Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Astronauts - Surfin' With
 | This is a classic album - essential listening. This reissue of Surfin' With the Astronauts contains no extra tracks. |
Picks: Baja, Misirlou, Surfers Stomp, Pipeline, Banzai Pipeline, Movin', Let's Go Trippin', Batman
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
"Baja" displays power of their trademark three guitar line up, and shows what a few weeks at RCA Hollywood could do. Actually, having said that, I'd really like to remix this. The lead guitar is too loud in the mix. Anyway, if there's a list of the ten most significant surf singles, this must be on it. Hazelwood had a knack for melody, and the Astronauts had a knack for the sound, and together, look out!
Surf (Instrumental)
The lead sound is less than the powerhouse Dick Dale sound, but they have done a good job getting the energy down, and the feel of the melody just right.
Surf (Instrumental)
Joe Saraceno's wimpy big band surf pop hit was first made into a real surf song right here. Old Joe had the melody, but it took a band with real guitars to make it work. Credible track.
Surf (Instrumental)
None of the delicacy of the Chantays or the edge of the Lively Ones. It's a good track, just not remarkable.
Beat Generation Surf (Instrumental)
When Henry Mancini named this, he undoubtedly was capitalizing on the surf trend du jour, but he gave it none of the hallmark characteristics of a surf instro, not the beat, the melody, or anything. When he recorded it, he gave it the big band sound he was famous for, and given it's Beat Generation structure, that was a perfect match. Undaunted, Boulder, Colorado's Astronauts used the classic surf instrumentation to recreate it into a surf classic, if only because of it's reputation as the first crossing into the MOR-Lounge venue for surf material. It's quirky, completely uncharacteristic of surf, but curiously endearing and catchy. A fun track, for sure.
Surf (Instrumental)
A Lee Hazelwood composition. This track was also covered by the Surfaris and Eddie and the Showmen. It's a great track for the Astronauts' three guitar line up. This version is better than any of the others from the vintage days of surf. It's melodic, energetic, and very cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
None of the immediacy of Dick Dale and the Del-tones. It's a good track, just not remarkable.
Surf (Instrumental)
Another Lee Hazelwood composition, this track was also covered by the Surfaris. It's a good track for the Astronauts' three guitar line up, but not quite as interesting as "Movin'." It's melodic, energetic, and very cool. It is not the Neil Hefty TV theme.