Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Collection: Teenage Memories - Eleki Graffitti - Best Japanese Intrumentls Volume 1
 | This 6 CD set is amazing. Remastered from original sources, and thoroughly annotated, it chronicles the highest profile eleki bands of sixties Japan. Go-Go vs. eleki |
Picks: Slaughter On 10th Avenue, Point Panic, Surf Party, Theme From Karen, Wild Week-End, Kickstand, Diamond Head, The Cruel Sea, Tragic Wind, Bombora, Dynamite, L. A. Plus Belle Pour Danser, Fly Me To The Moon, Tony, On The Beach, Dizzy Miss Lizzy, Gold Finger, True Love Ways, Maka Tao, I Dig Rock and Roll Music, I Love You, Sunny, Japanese Title, Zigeunerweisen, A Dark Town, Black Sand Beach, Crazy Driving, Bulldog, Mariner No. 4, Apache, Cryin' In A Storm, Black Eyes, The High And the Mighty, Love Potion No. 9, Blue Jean Blues, Galaxy, Ajoen Ajoen, I Go To Pieces, Japanese Title, Blue Fingers, Into Each Sadness, La La La, Hallelujah, 96 Tears, My Mary, Seaside Bound, The Fallin' Leaves, San Francisco, Daydream Believer, Japanese Title, Space Express, Karelia, Two Guitars, Japanese Title, Caravan, Keep Searching, My Bonnie, Out Of Limits, Troika, When The Saints Go Marching In, Japanese Title, Eroica, Green Hornet, We Love You, Summer Wine, Okay!, Japanese Title, Japanese Title, Japanese Title, Zero-Fighter, Japanese Title, Mini Mini Rock, Blue Chateau, S.P.I., Wipe Out, Beethoven's 5th, Terry's Theme, Test Driver, The Rising Guitar, Feedback Guitar, The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise, Batman Theme, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Lullaby Of The Leaves, The Second To Heaven, Paper Back Writer, Japanese Title, Golden Guitar, The Sidewinder, Japanese Title, Japanese Title, Japanese Title, Walk Don't Run, Ski A Go-Go, Misirlou, Blue Jean No. 1, I'll Remember The Rain, Pearly Shells, Fire Works, Japanese Title, Walk Don't Run '64, Hot Rod Party, 650 Scrambler, Hot Doggin', James Bond Theme, Thunderbirds Theme, Bumble Boogie, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, Manchurian Beat, Japanese Title, Japanese Title, Japanese Title, Telstar, Japanese Title, Japanese Title, In A Lonesome City, Japanese Title, Japanese Title, Japanese Title, Jingle Bells, Joy To The World, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, Silent Night, Blue Christmas, Auld Lang Sine, Last Space Train, Sentimental Guitar, Blue Comet '66, Japanese Title, Japanese Title, Japanese Title, Japanese Title, Love Only For You, Japanese Title, Japanese Title, Japanese Title, Japanese Title, Japanese Title, Japanese Title, Ride The Wild Surf, Summer Means Fun, Fugitive, Japanese Title, Japanese Title, Japanese Title, Seven Nights, My Rosy Dress, Third Man Theme, The Hidden Love, Rudolph The Rednosed Reindeer
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a pretty adventurous interpretation of the show tune. It's based on the Ventures arrangement of course, but the individuality of the session is adequate to keep it from being just a cover. Very nice.
Surf (Instrumental)
Opening with the beginning shout and surf from the Surfaris' version, this is a very aggressive instro for Japanese surf. Very fast and accurate picking and lots of energy, missing only the loudness and reverb of American surf. A fine cover!
Surf (Instrumental)
This is an interesting interpretation of the Astronauts film theme. It's more rhythmic due to a generally dry sound, and the organ adds a strange twist as well. The glissandoes are well played and the arrangement works very well.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Surfaris did this vocally (as did several Japanese artists of the day), but Terauchi Takeshi and his Blue Jeans have chosen to treat it instrumentally, and it works pretty well, though it's a little cheesy at times.
