff rock.
The Hollywood Persuaders - North Beach Rock (Instrumental)
This is a really nice instrumental. Its piano melody is pretty and fluid, and the arrangement is very pleasant. It won't rock your world, but it's one of the more original pieces on Drums A Go-Go album.
The Pal Studio Band - Waltz Psychedelic (Instrumental)
"Waltz" is a slow blues shuffle with who knows who on tap, though the lead guitar sounds like early Frank Zappa. A wailing jazz bass line with way too much jazz noodling guitar for me, though I must say it sounds not unlike The Blues Project in their more psychedelic jams.
The Rhythm Surfers - Big City Surfer Surf (Instrumental)
"Big City Surfer" is based on the main riff from "What'd I Say," and augmented with liberated lines from The Beach Girl and the Monster and Dick Dale. It also borrows liberally from "Little Brown Jug" and "Bustin' Surfboards." Derivation aside, this is a cool little minor surf track with very nice damped surf guitar. A fine example of neighborhood surf.
The Tired 4 - The Stripper
Rock (Instrumental)
Noisy party crowd goings on over top of David Rose's theme sounds a lot like a Kim Fowley goofer. Forget it!