Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Collection: Super Rock Instrumentals From The Past
 | This LP contains some mighty fine instrumentals, including both sides of the ultra rare Goldtones single. Marvelous. |
Picks: The Viking Rock, Mr. K. Rocks The Blues, Gutterball, Strike, Back Down, Breaktime, Thunder Storm, Drag Race, Pushin', Rockin' It Out (Take 2), Amnesia, Fas-Nacht-Kuechel, Keep Movin', Hippo's Boogie, Don's Boogie, Fast Track, Your Cheatin' Heart, D. J.'s Theme
Track by Track Review
Rock (Instrumental)
This 1959 single rocks like a Chubby Checker twister with a nearly surf toned lead guitar and a wailing sax. High energy, but no real melody.
Sax Rock (Instrumental)
A groovy walking guitar line duets with a nasty sax on this ominous back alley rocker. Riff rock with great piano.
Lap Steel Surf (Instrumental)
This 1963 single is simply one of the finest ultra intense surf obscuros. The Goldtones were 15 years old. They cut this and it's B-side for a local TV bowling show theme. The lap steel lead is double picked and scraped into a frenzy by Glenn Ross Campbell, who went on to the Misunderstood, Juicy Lucy, and the Dirty Blues Band.
Lap Steel Surf (Instrumental)
From the pins crashing in the opener, this rocker is a lot like the A-side, except with more a riff orientation. Rhythmic and intense, "Strike" is a powerhouse of lap steel drive and rock chunk. Great drums.
Pre Surf (Instrumental)
Released in the year of surf's infancy ('61), "Back Down" sports a surf guitar tone and drums that fit the bill as well, but a rhythm and bass that fall more into the fifties sound of Johnny Burnette and the Rock and Roll Trio. You can just hear the surf about to break in the flying guitar.
Pre Surf (Instrumental)
Chord dominated, yet just about in the surf groove sound wise. Some double picking and lots of splashy guitar riffs. The sax is mean and the bell superb, with surf whammy as well. Fine track.
Surf (Instrumental)
As with the A-side of this single, "Thunder Storm" is a rockin cool tune. Raging drums and a riffin' guitar.
Surf (Instrumental)
Unusual guitar and surf sounds merge to create a very cool tune, with a playful lead riff and solid bass and raging drums. Lots of fun, and a bit of surf too.
Pushin' Saucy Sax (Instrumental)
This semi Vegas style sax instro is saucy and fluid, with a walking bass and cool piano. This is a previously unissued demo.
Rockin' It Out (Take 2) Sax Rock (Instrumental)
Sax riff rock, hard jammin' cacophony for the band with no melody, yet high energy like a frat raging party monster. This is a previously unissued demo.
Pre Surf Rock (Instrumental)
Extra cool vibrato guitar, playing a familiar riff with grinning flair. The slides are fun, and the beat infectious.
Fas-Nacht-Kuechel Fifties Rock & Roll (Instrumental)
One of the great under rated bands from greater Minneapolis. This track is a boogie, and these boys knew how to boogie! Not their best work, but nor shabby either. Some of their work was quite surfy. This is not.
Keep Movin' Sax Rock (Instrumental)
A guitar boogie like Jimmy Reed's "Boogie in the Dark," but faster and less inspired. The bad sax is a nice touch.
Hippo's Boogie Rock Boogie (Instrumental)
Like you might expect, "Hippo's Boogie" is a rock boogie played with lively fingers on a fine piano.
Don's Boogie Boogie (Instrumental)
Soft spoken country rhythm boogie with peculiarly surfy lead guitar tones are found in this 1960 single. The murky sound masks the piano and the infectious innocence.
Rock (Instrumental)
So, the magic question is, just how many bands have used the moniker Sting Rays? I'll bet it's in the hundreds at least. This is a fast moving freight train drivin' monster, with excellent damped rhythm guitar, something like the Fendermen might have done.
Piano Rock (Instrumental)
"Your Cheatin' Heart" is a rockin' piano interpretation of the Hank Williams' hit.
D. J.'s Theme Sax Rock (Instrumental)
Sax riff rock with "havin' a good time" slogans... nothing particularly memorable.