Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Collection: Surf Creature Volume 3
 | Vintage wonder from Romulan on vinyl only. Quality is pretty good. Track esquence is wrong, as is the problem with so many bootlegs.
| Sleeve Sequence | | | Actual Sequence | | | S1-1 | Starfires | Hand Full Of Blood | S1-1 | Starfires | Hand Full Of Blood | | S1-2 | Majestics | Big Noise From Makaha | S1-2 | Majestics | Big Noise From Makaha | | S1-3 | Craig Cahill and the Offbeats | Surfin' Elephants | S1-3 | Vara-Tones | Repeto | | S1-4 | Craig Cahill and the Offbeats | Pipe City | S1-4 | Craig Cahill and the Offbeats | Surfin' Elephants | | S1-5 | Varitones | Repto | S1-5 | Craig Cahill and the Offbeats | Pipe City | | S1-6 | Aki Aleong and the Nobles | Earthquake | S1-6 | Nobles | Earthquake | | S1-7 | Mysterions | Jerico Rock | S1-7 | Mysterions | Jerico Rock | | S1-8 | Newport Nomads | Harlem Bells | S2-1 | Newport Nomads | Harlem Bells | | S2-1 | Trademarks | Baha Ree Ba Pt. 2 | S2-2 | Trademarks | Baha Ree Ba Pt. 2 | | S2-2 | Hustlers | Barefoot Venture | S2-3 | Hustlers | Barefoot Venture | | S2-3 | Mickey Aversa | Blast Off | S2-4 | Mickey Aversa | Blast Off | | S2-4 | Atilla and the Huns | The Lonely Hun | S2-5 | Atilla and the Huns | The Lonely Hun | | S2-5 | Five More | Avalanche | S2-6 | Five More | Avalanche | | S2-6 | Fender IV | Everybody Up | S2-7 | Fender IV | Everybody Up | | S2-7 | Bonnavills | The Bonnevill Stomp | S2-8 | Bonnavills | The Bonnevill Stomp |
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Picks: Hand Full Of Blood, Big Noise From Makaha, Repeto, Surfin' Elephant, Pipe City, Earthquake, Jerico Rock, Harem Bells, Baha Ree Bah (Part 2), Barefoot Venture, Blast Off, The Lonely Huns, Avalanche, Goldenrod, Everybody Up, The Bonnavills' Stomp
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
An Illinois label issued this. It has a much more surf sound than "Space Needle," so it is very likely not the same band at all. There are behind the bridge fills, tribal drums, eerie guitar leads, and a cool rhythmic second guitar. A fine track, exotic and most unusual.
Surf (Instrumental)
This obscuro on a Riverside label is pure surf, in the garage vein. It's mean sax break hints of Steve Douglas. The guitars reverb away with deep spring action. Yikes! "Big Noise From Makaha" is a surfization of "Big Noise From Winnetka."
Surf (Instrumental)
This is the 1964 original (there are two updates from 1997 and 2000), with sax lead and great vintage surf rage. It is a really solid single, played with plenty of energy and teenage exuberance. The melody is solid, the energy good, and even under a bad mix, with the bass too hot, and the sax too loud, this is one fine tune. ItŐs played with plenty of energy and teenage exuberance.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a playful and highly rhythmic mid tempo number that brings a smile to the face. It shows off tight meter and synchronization. It makes you wanna move. The Surf Raiders covered this in the early eighties.
Surf (Instrumental)
A dry second guitar playing a nifty little pattern under a twangy lead playing a surf riff with a lot of flair. It's almost melodic, and infectious.
Surf (Instrumental)
This fine tune was covered by the Surfaris. It is mean and vibrato laden, and uses echoplex string swipes to simulate the same sorts of sounds they used when they covered "Moon Dawg." It's a very rhythmic track, full of body and power. This band's output on Vee Jay should be released!
Surf (Instrumental)
A solid surf variation on the biblical tune. This works really well, while it also has a silly air to it. Almost any melodic piece can be surfed up. They do a fine job with the song, playing fast and using lots of chunka-chunka and rolling raging drums.
Surf (Instrumental)
Damped and well reverbed guitar plucking out a very cool pattern. It's not melodic, but the idea is splendid. I think this is a cover, but I can't quite place the original, though it sounds like a late 30's-early 40's big band number. Plucked all the way through, it's quite different.
Mariachi Surf (Instrumental)
This is the B-side of the magnificent single from the Trademarks. It's a blend of mariachi and surf, so natural, and with such infectious energy. Total fun, and incredibly cool. If you don't know this tune, you should. Just plain excellent.
Surf (Instrumental)
Near mariachi horns play the lead pattern while surf guitar plays in time. It's mostly a rhythm pattern in an R&B vein, the sort of thing that was probably a set-ender, as was Dick Dale's "Break Time" was.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a spiffy garagie and mean surf single, with excellent lead work and a flying melody line. Lots of reasons to like this. Thrashing rolling drums, a solid bass line, and that great surf lead. Infectious!
Surf (Instrumental)
Big island chords, shallow whammy wakes on the water, and a melody that borrows parts from the Ventures' "Lonely Sea." The question is, which came first? This is lovely, melodic and inviting island music.
Surf (Instrumental)
Is this one of the versions of the Handful of Fives et al with Skip and Terry Hand who were also part of the Eddie and the Showmen legacy? Doesn't matter I guess. It's fast, furious, pure surf madness, with a wailin' sax in a few verses under the lead guitar. Great picking and fiery attack.
Surf (Instrumental)
Damped reverbed second guitar, and a weird blending of sax and an out-of-tune lead guitar to create a dissonant sound. It's both intriguing and hard to listen to. There's no melody, just a riff. The damaged arrangement is the key.
Surf (Instrumental)
From the first drum beat of the intro, this track shreds. The beat is strong, the rhythm infectious, and the melody incredibly good. There are few surf instros that compare to the power and energy of this magical track. Exceptionally good playing, and magnificently strong writing. The glissandoes grab and shake you, leaving you spent when it's over.
Surf (Instrumental)
Raging mean guitar riffs introduce a nifty melody line that is both dark and sad, almost morose with a hint of freedom. The distant sax and glissandoes add to the mystery of the track. It's a muddy ambient recording.