Surf (Instrumental)
Takeshi Terauchi's lead guitar is very Ventures-ish, while the second guitar is damped and reverbed. Some verses are led by the organ. This version of the Rockin' Rebels' hit is pretty tame, but mostly because of the recording techniques of the day (play quiet please, this is a lab, not an alley).
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a spirited performance of the Ventures track, with way-too-cool grodie glissandoes added. It rocks and rolls with that Ventures go-go sound, but more reverb. Extra suave.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Ventures' classic surf monster is done in a relatively straight fashion, though the guitars and organ are doing slightly morphed things in some parts. It's a very nice cover, with quite a bit of character and flair.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a strange version of Mike Maxfield's only surfish instro. The guitars are dry and the organ gives it a bizarre twist. The guitar rises and falls in level in a circulating way.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Tragic Winds" is the Chantays' tune. The drama and the glissandoes are retained, and the surf feel as well, with some reverb and plenty of twang. It's maybe more disjointed than the original. The organ gives it an odd feel, but overall this works really well.
Surf (Instrumental)
It's the Atlantics' international hit "Bombora" that's covered here. The arrangement is less spitfire and more rhythmic. The organ gives it an ethereal quality. The guitar tone is quite surfy. Tasty.
Fuzz (Instrumental)
Talk about your angular fuzz monsters! The circular riff and grodie backing are catchy and very surfable. Melodic and powerful, with a dark edge and a fifties break with a walking bass line. Cool track.
L. A. Plus Belle Pour Danser Eleki (Instrumental)
The weirdness of whammified guitar trickery moves an otherwise twangy junior league Duane Eddy-ish intro into a kind of space rock sound. Light weight and tweaky.
Eleki (Instrumental)
The lighter side of eleki is well represented in this cover of a pop standard done by a million MOR artists. Cool drums and easy guitar sound.
Eleki (Instrumental)
The Savages' do a version of "Tony" that's reminiscent of "Moon River." Very light and pretty.
Eleki (Instrumental)
"On The Beach" is a long way from anything remotely surf. Playful in an adult contemporary kinda way, in other words, not rockin', though there are a couple of cool stinging whammy chords and brushes with double picking.
Dizzy Miss Lizzy Rock (Instrumental)
This is the Larry Williams tune the Beatles hit with early on. The tone is ultra thin, and the organ derived from a mall near you. Cheesy.
Gold Finger Lite Rock (Instrumental)
John Barry's "Gold Finger" is an oddly arranged song, with very restrained vibrato lead guitar over a very light weight rhythm track. Not very interesting, though the speedy verse is pretty comical.
Rock (Instrumental)
The fast shimmer of the lead guitar's vibrato makes this Buddy Holly and the Crickets classic seem like an invitation to the midway. Pretty darn fluffy.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Maka Tao" is a low brow cover ofKai Winding's "Surf Bird." The arrangement is very much like American studio sessions of the day, that is to say it is without chemistry or soul.
I Dig Rock and Roll Music Deranged Rock (Instrumental)
Funky riff rockin' pre-psych tweaky... oddly interesting in an unexpected trip sort of way. The arrangement masks the pop song source pretty well. "I Dig Rock and Roll Music" is a kind of theme for a carnival for the disturbed.
Rock (Instrumental)
Heavily echoed guitar and a truly odd cover of "I Love You," a song originally from San Jose's People back in 1966, and it's so completely different in texture that it's hard to recognize.
Rock (Instrumental)
Bobby Hebb's cheesy pop song "Sunny" is the target of this moderately paced and light weight cover. Pop psych is dawning on eleki in 1966 when this was cut, and the guitar tone shows it.
Rock (Instrumental)
I don't know what the title of this is, but it's likely a traditional Japanese melody. This is more interesting than most tracks from Swing West because of it's genuine roots. Instead of imitating American (Ventures) sounds, it seems to come right out of the culture after being shifted through rock 'n' roll. Excellent.
Greek Surf (Instrumental)
Cool double picked Russian or Greek guitar, delicately dribbling notes, moody bass. But wait, that's just the 55 second intro. After that, the guitar flies and the almost polka backtrack drag you grinning into the surf. Very cool!
