Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA  | Lots of common surf pop here, plus a few instros. The audio quality is poor - not particularly distorted, just no high end at all. Interestingly, The Mysterions' "Bite" appears for the first time. This is an mp3 only release, and Is likely not from legitimate sources. Some of the vinyl rips are pathetic - for instance, The Mysterions' Jerico Rock is at first glance a minute longer than other versions, but that is lust lock groove noise from the recorder not being shut of after the song ended, and then not cleaned up either. |
Picks: The Mysterions - Bite, Jericho Rock, The Storms - Makin' Out, Shot Down, Thunder
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a really murky track - no highs at all. The middle part is significantly different from the rest, somewhat jammy, but compelling. Tribal drums thunder throughout.
The Mysterions - Jericho Rock 
Surf (Instrumental)
A solid surf variation on the biblical tune. This works really well, while it also has a silly air to it. Almost any melodic piece can be surfed up. They do a fine job with the song, playing fast and using lots of chunka-chunka and rolling raging drums.
Big Guitar (Instrumental)
Whoa! This is major pre surf twang. It's nastier than the Storms single, more rhythmic and pumped, less rich. It's downright sensual. Yikes! Makes you wanna go in the back seat with your baby... Plas Johnson plays sax with the Storms on this track.
Surfabilly (Instrumental)
Like a Mexican cantina that features cannelloni, this very pretty number reminds me of some of the Farina brothers' writing, a bit of the Buddy Merrill styling, and slinky Latin quarter sensuality. A nice tune, moody, mystical, and smooth. Like a Jim Thomas construction, this moodily meanders through some interesting guitar tones and shimmering delicate melody ideas, displaying island visions and wahine sway.
Surf (Instrumental)
With the manic energy if a less than correctly wired board rider in storm surf, this track angrily disorients the listener with a defined reality filter. Intense and nervous. "Thunder" was one of the singles that inspired the first generation of surfbands, from Paul Johnson onward.