Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Jet Blacks - Jovem Guarda
 | This is a priceless collection of songs from the Jet Blacks. Much of it is over produced with strings and horns, but a few tracks are irresistible. Vocals include such charming top forty hits as Sam The Sham and the Pharoahs' "Little Red Riding Hood" ("Chapeuzinho Vermelho"), Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas' "World Without Love" ("Meu Sol E Voce"), and Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders' "Game Of Love" ("Sonho Dos Meus Sonhos"). |
Picks: Wonderful Land, Ring Of Fire, Geronimo, Tema Para Jovens Enamorados, Boudha, Diggedle Boeing, Apache, Suspicion, Riders In The Sky (a cowboy legend), Les Indiens, Aria Da 4th Cobra
Track by Track Review
Shadows (Instrumental)
Jerry Lordan's "Wonderful Land" is very softly played, with strings and a lighter Hank Marvin sound. Very pretty.
Ring Of Fire MOR (Instrumental)
This is a very poppy guitar instro treatment of Johnny Cash's great "Ring Of Fire." Very light weight, with strings, and a wailing sax.
Shadows (Instrumental)
The Shadows' "Geronimo" is very softly done, with mariachi horns adding a bizarre edge. Not just unusual, but fascinating, like a pop song you can't stop whistling even though you dislike it intensely. Cool!
Tema Para Jovens Enamorados Shadows (Instrumental)
Another song in the shadow of Hank Marvin, "Tema Para Jovens Enamorados" ("Theme For Young Lovers") is a soft and fluid song with a wispy melody and quietly attractive sound.
Rock (Instrumental)
This is a primal and intriguing song. "Boudha" opens with a low down cry of "boo-dah." Tribal drums and a fifties rhythm underscore a basic riff rocker that's quite enjoyable and just slightly Asian. Groovy!
Diggedle Boeing MOR (Instrumental)
"Diggedle Boeing" moves softly through a fine melody line. It's augmented with strings and French horns for that MOR sound.
Shadows (Instrumental)
The Shadows' arrangement of Jerry Lordan's "Apache" is nicely done. Definitely soft, with tribal drums in the bridge.
Rock (Instrumental)
Elvis Presley's "Suspicion" is softly portrayed with rock 'n' roll credibility. Long thought to be very surfable, this rock instro interpretation just adds fuel to the fire. Very nice arrangement.
Riders In The Sky (a cowboy legend) Cowboy (Instrumental)
Well now, this is unusual! The horse whinnies are delivered by a very Equestrian sax. It makes you want to laugh, yet is somehow quite cool! Deep low guitar shimmers in throaty vibrato out front. "Riders In The Sky (a cowboy legend)" is entirely cool!
Shadows (Instrumental)
This is a great song all squished down into an MOR structure. It's spaghetti western ethics and adventurous beat are smothered by the horns and strings. It really wants to be great...
Aria Da 4th Cobra MOR (Instrumental)
The organ plays out like Procol Harum on a ghostly day. Almost surfisms come from the guitar, creating an odd contrast to the sullen morbidity of the keys.