Rock (Instrumental)
The circular melody line of the opening promises a song that does not arrive. In its place is a soft rock romancer. Pleasant, but uninspired.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is the original version of "Black Sand Beach." This is a spectacularly good track with intense rhythm and guitar tone. For my money, it epitomizes eleki! Recorded in late '65, issued in '66.
Rock (Instrumental)
Chunky churning power train rock for the track. Pounding drums, chunky rhythm guitar chops, and a spiffy little riff. You can almost see Eddy Angel doing this one.
Rock (Instrumental)
This 1966 take on the Fireballs' "Bulldog" is slower and less delicate. Restrained twang replaces muted reverb for an oddly less human take on this classic. Still, it's an interesting transmutation.
Surf (Instrumental)
This cover of the Ventures' track is a cross between spacy, b>Ventures and surf. The mix of tones is endearing, and the rhythmic midsection is very cool. The damped pluckery is quite tasty. A solid track.
Surf (Instrumental)
The guitar is OK, but the organ whistling out a calliope of arrow attacks keeps it from going over the top. It's energetic enough, but more cute than cool. The muted guitar stuff and the rhythmic rhythm, and the carnival sound is just so strange on this melody. Still, it's pretty unique.
Surf (Instrumental)
The twang gives this version of "Cryin' In A Storm" a smooth feel, and the organ even works fairly well, with a more garage and less calliope tone. Tasty construction and solid dramatic drums.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Black Eyes" is a translation error from "Dark Eyes." This classic European melody is interesting in this much less emotional format. Where sadness and a sense of fate ooze from virtually all versions of this song, Hiroshi Tsutsumi and his All Stars Wagon portray it as a more sterile song. This is really quite cool.
Light Rock (Instrumental)
Ultra soft, easy listening shimmer for candle lit encounters. Not more than nice.
Fuzz (Instrumental)
The Robins' "Love Potion No. 9" is fuzzy and very Ventures like. An OK arrangement does not overcome the lack of chemistry. Angular guitar.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Blue Jean Blues" is like the title implies, a rockin' bluesy jam. The tone is very Ventures. Not very melodic, but high spirited. It's nice enough, but doesn't grab me.
Galaxy Light Space Rock (Instrumental)
Double picking and organ, heavy drums, and chorus. Perhaps inspired by the Tornados or the Shadows. Lots of spirit, but just too poppy for me.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Ajoen Ajoen" verges on "Old Smokey." Bouncy and click-click muted, with a small combo playfulness. Much more fun than cool, like a sideshow at the carnival where chicken bop used to reign.
Light Rock (Instrumental)
Patsy Cline really didn't mean this to happen. This is really quite nice, with echoed vibrato guitar and a nice backtrack. The whistling organ is sorta haunted. It's more than MOR, but less than rock.
Light Rock (Instrumental)
Terry and the Blue Jeans lighter material is much less interesting than his more edgy songs. This is nice, but doesn't rock.
Go-Go (Instrumental)
1967's "Blue Fingers" sports a much louder and heavier guitar than most eleki. The organ is go-go (bad), but the guitar rips in a mid sixties go-go (good) way.
MOR Surf (Instrumental)
A haunted reverby guitar plays in islandic tones. The melody line is sad, but also optimistic. The organ is quite carnival in tine, but does not detract from the piece, though it does move it a notch away from surf and into MOR.
Go-Go (Instrumental)
Pop song converted to go-go instro... The story of eleki once surf let go, and this is as typical as any. The Ventures model and the chop of "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" combine for a good vehicle for the whammy guitar edge.
Eleki (Instrumental)
This is quite a fine instro, with a great rhythm and catchy guitar line. The organ is kinda cheesy, but the song overall works quite well. It's 1967, and the Grateful Dead are already playing long mindless jams, but in Japan, eleki still has a hold. Quite fun.
Rock (Instrumental)
Rudy Martinez' plaintiff "96 Tears" is really quite fun in this very Go-Go arrangement. That circulating-pumping organ just always works. Yikes!
