Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Les Champions - French 60s EP Collection Vol 2

 | There are quite a few instros on volume two, but they are not among the gems for the most part. |
Picks: Colorado, Galaxie, 1293 Metres G.O., Les Mercenaires
Track by Track Review
T'Shirt
Pop Rock (Instrumental)
Real cheesy middle of the road pop fair. Holiday at the Mediterranean shore sound-alike music. Accidentally skipping to the next track is encouraged.
Pop Rock (Instrumental)
Warbly note bending implies Indian themes, as does the excellent drum and bass patterns. "Colorado" is a solid track with interesting arranging and very enjoyable sound. It verges on big guitar and hints at "Apache" at times.
Le Pas Du Dindon
Pop Rock (Instrumental)
Little Eva's "Let's Turkey Trot" is what the musicologists refer to as filler. A total never mind!
Pop Rock (Instrumental)
very cool drums and moody bass, along with smooth, round lead tone and crisp acoustic rhythm deliver a very pleasant and almost exotic track. It may be pop, but it's original and rather enjoyable.
La Longue Marche 
Pop Rock (Instrumental)
Military drums and cool bass run beneath this pedestrian cover of the film score. Nothing to write home about, though the muted verse has its moments.
1647 Metres G.O. 
Pop Rock (Instrumental)
The drums are very cool in the opening, and the wannabe glissando is - well - really weak. Then there's that chorus! Argh!
Pop Rock (Instrumental)
Great drums, cool rhythm guitar, exotic bass, and a much better arrangement and mix than "1647 Metres G.O.," this is darn cool. The sound is more sincere. Even the hand claps are fun.
Rendez-Vous Au Golf Drouot 
Pop Rock (Instrumental)
Easy pop rock with lilt. Well doe, but unmemorable.
Pop Surf (Instrumental)
The strings just destroy The Dakotas' "Cruel Sea" the same way they mangled Dick Dale's "Miserlou Twist." Some fine guitar licks in the middle, a tuff string snap or two, and one glorious rough glissando, but, oh my gosh, those strings just sap the life out of it.
Avec Des Si
Pop Rock (Instrumental)
Slow and squishy, without chemistry or energy. Very good guitar work, but no life. The strings drive the last nail in the coffin.
Pop Rock (Instrumental)
An OK rendering of Elmer Bernstein's theme to one of the great spaghetti westerns. "Les Mercenaires" is an infectious pop rock version of "The Magnificent Seven."
Lavender Blue 
Pop Rock (Instrumental)
Slow and romantic in an tape-echoed guitar kind of way, "Lavender Blue" is very standard. Nice, but nothing original at all. Some pleasant piano lines.
Pop Rock (Instrumental)
"L'Infini Au Soleil" is a sunny number with excellent rolling drums and walking bass. Its arrangement fits it well. Chamber reverb on the drum kit is used to expand the ambiance.
Pop Rock (Instrumental)
Whammy implies train whistles while drums generate the chug factor. Some fine drum work here, and short echoed notes on guitar. OK, but you probably won't remember it tomorrow.