Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
Al Casey - Surfin' Hootenannydotdotdotdot
artworkAl Casey was one fine studio musician. He worked as rhythm guitarist on many of Duane Eddy's biggest hits. It was the big guitar style he developed that Duane adopted. He also worked with Jody Reynolds, whose guitar instros were similar to Eddy's. His work with Duane was via producer/writer Lee Hazelwood, who also contracted him for this, his first solo album. Al was almost totally unfamiliar with surf when he agreed to do this album. There are some rough spots that demonstrate that, and a few numbers that are really outside the envelope if you subtract the reverb on his guitar. Sundazed has captured a couple of alternate takes, probably nineties remixes from session multi-tracks [3 or 4 tracks at best]. If you get past the Blossoms aka the K-C-Ettes ghastly vocalizing and the blues numbers, there are some real gems here. This is also the first time in stereo from the master tapes. The Stacy CD is from vinyl, or at least it sure sounds like it.
Picks: Surfin' Hootenanny, El Aguila (The Eagle), Thunder Beach, Baja, Surfin' Blues - Part 1, Lonely Surfer, Guitars, Guitars, Guitars, The Hearse, Ramrod, Caravan, Surfin' Blues - Part 2, Surf's You Right, The Hearse, El Aguila (The Eagle), Surf's You Right

Track by Track Review


Surfin' Hootenanny dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Al and producer Lee Hazelwood took a basically cool jam/compliment to the surf bands tracks and placed the Blossoms (K-C-Ettes) over the top inspired by Dick Dale's "King Of The Surf Guitar," rendering it an interesting time capsule, but not particularly great surf, and hiding some otherwise grand guitar work.

El Aguila (The Eagle) dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Lee Hazelwood produced this album, and since he wrote this, it is likely that he intended it to sound like this, as opposed to the way the Astronauts played it. This is a wonderful tune, and Al's guitar work does it justice.

Thunder Beach dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Inspired by or adapted from his collaborative work with Jody Reynolds & the Storms' killer classic "Thunder," this tune is great to have. Al makes everything sound big.

Baja dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Everyone knows Lee Hazelwood classics like "Baja" from the Astronauts, but it is Lee's production with Al Casey that probably makes it sound like Lee intended...slow and painful! Al had pretty good meter, as was required for his the slow treatment. It gives the song a completely different feel than any other version.

Surfin' Blues - Part 1 dotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

A blues jam that Al wrote in the studio.

Lonely Surfer dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Ok tune, but not particularly note worthy.

Guitars, Guitars, Guitars dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

The Duane Eddy tribute/reaction single. OK, but not great.

The Hearse dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This is magnificent. Al's interpretations of Lee's writing is amazing. He has a knack for slow pacing without a loss of power.

Ramrod dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Al reportedly played lead on the Duane Eddy hit single, because Duane was on tour when the studio was booked. Al was his studio rhythm player, but seldom played live with him. This is the same arrangement, played with complete abandon.

Caravan dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Al's playing on Duke Ellington's "Caravan" is really cool. It has a mean tenor about it, and the tribal toms give it such a primal feeling. This is the best surf version out there!

Surfin' Blues - Part 2 dotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Part 2 of the studio jam.

Surf's You Right dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Another Lee Hazelwood number. Among the great surf pun titles, and a cool tune that's pretty darn fast and melodic. It has some similarities to "Deep In The Heart Of Texas."

The Hearse dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This is magnificent. Al's interpretations of Lee's writing is amazing. He has a knack for slow pacing without a loss of power.

El Aguila (The Eagle) dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Lee Hazelwood produced this album, and since he wrote this, it is likely that he intended it to sound like this, as opposed to the way the Astronauts played it. This is a wonderful tune, and Al's guitar work does it justice.

Surf's You Right dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Another Lee Hazelwood number. Among the great surf pun titles, and a cool tune that's pretty darn fast and melodic. It has some similarities to "Deep In The Heart Of Texas."