Rock (Instrumental)
The melody here is very pretty, and that provides an interesting vehicle for the Van Dogs to rock more than usual. Slightly Greek sounding, and a little moody, with cool drums.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Seaside Bound" remionds me some of the Joe Saraceno sessions of old. Not at all soulful, but rather contrived. The sax and drums are fine.
MOR (Instrumental)
Every orchestra in the fifties in the US played Joseph Kosma's song, also called "Autumn Leaves." This is a loungy sub-jazz version with not really much personality.
Pop Psych (Instrumental)
Scott McKenzie's pop psych anthem from the Summer of Love is actually quite nice in this arrangement. "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair)" flows well on the guitar, and the small combo rhythm track seems very appropriate.
Pop (Instrumental)
Talk about pop! The Monkeys' "Daydream Believer" is OK, but it's the droney swirl of the demented organ that makes it seem so strange, while the rest of the track seems normal, like crazy cousin Ned hiding in the closet.
Rock (Instrumental)
I don't know what the title of this is, but it's likely a traditional Japanese melody. This is more interesting than most tracks from Swing West because of it's genuine roots. Instead of imitating American (Ventures) sounds, it seems to come right out of the culture after being shifted through rock 'n' roll. Excellent.
Eleki (Instrumental)
Great wild whammy, rising cymbals, a cowboy rhythm, and "Apache"-"Diamond Head" string swipes. "Space Express" is an adventure in strange attraction. In many ways, it's quite demented, while also being an attractive song. Great drums rock your world while the dementia lures you in.
Eleki (Instrumental)
This traditional melody is interesting against the light chop-chord backtrack. It's not as sad as most, and yet intriguing in its oddness.
Surf (Instrumental)
As you might expect from the title, two guitars play against each other, one surf rhythm, one surfish eleki, while the organ supports with bass and drums. This is a wholly unusual track with an attraction much like a car wreck. Not really pretty, but you can't disengage. In many ways, "Two Guitars" is on the verge of greatness.
Eleki (Instrumental)
This is a nicely done instro, with a pretty melody that's likely traditional Japanese. It's on the light side, and is perhaps closer to the Euro sounds of the sixties than surf.
Rock (Instrumental)
This is the Ventures arrangement. It's dry and spunky, whammified and infectious. The performance is quite good, and the spirits are high. Some of the guitar work is quite surfy and exotic.
Eleki (Instrumental)
Del Shannon's classic rocker is spun off into the tide pool of eleki. This is a little pompous in its drama, but never the less works quite well. On the heavy side for eleki, and sporting some fine stereo muted guitar work. Quite cool!
Light Eleki (Instrumental)
This is a combination of small combo and surf thrash as Terauchi Takeshi and his Blue Jeans tackle the classic "My Bonnie" as if they wrote it. It would be cool if it weren't so funny. Frantic and very odd.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is actually a pretty decent cover of the Marketts' hit. It's reverby and very small combo suave. The warbling organ is cool, and adds an intimate edge to the arrangement.
Rock (Instrumental)
This traditional Russian song is whammied, warbled, and weirded out in an endearing way. The Russian melody brings forth the image alright, but imagine seeing it through clown's eyes at the carnival of souls. Disturbing, light, inventive, and very strange.
When The Saints Go Marching In Rock (Instrumental)
This is a somewhat dark rendering of "When The Saints Go Marching In." A little stiff, but rhythmic and fun. The guitars are heavier than most eleki, but it's also nonmagnetic.
Rock (Instrumental)
This Japanese song is played atop a music bed that owes its life to Del Shannon's "Runaway." It's an interesting contrast, given that the melody is more flowing and romantic than the backtrack would lead you to expect. Muted echoed rhythm guitar dominated coolness.
Light Rock (Instrumental)
This is a fine melody in a moderately interesting arrangemnt verging on MOR.
Rock (Instrumental)
The arrangement here has the stiff mechanical sound of most of Joe Saraceno's sessions. Not at all "real." Some nice double picked surf guitar does not really make this more than OK.
