Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Jet Blacks - Hully Gully
 | Sixties rock instro from the European theater... some pretty darn tasty. Occasionally ringing tang and near surf muted rhythm make this pretty unusual for the time and place. |
Picks: Bulldog, Ten Green Bottles, The Phantomas, Fire Ball Mail, Raw Hide, Avaian War Chant, Smokey
Track by Track Review
Rock (Instrumental)
This is an echo driven cover of The Fireballs' "Bulldog." It's pretty darn spunky, and quite fun to listen to. Not particularly powerful, but cool nonetheless.
Rock (Instrumental)
This is a rousing and fun version of the British children's song. It's unexpectedly cool, though not really a bring-backer.
Near Surf (Instrumental)
This is splendid! While not exactly high energy, its sound is crisp and the playing very strong. There's plenty here that suggests The Jet Blacks heard actual surf music. It's slowly rung out chords are very sensual, and its infectious sound just right.
Rock (Instrumental)
The traditional instro "Fire Ball Mail" is laid out on lap steel and sax, and the echo creates an almost island surf edge. Pretty darn cool.
Rock (Instrumental)
This is quite a nice version of Link Wray's "Raw Hide," though it's fairly low energy. That's the engineer's fault, not the band's. Pumping bass and a few brief drum moments along with twang. Very tasteful.
Rock (Instrumental)
Little Richard's "Lucille" is done as an instro with guitar cycling the classic riff and sax honking out the lead lines. Very spunky and fun.
Rock (Instrumental)
Great tribal drums and pumping bass are the main features of this mostly guitar version of "Hawaiian War Chant." It's all fun, all the way through, particularly at the hands of the drummer.
Twisting Time Rock (Instrumental)
"Twisting Time" is a pedestrian fifties style sax instro groover. It's fun enough, but it's also completely forgettable.
Rock (Instrumental)
That riff dominates on guitar along with cool tom toms and piano. The R&B feel is there, but it's mostly white bread. If not for the drummer, this version of Ray Charles' "What'd I Say" would slip into obscurity.
Shadows (Instrumental)
The Shadows' arrangement of Jerry Lordan's "Apache" is nicely done. Definitely soft, with tribal drums in the bridge.
Rock (Instrumental)
A cowboy beat and echoed guitar lines playfully entertain. This is neither heavy nor particularly original, but it really does have the fun thing down. Turns out I like this.
Wildwood Rock (Instrumental)
Slide guitar moments, but otherwise, "Wildwood" is a poor man's "Wildwood Flower" less the flower. The arrangement if quite original, but the mix is so bad that it's sometimes hard to recognize.