Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Collection: Blunderbuss:Scattershot Sleaze '58-'67
| This is a must to avoid. Not only is it a bootleg from noisy vinyl sources, and there was no attempt to restore the vinyl, but they knew damn well they were stealing other people's recordings, and demonstrated it by changing artist names and track titles, compounding the crime by misleading the consumer into thinking they were getting new obscuros when they were not.
Examples:
Sleeve Credit | | Actual Track | Steve Allan and the Barrows - O.F.F. | > | Davie Allan and the Arrows - U.F.O. | The Venturi Tubes - Petrol Pumper | > | The Ventures - Pedal Pusher | Los Shains - Guau Guau A Go Go | > | Los Shains - Shains A Go Go | Mavis Camlock - Karate Time | > | Travis Wammack - It's Karate Time | The Venturi Tubes - Swinger Reaper | > | The Ventures - The Swingin' Creeper |
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Picks: Davie Allan and the Arrows - U. F. O., The Exports - Seat Belts Please, Los Shains - Shains A-Go-Go, Travis Wammack - It's Karate Time
Track by Track Review
Davie Allan and the Arrows - U. F. O. Biker Fuzz (Instrumental)
"U. F. O." is dark and evil with mucho fuzz and evil growls. The melody is very serviceable, having seen multiple reinterpretations by Davie under titles such as "Theme From The Unknown" and "Dark Alley."
The Atmospheres - Fickle Chicken Rock & Roll (Instrumental)
"Fickle Chicken" apes clucking via the guitar, something that Link Wray have have pioneered. It's a pretty fun rockabilly instro in the classic chicken bop style. Originally issued as the b-side to "Kabalo" on LIN 5023-45 (Gainesville, Texas) in 1959.
The Exports - Seat Belts Please Surf (Instrumental)
This is a pretty twangy surf instro with a lumbering gate and sort of R&B melody line, though it's delivered with a surf feel. Not as interesting as the A-side, but very good.
The Krew Kats - Jack's Good Rock & Roll (Instrumental)
"Jack's Good" is cute instro from The Krew Kats, with a catchy happy riff and tasty little bass solo. Its melody is fun and bouncy, but not gimmicky.
Los Shains - Shains A-Go-Go Rock (Instrumental)
Hot rockin' speedy near surf twango from Los Shains. This is a ripper with a bunch-o-spunk and fire. The vocal verse is limited to uttering the title a coupe of times. Frat with soul and charm, and a whole lot of energy. The lead guitar and drums are pretty cool!
The Tempos - Monkey Doo R&B (Instrumental)
"Monkey Doo" is another in the long series of studio jam style R&B instros that would end up as bumper music at best. It was the flip side of "Oh Play That Thing" (Fairmont F-611) in 1963. It's just not very interesting.
The Time Keepers - 3 Minutes Heavy Rock & Roll (Instrumental)
This is a virtual note for note, mic for mic, sound for sound copy of Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels' "C. C. Rider" sans vocals. It rocks, as did the single. "3 Minutes Heavy" was the a-side to "Nasty" (Generation Records 111).
The Ventures - Pedal Pusher Surf (Instrumental)
Excellent vibrato, and a go-go sorta beat under a riff and chop number that is just so-so except for the big chord vibrato.
The Ventures - The Swingin' Creeper Go-Go Fuzz (Instrumental)
This thick fuzzy number is choppy and repetitious, interesting for the first few bars, but then not. It would be a good backtrack to a snotty vocal. No where as interesting as King Fuzz's material.
Gene Walker and the Combo - Empire City R&B (Instrumental)
This is a greasy R&B sax and organ jammer. It's riff is pretty frat rock oriented, with little to bring you back. This b-side was originally issued on Arock 1002 (Sophisticated Monkey c/w Empire City) in 1964.
Travis Wammack - It's Karate Time Fuzz Rock (Instrumental)
The rhythm section here is offering up a demented "Woolly Bully" kinda chunk, while Travis Wammack plays with the guitar like it's a brand new toy. Quite fun, if a little silly.