Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Split: Let's Go Surfside with The Denvermen and The Avengers VI
 | The great thing about the rising commercial success of surf and the falling prices of CD's is that all kinds of impossibly rare items are finding their way into the stores. This compilation is a twofer of sorts... so, the details are under the artists, the Denvermen, and the Avengers VI. Suffice it so say here that this New Zealand release was a total surprise, and a mighty fine discovery.
Australia's big Kahunas of the instro sound the Denvermen, along with the Atlantics. Aussie Surf in the sixties was much more heavily dependent on the European sound than the surf sound. The name "surf" applied in the same way that many people identify anything instrumental as surf music, and with some "surf" titles... So, these guys were like a slightly less energetic version of the Atlantics, whose two albums were reissued last year on CD. If you like the Shadows or the Atlantics, you'll probably like this. If you're looking for a Surfaris down under, you'll be disappointed. This CD is a New Zealand release, probably not entirely legit, and it sounds like it is from really clean vinyl, not master tapes. CD.
Just 2 months ago, I found a stereo copy of the Avengers VI's Mrs. Faruki's Suzuki with three tracks from these cats, and I paid entirely too much for it! So, here comes their entire album, which I'd only seen photos of! Bob Dalley chronicled their surf lives in his book Surfin Guitars, and a precious few of their tracks have appeared on various indie comps. It's interesting to find a band who took an alternate route for releases. Their album (on this CD) called Real Cool Hits (1966) was a promotional tool for Good Humor Ice Cream, with the band pictured on the cover in front and on top of a Good Humor truck. The three tracks on the Suzuki promo compilation are from this album. This CD contains the sum total of their releases, before they became the Californians. This New Zealand release is probably not entirely legit, and it sounds like it is from really clean vinyl. CD. |
Picks: The Avengers VI - Heartbeat, Downtown, Mr. Lucky, None But The Brave, Slaughter On Tenth Avenue, Pipeline, Peter Gunn, Time Bomb, The Denvermen - Surf City Stomp, Mystery Wave, Ho-Dad, Back Rip, Surf Patrol, Surfer's Blues
Track by Track Review
The Avengers VI - Heartbeat Surf (Instrumental)
"Heartbeat" is one of the great surf obscuros. It has a minor sadness, and a minimal melody that really works, backed by a cool walking backtrack, and great accents. Excellent whammy, and ringing tone. This is one of the essential surf tracks.
The Avengers VI - Downtown Surf (Instrumental)
Yup, this is the theme from "Chariots Of Fire" all decked out with a new wave guitar, electric piano, and prancing sensibility. You can just see them grinning while they dash this out. Completely fun.
The Avengers VI - Mr. Lucky Surf (Instrumental)
TV and film scores were often on the charts through the early sixties. Many were covered by the MOR artists. Some also found their way into surf band set lists. This is a good example of what surf bands did with the hits du jour.
The Avengers VI - None But The Brave Surf (Instrumental)
A film score styled original, melodic and well suited to the surf idiom. This is an enjoyable listen, with some very nice guitar work in a slightly Duane Eddy vein, especially in the break .
The Avengers VI - The Good Humor Stomp Surf (Instrumental)
This is a lot like some of the faster guitar boogies from the fifties, but reverbed out. It's not melodic. The break features the organ player.
The Avengers VI - Slaughter On Tenth Avenue Surf (Instrumental)
"Eskimo Surf" sports an infectious melody, a rock edge, and cool almost xylophone-like keyboards. Nice arrangements, and very unusual writing combine to create a fresh and appealing sound. Almost dinner surf, maybe supermarket surf, but not in the negative way you might think of from that, but quite pleasant and very accessible. Fine track.
The Avengers VI - Pipeline Surf (Instrumental)
The Mar-Ketts classic tune, back from the dead like a discordant vampire in search of an abandoned neck. The ska backbeat and electric piano lead lines are very cool. It's a highly unusual treatment of this over covered tune. New Wave thumpy, TVOD pointed, and gnat irritating in a good way.
The Avengers VI - Summer Place Sock Hop Surf (Instrumental)
The theme from "Summer Place" is tinkly slowly and gently played out with no particular enthusiasm or hook. Sock hop.
The Avengers VI - Peter Gunn Surf (Instrumental)
This is a really fine surf rendering of Henry Mancini's detective theme. It's less gutty than Dick Dale's Le Disc session, but very reverby and chunky. Big twang, ultra damped reverbed rhythm, and splashy danger. Very cool!
The Avengers VI - Time Bomb Surf (Instrumental)
This is a splendid original, with drum fury and a magnetic melody line that is quite sad. The organ and guitar trade roles from verse to verse. Minimal, but really cool.
The Denvermen - Surf City Stomp Oz Surf (Instrumental)
This is an interesting blending of the Shadows sound and the surf sound. Much more oriented to the Euro instro sound, it does have some of the feel of the surf. The guitar employs echo in lieu of reverb, and the rhythm guitar is dry. The drums roll and thunder. This is a great track, but not very close to surf.
The Denvermen - On The Beach Oz Surf (Instrumental)
Adding shore break sounds to an echoed guitar playing a Euro melody does not make it surf. It is a fine track though, with a solid melody and a pleasing overall sound.
The Denvermen - Mystery Wave Oz Surf (Instrumental)
Pure Shadows ethic, and a military beat. haunting and enjoyable, it wreaks Hank Marvin influences, both in guitar tone and arrangement. No surf at all in the classic American sense, but a lot more than just a Shadows clone.
The Denvermen - Surfside Romance Oz Surf (Instrumental)
This is a really slow Euro instro, pretty, but mostly a backdrop. Very gentle.
Oz Surf (Instrumental)
The Shadows' sound abounds here, though slightly more gutty. The melody is almost spaghetti western influenced,... just a hint. Great drums and energy.
The Denvermen - Surfer Cha-Cha Oz Surf (Instrumental)
Over echoed guitar and a cha cha beat... restrained, like many British instros of the period. Very "old fart" styled.
Oz Surf (Instrumental)
This is a nice track, slow and almost Indian flavored. It is pretty gentle, but you can imagine a rippin' surf cover. The melody is sad and fluid. I presume "back rip" means "rip tide."
The Denvermen - Let's Go Surfside Oz Surf (Instrumental)
Throbbing vibrato like Duane Eddy, with the sort of melody you'd expect from Duane. The bridge is distracting, at odds with the melody, with a noodling overdub quality.
The Denvermen - Spanish Sands Oz Surf (Instrumental)
Acoustic guitar solo, a pretty Spanish style melody, and a very gentile delivery. This is quite a nice track.
The Denvermen - Quiet Beach Oz Surf (Instrumental)
Swimming whammy, Hank Marvin tone, and a slow pace. Pretty, but unremarkable.
The Denvermen - Surf Patrol Oz Surf (Instrumental)
This is damn close to the Shadows' "FBI." The melody is a bit different, but the backtrack is right on the money. It's not quite as fluffy as "FBI," but it is very friendly. Derivative, but enjoyable.
The Denvermen - Surfer's Blues Oz Surf (Instrumental)
"Surfer's Blues" is a really slow number, with a big Duane Eddy sound. It's also extremely close to John D. Loudermilk's "What Am I Living For."