Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

The legendary Joe Meek produced these tracks. Some show his brilliance, others just show contrived studio time filling. As a band, I think they were most influenced by Chuck Rio and his band the Champs, plus Al Caiola and the Duane Eddy sound. This CD has little to do with surf, and everything to do with the UK Shadows scene. It is interesting for it's historical references only, though there are a couple of decent tracks worth a spin on any surf show.

Picks: Lone Rider, Stage To Cimarron, Sunburst, Fireball, Shiftless Sam, Blue Tango, Isle Of Capri, Brer Robert, Miller Like Wow, Twistin' The Chestnuts, Black Buffalo, Fandango, Sunday Date, Bitter Rice, Hangover, P. F. B. (Phil The Fluter's Ball)

Shadows-like (Instrumental)

Low-E Shadows inspired track with honking fifties sax in the back, and a decidedly slow Bonanza / Ghost Riders feel. Love the whammy stingers. A pretty cool track!

Western (Instrumental)

A nifty number with a decidedly western feel, and sorta Lawrence Welk rhythm and horns. Unusual, and catchy.

Duane Eddy-like (Instrumental)

Duane Eddyish track, right down to the Steve Douglas wanna be sax lines and Al Casey guitar sound. Manic pace and energy. Cool!

Surf (Instrumental)

With opening guitar chords reminiscent of GT Stringer, and there the similarity ends...whistling organ, sappy sax, and an MOR feel.

Surf (Instrumental)

Fake Mariachi sound, and thick production don't particularly cut the mustard...

Surf (Instrumental)

Huge drums, and quirky melody on guitar and Mariachi horns...and just so so. Pretty MOR for my taste.

Surf (Instrumental)

Plucky MOR mariachi horns again...more interesting than most, but just not very interesting...contrived almost.

Surf (Instrumental)

Too much like "Ten Little Indians" for me... dumb, and sax lead. The guitar break is nice though.

Surf (Instrumental)

Yeah, well, the horns just don't get it... There's a beginning of something that could have been developed, but it's just to "instant," as it were.

Surf (Instrumental)

Indian themes and a decidedly "Willie & the Hand Jive" rhythm track. Guitar-horn call and response. Infectious in it's own way, but not particularly great. It has a lot of the Duane Eddy "Rebel Rouser" thing to it. Pretty derivative.

Surf (Instrumental)

A tango, with feet firmly planted in the MOR box from which sprang Buddy Merrill and Al Caiola, but with less interest. The one nifty bit is the use of super low pipe organ notes churning away underneath.

Surf (Instrumental)

"Tequila" Y Piltdown stew. Derivative, and just so-so. The extreme compression on the reverbed hand claps is cool. It's things like that which made Joe Meek's legend.

UK Guitar (Instrumental)

Thumpie and plunky and chunky. A paean to Chuck Rio. It is infectious, though a little tame.