Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Denvermen - Surfside and Other Great Instrumentals
 | Canetoad reissued there original LP with 6 bonus tracks. Lots to like here! |
Picks: Outback, The Mexican, Surfside, Lisa Maree, Nightrider, Stomp Fever, Mystery Wave, Vaquero, Surfers Blues, The Proud Ones
Track by Track Review
Oz Surf (Instrumental)
This early rumbler from the Denvermen is mean and deeper than most of their instros, with a dark inversion of Duane Eddy's sound, non too subtly pushed to a dangerous brink. The break is carried by a nasty, if primitive sax. A great track!
Originally HMV single EA-4491.
Oz Surf (Instrumental)
"The Mexican" owes a great deal to the echoed Shadows sound, but is also more edgy. The melody doesn't really imply Mexico or Spanish themes, though there is a bit of an El Cid feel here and there. Quite dramatic.
Originally HMV single EA-4491.
Oz Surf (Instrumental)
Islandic sock hop slow dance romantic guitar instro with surf sounds. It nearly makes it into the crying guitar category. Very pretty and smooth. Originally HMV single EA-4506, "Surfside" went to number one on the Australian charts.
Oz Surf (Instrumental)
Damped pluckery, Shadows-ish guitar tone, tribal drums, and an infectious melody line. Not really surf, yet quite accessible and aquatic. Sultry and cool. "Lisa Maree" was the B-side of "Surfside."
Oz Surf (Instrumental)
Gunshots ring out, then a galloping rhythm track kicks in to support a light weight but fun melody line. A little on the fluff side, yet quite credible, "Nightrider" is a tastefully done slightly gimmicky track with significant appeal.
Oz Surf (Instrumental)
As the title implies, this is a soft and pretty bit of guitar romance. "Blue Mountain" was the hit side of HMV EA-4545, backed by "Nightrider," and was a top twenty hit in 1963.
Oz Surf (Instrumental)
This is a moderately interesting track with a more or less American pop single sound. Close to the Duane Eddy envelope, "Avalon Stomp" peaked at number 5 in 1963, backed with "Harbour Cruise."
Oz Surf (Instrumental)
Another slow dance romancer destined for the B-side, "Harbour Cruise" is pretty, but unremarkable.
Oz Surf (Instrumental)
"Stomp Fever" was the first single issued after the Denvermen switched to RCA from HMV. It's launched by rolling drums and a menacing dry surf rhythm guitar and almost Atlantics' lead. Quite powerful and haunting!
Oz Surf (Instrumental)
the flip side of "Stomp Fever," this song reached only to number 31 in Oz, and was their last charting single. It's a very pretty Shadows influenced song. For my money, the wrong side charted.
Oz Surf (Instrumental)
Pure Shadows ethic, and a military beat. haunting and enjoyable, it wreaks Hank Marvin influences, both in guitar tone and arrangement. No surf at all in the classic American sense, but a lot more than just a Shadows clone.
Oz Surf (Instrumental)
Acoustic guitar solo, a pretty Spanish style melody, and a very gentile delivery. This is quite a nice track.
Oz Surf (Instrumental)
"The Rebel" is a racing piece in the Atlantics' frantic drums and pace mold. The strings dampen the spirit of the track, as do the horns, but it's still a tuff rocker.
Oz Surf (Instrumental)
This is a pretty straight dry treatment of one of the Fireballs' coolest songs. It's very well played and enjoyable.
Oz Surf (Instrumental)
Deep throated Duane Eddy meets the "Restless Wind" on a dock. Surfable and moody.
MOR (Instrumental)
Bouncy pop fluff with strings and light weight rim work. Pretty and fluid, and way too poppy.
Route #1 MOR (Instrumental)
This Duane Eddy tune is country fried with a bouncy pop lilt. Completely forgettable.
She's Gone Rock (Instrumental)
"She's Gone" is a quirky Shadows tune done in a bit of a gimmicky way.