Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Chocolate Watchband - The Best Of The Chocolate Watchband
 | Rhino's best-of collection of tracks from San Jose's garage legends includes a couple of nice instros, with Richie Podolor on guitar. |
Picks: Expo 2000, Dark Side Of The Mushroom, Voyage Of The Trieste
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
Richie Podolor's incredible surf writing and guitar tones are evident in this no-Watchbanders-present track produced during the stormy relationship the Chocolate Watchband had with Ed Cobb, where Richie Podolor was on hand as a studio player and engineer. The mix is somewhat psychedelic, but the tune and his playing hearken back to his golden days in the studio surf scene. Great track!
Dark Side Of The Mushroom Surf (Instrumental)
This is another Richie Podolor tune, co-written with Bill Cooper, and very psychedelic, with less of Richie's characteristic guitar tone. It's still pretty melodic, as are all of his works.
Surf (Instrumental)
This airy and psychedelic instro was recorded without benefit of the Chocolate Watchband's presence. It is melodic and unusual, merging flute and fuzz. It was written by Ed Cobb.