Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Collection: Guitar Mania Volume 10
 | Volume 10 of the Rarity label series displays more of the Euro guitar sound, with the added bonus of a few surf and surfable tracks. |
Picks: Rarity Boogie, Vaya con Dios, Rarity Island, La Rosita, Laguna Beach, Junior, Saturday Night at the Duckpont, Tailspin, Amapola, Mister Moto, My Indonesian Girl, Wheels, Melody In F, San Antonio Rose, Pizzicato Twist, The Savage, Holiday Moon, Midnight, Ajoen Ajoen, Carioca, Goldfinger, Poupee De Cire Poupee De Son, Man Of Mystery, Wipe Out, Sleep Walk
Track by Track Review
Rock (Instrumental)
As the title suggests, this is a guitar boogie in the fifties tradition. Nicely done, bouncy and catchy, and rich guitar tone that straddles jazz and rockabilly twang. Excellent track.
Vaya con Dios MOR (Instrumental)
This is a soft cover of the traditional Mexican song. Very pretty, especially the delicately double picked bridges.
Rarity Island Polynesian MOR (Instrumental)
Very much in the Polynesian pop mold, this pretty track is soft and soothing in an island vacation sorta way.
MOR Surf (Instrumental)
Tribal drums and delicate double picked splash over an infectious rhythm drive "La Rosita" home. While it's MOR, it's also pretty surfy and very cool. Beautiful track with energy and refined thunder.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Treble Spankers' "Laguna Beach" is splashed with long echoed guitar twang. Less intense than the original, but still quite cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Jaguars cover the Goldentones' "Junior" with fire and splash, replacing reverb with echoed guitar. Lots of energy and very well played.
Saturday Night at the Duckpont Surf (Instrumental)
The Surf Rats' "Saturday Night At The Duckpond" is played hard and well. A solid cover double picked and flying high with Euro echo guitar tone.
Surf (Instrumental)
Los Straitjackets' firebrand "Tailspin" is played very well with power and reverence to that circular melody line. Nice track.
Rock (Instrumental)
Thin dry country guitar lead this cover of the traditional "Amapola." Nothing unusual, but very competent. The Valiants are from The Hague.
Dry Surf (Instrumental)
The Belairs' ultra classic "Mr. Moto" is softly covered. Like the original, it's dry. Unlike the original, it's low key and almost black-tie pristine.
My Indonesian Girl MOR (Instrumental)
This is a soft and shimmering MOR track destined for post night out recreation. Slushy and vibrato schmoozed.
Wheels MOR (Instrumental)
The String-A-Longs' "Wheels" is even more MOR than the original. Lower key and smoother, but still quite listenable.
Melody In F Rock (Instrumental)
This is a fast rockin' Euro guitar instro with no particular distinguishing sound or melody. "Melody In F" just seems to fade from memory after playing.
Rockabilly (Instrumental)
This is a way fun rockin' cover of "San Antonio Rose" in an almost rockabilly vein. Lots of bounce and great drums pounding at breakneck speed.
MOR Rock (Instrumental)
Damped and plucked echoed guitar out front over an MOR backtrack. Catchy in that I don't wanna like it way. Lots of charm.
Shadows (Instrumental)
The Shadows' often covered "The Savage" is well done, with more drums than most.
Holiday Moon MOR (Instrumental)
This is an MOR guitar piece sporting beautiful guitar and distant romantic sound. The Explosion Rockets were formed in 1978.
Midnight MOR Rock (Instrumental)
This is just another cover of the Shadows' "Midnight."
Rock (Instrumental)
Like an echoed and twanged Ventures tune, "Ajoen Ajoen" is bouncy and very cool, with whammy action and some edge. Nice track.
Rock (Instrumental)
The Fireballs' "Carioca" is rocked with great drums and echoed guitar replacing the reverbed guitar. tasteful.
Rock (Instrumental)
The instro is slow and dramatic, but the Surphonics soon slide into a straight Shadowsy arrangement. Some cool percussion and silky sound make it just a cut above.
Poupee De Cire Poupee De Son Rock (Instrumental)
Solid drums support a tasteful version of "Poupee De Cire Poupee De Son." Not quite moody, but a little on the sad side, and with some vibrato chords.
Rock (Instrumental)
The Shadows' "Man Of Mystery" is reverently laid out. Nothing new.
Rock (Instrumental)
The drummer does well with this, making his own mark, but the recording muffles the kit too much, removing much of the power. The guitars seem uninspired, but the duel chord attack in different octaves gives the tune new life.
MOR Rock (Instrumental)
The Surphonics slow "Sleep Walk" down to a silken crawl. The distant guitar has none of the intensity of the original, and takes the song into MOR territory.