Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Collection: The Tucson Sound 1960-1968
 | Six of the sixteen tracks on this comp are instrumentals, all from sixties bands from the Tucson area. A couple are surf or have enough surf influence to fit in well, most notable the Clashmen's "Boondocker." |
Picks: Scandal, Break-Away, Boondocker, Everywhere I Go, Something Different, Turn On
Track by Track Review
Rock (Instrumental)
This vibrant instro is period guitar rock, with more chord progressions than melody, thought the progression is often carried by a vibrato lead. Spunky and rambunctious, and worth a spin or two.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Break-Away" reminds me a little of a cross between Lonnie Mack and Travis Wammack, with a warbly guitar and jammy riff orientation. Pretty infectious, and quite minimal.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a marvelous surf single. The sound is heavily damped reverb rhythms with solid open surf leads. Thumpy and pure primal surf from lanklocked teenagers. This has long been a fave. Very cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Everywhere I Go" is a surf based rhythmic chord charmer. It sports a happy riff and a rich arrangement. Surf guitar in the lead with active choking and tumbling tom toms. Very infectious. The Ventures covered "Everywhere I Go," renaming it "Tomorrow's Love" and taking writer's credit from Ron Story.
Something Different Rock (Instrumental)
"Something Different" is a Johnny and the Hurricanes wannabe that falls short of the mark. Very jam like. Then again Richard Stormy (Richard Gomez) was only 14 when it was cut.
Surf (Instrumental)
Thrashy rhythmic and drum powered, "Turn On" is a high energy number with a throbbing bass line and raging drums, as well as speedy double pick guitar work. Rockin' drums and splashy chords in a hard driving performance with some double picking. The sound and style are not surf, but some guitar licks are. Quite interesting.