Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Collection: The Nightcaps Meet The Satans
 | This is a very cool twofer of sorts, with a number of fine R&B instrumentals from The Nightcaps and extremely rare surf instros from The Satans' lone album. |
Picks: The Nightcaps - Tough, That's All, Old Jose, No Parking, The Satans - Honky Tonk, Last Date, Alabama Jubilee, Detour, Summertime
Track by Track Review
The Nightcaps - Nitecap Rock R&B (Instrumental)
"Nitecap Rock" is a raw R&B rocker with raspy sax and jammy guitar. What it lacks in writing, it makes up for in energy and spunk.
The Nightcaps - Tough, That's All R&B (Instrumental)
Slow silky guitar romances the night in this sultry smoky bar number. Romantic, slithering cool, and very well phrased. Very nice guitar work, harmonics, and warmth. Excellent track!
R&B (Instrumental)
"Old Jose" is a bouncy number with fun percussion and plinky piano. While more or less a riff rocker, its charm and spunk overcome the limitations that usually implies.
The Nightcaps - No Parking R&B (Instrumental)
Soulful cool down blues, with lovely guitar, gentle drums and cymbals, and a mysterious melody line that's exotic and slightly south of the border. The narrative supports the Mexico theme. Very cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
Really trashy lo-fi surf, with the trembling guitar, whammy dips, and piano. Very small town authentic, and quite fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
Bill Dogget's "Honky Tonk" is reverbed and honked, with an R&B edge and a bit of surf underneath. Low brow, but quite charming.
Surf (Instrumental)
Floyd Cramer's "Last Date" is slushed and slithered on piano and surf guitar. You can just see the slow dance anticipation at the high school dance. Gentle and friendly.
The Satans - Alabama Jubilee Surf (Instrumental)
This is a rockin' romp through George L. Cobb, Jack Yellen's "Alabama Jubilee." It's all splash and fun. There is way more energy and youthful exuberance here than talent, but that won't limit your enjoyment.
Surf (Instrumental)
Duane Eddy's "Detour" is richly surfed and pumped up. Perhaps the coolest of the tracks from The Satans, this is captivating and splendidly spunky. Not as cool as The Lonely Ones' "Wah-Hou," but in that direction.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Mink Slide" slithers in a sultry swampy way. It's surely just a jam, but lots of fun and energy lie within.
Surf (Instrumental)
George Gershwin's "Summertime" moves slowly through delicate piano, stinging whammy surf chords, and reverb. This may be the most original surf interpretation I've heard. Very cool!
The Satans - Ivory Marbles Rock (Instrumental)
If you guessed from the title that "Ivory Marbles" was a piano instro, you were right. Genuine and kind of moody.
The Satans - No Trespassing Surf (Instrumental)
The Ventures' "No Trespassing" is pumped up and exuberant, but too jammy to really bring you back. A ton of energy with an immediate sound.