Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Split: The Olympics and the Marathons
 | This is extra weird. It's all from vinyl, and it looks like an R&B release, but the last four tracks are surf/rock instros. The R&B material from the Olympics aka the Marathons is all great of course, but the addition of The Belairs and The Fugitives is just too strange, and the limited liner notes don't even mention them. It's all from the Arvee label. Very strange coupling. |
Picks: The Belairs - Mr. Moto, Little Brown Jug, The Fugitives - Freeway
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
This is it, their claim to fame, their most familiar song, and the first surf release from May 1961 on Arvee Records. "Mr. Moto" is just about the most influential surf instro ever. "Mr. Moto" came to be a surf classic, and was recorded and released months before Dick Dale's "Let's Go Trippin'," before he opened the Rendezvous Ballroom, and before it was called surf. If you must draw a line in the sand, it must be drawn here. "Mr. Moto" was recorded at Liberty.
Covered by countless others, this song features 15 year olds Paul Johnson and Eddie Bertrand trading guitar parts in their trademark style on a prototypical PJ writing masterpiece. Jim Roberts' piano work is stunningly perfect for this song. A historical absolutely must have!
The Belairs - Little Brown Jug Surf (Instrumental)
This was the B-side to "Mr. Moto." It shows the rhythmic nature of Paul and Eddie's synergy, and their penchant for familiar childhood tunes reconstructed to fit their need. ItŐs easily the best version of this tune around. Recorded at Liberty, this is the original unedited version, without the removal of the botched line from Paul.
Spanish R&B (Instrumental)
Piano boogie coolness, riffin' R&B jungle, crisp tone, and a sax lead riff. It rolls along like an open road anthem for the sax generation. It's got the same kinda feel as Little Juarez's "Bull Fight" or the Hollywood Persuaders' "Tijuana Taxi." Darn infectious.
The Fugitives - Fugitive Rock (Instrumental)
Percussive piano riffin, sax progressin', and energy, but nowhere near as interesting or fun as "Freeway." Pretty Standard, like a tame Little Richard piece without the vocals.