Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

This LP sports some really nice tracks. Some of these are hybrids of unexpected genres, others just plain fun.

Picks: Bobby Arlin With The Hustlers - Mushroom Machine (Part 1), The Dave Clark Five - Chaquita, The Delegates - Pigmy, Red Garrison And His Zodiacs - Taboo, The Imps - That'll Get It, The Jive-A-Tones - The Wild Bird, The Jumping Jewels - Istanbul, The Night Beats - Exotic, The Teen Beats - Big Bad Boss Beat, The Thunderbirds - Delilah, Andrea Tosi - La Sorella Di Cristina, ZZ and de Maskers - Beat Girl

Psychedelic (Instrumental)

It's funny ho different part one is compared to part two. It's the same jam, same bass line, etc., but this is so much less whacked out effects wise.

Rock (Instrumental)

This great instro rocks with Latin percussion and exotica ethics, while launching from a rock solid beat and hard driving sound. The lead sax is nasty-raspy. The only unfortunate thing is how subdued in the mix the almost surf guitar is. This is the second version of this fine tune.

Soul Jazz (Instrumental)

The Delegates' cool single "Pigmy" (actually "Pigmy Part 1" dates from 1964. It's an organ centric track that's cooler and more soulful than Booker T. and the MG's, and rather dramatic. First time I heard this on KDIA, I flipped. The organ soars as the drums rock out. There were a handful of such singles then, but this simply stood out.

Surf (Instrumental)

This must be from 1964 or 1965. The reverbed tremolo guitar shouts surf, and the tribal beat and sultry sax call to Las Vegas. Big exotic rhythms and edgy tremolo set up a lurid sound. This is more than cool.

Surf (Instrumental)

A semi-dark backtrack honks a greasy detective riff while a period guitar jams with big twang and some very nice string bending. Cool neck work and a solid though basic late fifties riff. Raspy sax completes the sound.

Rock (Instrumental)

"The Wild Bird" is from 1958, but it sounds a bit later. Big guitar coolness, and a primal struttin' rock backtrack. It's just riff rock, but it has a lot of charm.

Rock (Instrumental)

On the cooler side of the aisle is this spunky pop-rock interpretation of "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)." Kinda cowboy, a little grinny, and way cool. The lead is carried on a semi-grode lap steel. Too cool!

Soul Jazz (Instrumental)

This is just goofy. If not for the gimmicks, this would never get past the riff. It's a jazzy jam with an exotic edge.

Surf (Instrumental)

This is a saucy west coast sounding R&B/surf number with a catchy riff and cool sound. The guitar suggest surf period, or just beyond. The horns suggest the east LA sound. I can't find out anything about this, so I'll leave those as guesses. I saw this dated in 1968, but that's unconfirmed.

Rock (Instrumental)

This is a primal rock instrumental, with a cool pre-go-go club riff and gritty soul underside. Lots of period fun here. I think this is the same Teen Beats that became The Nevegans, as both issued tracks on Original Sound. This dates from 1964.

Near Surf (Instrumental)

This classic song is done as if Perry Mason was walking down Peter Gunn's dock at midnight. Dark and nasty, cool sax lines, and dark guitar. Mighty fine!

Surf (Instrumental)

This is quite an interesting track because it blends genuine surf guitar, reverb and all, with the lighter side of adult and soft female words with bongos. The piano break is exotic, or more correctly loungy, but it is the surf guitar that makes this stand out.

European (Instrumental)

John Barry great film score "Beat Girl" is very well done. The great drums make it more tribal than most, and the twang is very pleasing. Not as intense as the original, yet more aggressive and whammified.