Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

This 24 track CD compiles American Rhythm & Blues instrumentals from the forties well into the sixties. there are a couple of tracks here that surfbands used to cover, and a couple more that make you wonder about the roots of surf. Historic and well documented in the liners.

Picks: Honky Tonk, Honky Tonk Part 2, Hide Away, Blues For The Red Boy, Flamingo, Long Gone, Long Gone, Pot Likker, The Big Push, After Hours, Slow Walk, San-Ho-Zay, Washboard Story, Early In The Morning Blues, Green's Blues, Gainesville, Strollin' With Nolen, In The Morning, Space Guitar, Louisiana Hop, River Boat Dock, Let's Rock (Let's Surf Awhile), The Stumble, Hold It

Rock Groove (Instrumental)

This suave sax and guitar blues jam is a classic. It swings with simplicity and hooks you with little effort. very cool indeed.

Rock Groove (Instrumental)

Part two is a trip into the annex of the song, equally cool and infectious.

Pre-Surf Blues (Instrumental)

This track has been covered by many a surf band, and for obvious reasons. The blues roots of surf, particularly the South Bay scene, leant itself to this sort of tune. The melody is strong, and the funky groove nature of the track gives an air of soul to the set. Boogie based, and infectious.

R&B (Instrumental)

Plinky piano drives this raw sax rumbler. It's like a strip joint classic from the fifties, but remember, this came out in 1948! Swank and saucy.

R&B (Instrumental)

1951 saw this suave sax moaner on the charts. Race records were slowly catching on underground in America, and it's tracks like this that brought the raw side of life to teenage ears.

R&B (Instrumental)

This si a slow walking R&B groove with very cool plinky piano lead. You can just see rubber limbed bodies moving in the smoky dark cafe.

R&B (Instrumental)

Part two continues down the road to the place where the soft sax duets with the piano. Swanker than the A-side.

R&B (Instrumental)

Slow walkin' slow talkin' sax and roll with runway drums and a virile urgency just beneath the surface.

R&B (Instrumental)

This coulda been the backtrack to Ed Byrnes' "Kookie Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb," but with the melody line from Little Richard's "Lucille" saxed over the top.

R&B (Instrumental)

Guitar groovin' late into the "wee wee hours" where the eyes are getting heavy and the room is emptied out. Some double picked guitar begs the question.

R&B (Instrumental)

Bill Doggett was master of the slow churchy groove strained through a whiskey glass. More soul than "Honky Tonk," but in that groove for sure. Quite sensual.

Pre-Surf Blues (Instrumental)

Another track that has found it's way into many surf sets, this is a splendidly surfable track. It's bluesy nature and melodic sense are infectious and demand attention. Likable from the get-go, this is just plain good music.

R&B (Instrumental)

This is very raw and bluesy, even for 1957. It's a slow jam progression, and sounds grodie enough to be from a decade earlier. Guitar crudeness and simplicity, augmented with sax sauce to go.

R&B (Instrumental)

Honkin' on the sax, squirtin' on the backing, piano plunder, boss bass, and relentless drums march this smoky den tune. Very cool!

R&B (Instrumental)

"Green's Blues" is a pretty straight forward blues jam, with rolling piano and guitar under a swank sax. Nice track from '58.

R&B (Instrumental)

Long leaning sax grunts, slow plinking piano, and blues guitar jams...

R&B (Instrumental)

Jumpin' jivin' blues 'n' roll from Jimmy Nolen. The stinging guitar jams with intensity while the bass pumps and grinds.

R&B (Instrumental)

Liquid guitar and sax play a saucy red velvet dress whiskey glass kinda tune. Oh so inviting, if you dare go where inhibitions are prohibited.

Pre Surf R&B (Instrumental)

Chopped guitar and reverbed stinging attack on guitar. It's a jumpin' jam, but the reverb in and out gives it a seven year lead on surf. Pretty interesting for sure.

R&B (Instrumental)

Orchestral leftovers, with cool guitar licks and grodie horn harmonies. Pretty basic, but earthy as well.

R&B (Instrumental)

Like a low intensity "Harlem Nocturne," this has that rumble on the docks detective in the fog sound. Raspy sax and soulful grooves.

R&B (Instrumental)

This duet issued this as "Lets Surf Awhile" as well as "Let's Rock." There's not a lick of salt water in it, but as an R&B rocker from '64, it's very dated.

Blues (Instrumental)

Not included in surf sets, but frequently used by British Blues bands later on, this is playful and rhythmic track, with a definite appeal.

R&B (Instrumental)

The riffs in "Hold It" have been incorporated in dozens of blues jams. Ultra simple, yet uniquely catchy and cool.