Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
The Wailers - And Companydotdotdot
artworkThis 1964 LP from the Wailers sports some of their coolest tracks, especially "Mashi" and the surfish "We're Goin' Surfin'."
Picks: Seattle, Doin' The Seaside, We're Goin' Surfin', Frenzy, Shakedown, Tough Walk, Mashi

Track by Track Review


Seattle dotdotdot
PNW Rock (Instrumental)

Great drums, and a sound more like Seattle's Viceroys than the Wailers. It's a progression, funky, tough, and tribal.

Doin' The Seaside dotdotdot
Blues (Instrumental)

This is a bluesy number that approaches but does not reach surf. It is infectious and interesting, rhythmic and fun.

We're Goin' Surfin' dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Like every other band on earth at the time, the Wailers tried to move into the pop consciousness on the wave of the surf sound. Their vocal attempts (Party Time U. S. A.) were pretty lame, but this instro is quite good, though not very surfy in the traditional sense. No double picking, and no Fender reverb, but plenty of watery groove. The girls chorus singin' "everyone's surfin', we're going surfin..." etc. could have been dropped, but still, it was a great single, and stands up well over time. The melody is the same as Dave Myers and the Surftones "Aqua Limbo Luau."

Frenzy dotdotdot
Big Band (Instrumental)

A big band number with Cozy Cole overtones. Sax, organ, and guitar all grooving and vying for the front line position.

Shakedown dotdotdot
PNW Rock (Instrumental)

Guitar boogie progression with a swingin' melody for the bachelor pad. Spunky fun, but doessn't rise above the jam.

Tough Walk dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

A growling organ and piano jam, with a "Have Love Will Travel" backtrack.

Mashi dotdotdotdotdot
Grodie Organ (Instrumental)

This is my all time favorite organ based instro. "Mashi" has a distinctive sound, with the organ literally growling along, and Rockin' Robin Roberts shoutin' "Mashi" from time to time. Melodic, evil, infectious, nasty, and lasting.