Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Davie Allan and the Arrows - Blue's Theme
 | This is the album sparked by Davie Allan's phenomenal "Blue's Theme." With it's el cheapo sleeve (monochrome blue on white), it heralded the beginning of the grand biker fuzz genre. After so many years, it's finally out on CD in proper mastered form, and with bonus tracks! |
Picks: Blue's Theme, King Fuzz, Theme From Thunderball, William Tell 1967, Action In The Street, Theme From The Wild Angels, Theme From The Unknown, Fuzz Theme, Sorry 'Bout That, (Ghost) Riders In The Sky, Runaway, High Noon, Theme From A Summer Place
Track by Track Review
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)
Davie will always be most famous for his Billboard biker flick soundtrack hit. It's the first time Davie's own invention of the biker fuzz instro burst into the consciousness of average Americans. In the popular sense, King Fuzz was born here! This is Davie Allan's signature tune. It became a household fixture when it appeared in the biker flick Devil's Angels, and has been a part of Davie's repertoire ever since. It is also the groundbreaking track that catapulted fuzz into the hearts of bikers everywhere. Great, and grungy.
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)
Davie's namesake song, also known as "Mario's Theme." This is a very fuzzy rendition, with grit and grandly ugly guitar tone. The string bending and guitar harmonies are demented and delightful.
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)
The film theme, fuzzed up with reverb, and a big delivery.
Surf (Instrumental)
It's been surfed up, why not fuzz it up. The damped playing is really cool with the fuzz turned on. It's quirky, infectious, and rhythmic. very cool track.
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)
"Action In The Street" sports super fuzz and long sustain, intense siren backtrack, large soundscape, evil doings in danger land. Great drums! Weirdly scary.
Theme From The Wild Angels Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)
This unusual and almost pop melody is fuzzed to death by King Fuzz, with lots of note bending craziness, and a pristine almost surf rhythm guitar behind. It's all too surreal. Great short blast of bikerness.
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)
Truly dark and ominous, danger in the back alley biker fuzz, with some pretty spacy effects. Pure evil! It's also been known as "Outer Surf." Ugly fuzzy bass under Davie's super smooth fuzz lead guitar. Way cool and grodie, with occasional monster growls. Watch out!
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)
Like the title implies, the main idea here is FUZZ, and a bit of melody, like a follow up to "Blue Theme." Cool, and intense!
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)
"Sorry 'Bout That" is a light choppy instro with a playful structure and melody, almost calliopic in imagery. The melody has been used under other titles too. Funny track.
(Ghost) Riders In The Sky Cowboy Surf (Instrumental)
Low-E guitar, a cowboy backtrack, cow slingers shouting at them dogies, and a bunch of country feel. A nice version, relatively standard arrangement, which is pretty unusual for Davie. Simply cool!
Cowboy Surf (Instrumental)
Del Shannon's melodic teenage anthem is excellent fodder for Davie Allan's arranging skills and guitar wizardry. Energetic, very surfable, and splendidly rhythmic.
Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)
A pedestrian rendition of the Frankie Lane film theme classic. It's low-E grindy, but the vocals ruin it for me. It seems to have little of Davie's typical flair.
Theme From A Summer Place Surf Fuzz (Instrumental)
This cheesy adult classic film score is oddly attractive in fuzz form. Davie Allan's warble creates a demented edge where only slush existed before. The double picked verse is even cooler.