Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
The Jet Blacks - Againdotdotdot
artworkThis is a cool 1963 album of rock instros. It's album number two from The Jet Blacks. No surf, but there are a few very nice instros.
Picks: Caravan, The Stranger, Rhythm Of The Rain, Mary Ann

Track by Track Review


Caravan dotdotdot
Rock (Instrumental)

Tribal drums rock the joint as The Jet Blacks get into Duke Ellington's "Caravan." Raw sax and rumbling bass are very cool, but this is a drum song, and this version is no exception. Quite nice.

Let's Go dotdot
Rock (Instrumental)

"Let's Go" is a fifties style instro with a sax riff endlessly cycling. Not very interesting.

The Stranger dotdotdot
Rock (Instrumental)

The Shadows' classic song is done with too much reverence to set t apart. "The Stranger" is nicely captured, but its arrangement and style is just one of many.

Rhythm Of The Rain dotdotdot
Rock (Instrumental)

The Cascades' "Rhythm Of The Rain" is good fodder for a gentle twangster. The Jet Blacks milk its romantic quotient to the hilt. Saucy and cool, with deep twang guitar and raspy sax.

The Battle dotdotdot
Rock (Instrumental)

"The Battle," aka "Battle Hymn Of The Republic," is done like a hundred Southern bands did it in the fifties. Great tremolo twang, but it wants to be Duane Eddy too much.

Jingle Bells dotdot
Rock (Instrumental)

Stereotypical fifties low end rock holiday fair. Nothing to write home about.

Peace Pipe dotdot
Shadows (Instrumental)

The Shadows' "Peace Pipe" is covered the way virtually all bands do it - just like the original. Echoed guitar and long flowing soft notes.

Kon Tiki dotdotdot
Rock (Instrumental)

This is a too-reverent cover of The Shadows' "Kon-Tiki." Great tremolo, but nothing else about it has original character.

King Neptune's Guitar dotdotdot
Rock (Instrumental)

Tremolo guitar and squonky sax take "King Neptune's Guitar" nearly into surf territory, at least until the double time verses come along - which are just fifties rock style.

Mary Ann dotdotdot
Rock (Instrumental)

This is a fun number with a fun riff in The Fireballs vein. It's probably a Fireballs cover, but I cant place it. In any event, "Mary Ann" is a nicely done track with an easy Southwest sound.

Twist Train dotdot
Rock (Instrumental)

"Night Train" is done in a very pedestrian fashion. Cool drums, though.

The Gospel Theme dotdot
Rock (Instrumental)

In part, this is a radical rearrangement of "When Those Saints Go Marching In." but even so, it's like they are trying too hard. Forgettable.