Pop Psych (Instrumental)
Slow pop psych fuzz flows very nicely through "We Love You." The production reminds me of an attempt to mimic Ed Cobb, though it's not really that derivative. Nice track.
MOR (Instrumental)
Soft MOR for a backdrop. "Summer Wine" is really nice, it' just not inspired or particularly memorable.
Rock (Instrumental)
A screaming woman warns of who knows what. Big guitar and an intentional sound. "Okay!" seems to be quite contrived.
Rock (Instrumental)
I don't know what the title of this is, but it's likely a traditional Japanese melody. This is more interesting than most tracks from Swing West because of it's genuine roots. Instead of imitating American (Ventures) sounds, it seems to come right out of the culture after being shifted through rock 'n' roll. Excellent.
Rock (Instrumental)
I don't know what the title of this is, but it's likely a traditional Japanese melody. This is more interesting than most tracks from Swing West because of it's genuine roots. Instead of imitating American (Ventures) sounds, it seems to come right out of the culture after being shifted through rock 'n' roll. Excellent.
Rock (Instrumental)
Outstanding traditional guitar sounds, gentle drama, mysterious beauty. This is a fine track with a marvelously original sound. If rock 'n' roll had evolved in japan instead of the US, it might have sounded like this. Very cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
"Zero-Fighter" sports haunting surf guitar, a moody soft melody with a classic surf rhythm, an eastern sense, and a nearly genuine surf feel. More than just unique, this is a very cool song.
Rock (Instrumental)
A bouncing beat and eastern European or Mediterranean ethic in eleki twang form. I can't decide if I like this or not.
Rock (Instrumental)
Cheap organ, choppy chords, a playful riff, and a carnival sound. This is fun and almost silly, but not the sort of track that brings you back.
Blue Chateau Rock (Instrumental)
Pumping organ rhythm, a European guitar melody, and an unmemorable overall effect. This just does not attract attention.
Go-Go Fuzz (Instrumental)
Heavy fuzz, like Davie Allan wannabe rock. The interesting chop of the rhythm and the heaviness of the sixties fuzz is offset by the cheesy organ.
Wipe Out Rock (Instrumental)
This is an oddly jazzy version of the Surfaris' "Wipe Out." Not at all strong, and the horns give it a ceesy "Batman" quality.
Rock (Instrumental)
Rapid fire guitar wizardry is displayed on "Beethoven's 5th" with alternating staccato and sustained notes. The guitar against the lush keys creates a kind of tension of style. Dramatic and fun. Recorded September 1967.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Terry's Theme" is a semi fuzzy piece with a Ventures' go-go sound and a melody that's a lot like an Elvis Costello song, but of course it predates him by 25+ years. melodic and twangy. Recorded December 1966.
Rock (Instrumental)
Great drums open this semi-psychedelic song. "Test Driver" is riff dominated, accented with near zero whammy dips and thick textures. An interesting track.
Rock (Instrumental)
Rock (Instrumental)
The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise Rock (Instrumental)
Rock (Instrumental)
Rock (Instrumental)
Rock (Instrumental)
Rock (Instrumental)
Rock (Instrumental)
Rock (Instrumental)
Rock (Instrumental)
Rock (Instrumental)
Rock (Instrumental)
Rock (Instrumental)
Rock (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a very original arrangement of "Walk Don't Run," with organ in the lead and dangly-dry guitar rhythms nervously flailing. That may sound strange, but it's really quite something to hear.
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Boy, is this different. The fiery double picked lead guitar is there alright, but the rest of the track is totally different, from the long drum and dramatic big chord intro to the organ and the accompaniment chords and the non-surf beat, and then the nearly traditional arrangement mid stream. Exceptional.
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Rock (Instrumental)
Never did Christmas sound like this! Great dry chop rhythm and lead guitar. Entirely original arrangement with a grin required for listening.
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town Rock (Instrumental)
Rock (Instrumental)
Rock (Instrumental)
Rock (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Rock (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Surf (Instrumental)
Rudolph The Rednosed Reindeer Surf (Instrumental)