Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

Canadian legends Wes Dakus and the Rebels, sometimes called the Club 93 Rebels, cut some seminal instros in the late fifties and early sixties, including at least one picked up by the Fireballs. This long overdue first volume of vault purges shows off one of the roots of surf.

Picks: Pink Canary, Road Block, Taboo, Remind Me, El Ringo, Creepy, The Mexican, Cavalier Twist, Walk Down, Dog Food, Surfs You Rite, Pedro's Girlfriend, Pedro's Girlfriend, Pedro's Pad, Side Winder, Side Winder

Rock (Instrumental)

This is a thoroughly cool instro, especially when compared to most from 1959. Whammy dipped notes, a very warm and inviting riff, and really clean sound. As with virtually everything before surf, "Pink Canary" doesn't go through enough changes, but it is so well done for the era that it's very engaging. Excellent!

Rock (Instrumental)

"Road Block" is a basic riff rocker with an AABA format and a catchy little riff. Sax honks in the break and the track hints of the Routers' "Let's Go" at times, though it predates it by 3+ years.

Rock (Instrumental)

Margarita Lecuona's and Bob Russell's saucy "Taboo" is done in a very interesting fashion. While it's not loud per say, it's definitely rock instro with solid horn bridges. The muted lines are very cool too. This is a solid version of this venerable exotica melody.

Rock (Instrumental)

"Remind Me" reminds me a bit of the mariachi flavored studio sessions of s few years hence, such and the Pretenders' "Tijuana Taxi," only a lot smoother and less amped up. This sax lead song sports a great circulating guitar riff and a saucy sound. Very cool!

Rock (Instrumental)

This wonderful instro is just so warm and cool (no, that's not an contradiction). Great twang and a very catchy riff, along with an infectious rhythm track. Bob Clarke's "El Ringo" was a staple for the Fireballs.

Rock (Instrumental)

This nasty-sax roller is pretty minimal, yet has something very cool about it. The sax lines, while pretty basic, capture you. It's a tasteful instro with some almost surf guitar lines.

Rock (Instrumental)

the melody riff here is very well developed. It runs in a circle and shows off the UK influence. Quite nice. This is not the Shadows tune.

Rock (Instrumental)

"Cavalier Twist" is a basic riff rocker based on the rhythm progression used in "Night Train," but without the melody line. Not very impressive when compared to others here.

Rock (Instrumental)

Chords replace melody notes as "Walk Down" romps along. It's quite repetitious, and yet it's infectious in its own way. An almost one note break completes the picture.

Rock (Instrumental)

Calls of "here boy" and the sound of sniffing permeate "Dog Food," which is not untypical of so many R&B instros of the day. It's gimmicky and fun, but unremarkable.

Rock (Instrumental)

Surf in title only, "Surfs You Rite" is a circular riff rocker with sax accompaniment and a structure more like the Hollywood session Mariachi instros of the day. It's quite fun and all, just not surf.

Rock (Instrumental)

This is the backtrack for "Pedro's Girlfriend," with just drums, bass, muted rhythm guitar, and sax. It's always fun to here how tracks were built. This stands up pretty well without the lead.

Rock (Instrumental)

Overdubbed with little flute squirts, there's not really added to the effectiveness except for a bit of pop fluff.

Rock (Instrumental)

This is the single release version, which has a more engaging sound, but is still not much ahead of the undubbed track. Very similar to the "overdubbed" version.

Rock (Instrumental)

"Side Winder" is a rockin' little track with a very infectious rhythm and great guitar chords. This works pretty well just as is, and the drums are are superb!

Rock (Instrumental)

The released version is fuller and more edgy, with a bit of a low down honkin' sax. Very catchy and fun, and those drums are still very hot in the break.