Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Chantays - Pipeline ~ The Best Of The Chantays
 | A fine Japanese CD containing both of their Dot albums, plus the sole single not on the album, though it appears here in mono. They are in reverse order for some reason. The Chantays were a great instro band. Their first album Pipeline is a must have for any surf fan. The title song defines the surf instro, and introduced the glissando. Their second album is not of that caliber. Their vocals demonstrated why these bands were best left in the instro realm, not that they couldn't sing, but the stark contrast between the creativity of their instros and the pedestrian blandness of their vocals can not be ignored. |
Picks: Pipeline, The Lonesome Road, Tragic Wind, Runaway, Blunderbus, Banzai, Sleep Walk, Night Theme, Wayward Nile, El Conquistador, Riders In The Sky, Last Night, Monsoon, Scotch Highs, Move It, Three Coins In The Fountain, Beyond, Greenz, Space Probe, Continental Missile, Retaliation
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
This is it. This track defined surf. It is the archetype! Paul Johnson once told me that when first heard this tune on his car radio, he said Whoa! Wha-at is THAT?, and pulled over to the side of the road to listen. The Chantays defined the classic surf line up, 2 guitars, piano, bass, and drums. Glorious first use of glissandoes, first rhythm guitar dominance in the mix, and just plain essential.
Surf Blues (Instrumental)
An interesting treatment of an old standard, slow and easy in a combo sorta way.
Epic Surf (Instrumental)
This track is a bit odd, quirkily structured, and holds your attention. It typifies the melody wit of the Chantays.
Teen Tragedy Surf (Instrumental)
The most surfy cover ever of Del Shannon's tune. Where the Belairs did it pretty strait, the Chantays really surfed it up with grand glissandoes and lots of spirit. Great track.
Surf (Instrumental)
Stop start abruptness and an unusual melody line.
Machine Gun Surf (Instrumental)
Machine gun etiquette provides an unusual delivery for this tune.
Sleep Walk Fifties Slow Dance (Instrumental)
An average cover of the Santo & Johnny classic.
Night Theme Slow Dance Surf (Instrumental)
Slow dance classic from the late fifties done live by everyone, even San Jose's Preps.
Surf (Instrumental)
Pretty unusual Middle Eastern flavored tune with a definite Chantays edge. It's amazing how durable this track is. Shimmering and slightly exotic, with the classic Chantays sound.
Surf (Instrumental)
Latin influences and a quirky jerky style make this a unique bit of surfdom.
Surf (Instrumental)
The first truly surf version of Stan Jones' cowboy classic that had already been rocked out by the Ramrods. This version is still my favorite of all, save the insane EchoPlexed psychedelic rendition from Mexico's Los Babys. The glissandoes and piano are essential to making it work, and the resulting recording is totally infectious, and enhances any drive down an open road.
Last Night R&B Surf (Instrumental)
Solid version of the classic R&B classic, along the lines of the Biscaynes' "Get It." Cool party tune.
Surf (Instrumental)
Follow up single to "Pipeline," this track is unusual and infectious. It's got an excellent rhythm and just seems to grab the listener. The excellent melody line right perfect, and the piano is very tasty. It appears here in stereo for the first time.
Scottish Surf (Instrumental)
The other side of "Monsoon." Most of the Chantays' material were covers, as was quite common back then. Their originals tended to be really unique and well written. Here, they produced a really nice melody and recording. It has remained in the top ten percent of my sixties surf track faves list for 35 years. This was a grand single... a must have.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Chantays' "Move It" is a classic flip side... one of the best B-side melodies and concepts ever, but the rendition is hard to listen to. The version of this that truly rules is the live recording of the Spiedels. It's A-side is "Pipeline," the definitive surf instro. "Move It" is an infectious and playful ditty that emphasizes choked slides for a unique experience. The warbly almost tape-flutter mix is a difficult listen.
Three Coins In The Fountain Lawrence Welk (Instrumental)
Sad how they dropped from really cool surf to reverbed MOR. Makes you think of Lawrence Welk at Malibu.
Surf (Instrumental)
Some have raved about this track, but the production is like "Move It," and just as hard to listen to. It's a "Pipeline" clone, though it is probably the second best track on their second album.
Greenz Booker T & the MG's (Instrumental)
Booker T. & the MG's inspired, but not surfy or interesting.
Space (Instrumental)
An amateurish attempt at space rock, inspired by the Tornadoes (Joe Meek's band) success with "Telstar." It's Americanized approach is typical of several singles ish'd in the sixties, but a little hokier than the Preps' "Moon Racers" or the What Four's "Gemini IV." Interesting non-surf turn of events.
Space (Instrumental)
Another amateur space rock track, but less interesting.
Garage (Instrumental)
This is a cool intermediary track, distortion is induced, and it straddles the fence between surf and garage punk instro. Unusual.