Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA  | The complete works of the Australian almost surf band that Ron Wilson borrowed "Murphie The Surfie" from. many cool tracks here, plus good liner notes for the history buff. |
Picks: Midnite Surfer, Southern 'Rora, Murphy The Surfie, Boots, Saddle and Surfboard, Shazam, Limbo Rock, Swamped, Highway , Memphis Stomp, The Frolic, Sandy The Surfin' Sandfly, Standin' and Stompin', Kurrawatha, Istanbul, Night Coach To Rio, Wild Love, (Theme From) The Ant Hill, The Bluebird, Strictly Instrumental, Skin Deep, Feelin' Blue, Henpecked, Whistling Rufus, Waltz Of The Flowers, Hindustan, Gavotte Espresso, Summertime, Smokey Mokes, Jambalaya, Bye Bye Baby Goodbye
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a lot like a Shadows tune, with Hank Marvin string bending and a similar light weight melody line. Quite pretty in a moderately loud way, "Midnite Surfer" has a liquid line, and sports some echoed damped guitar.
Surf (Instrumental)
The train comes down the track, and then the Joy Boys launch into a fine instro with a solid driving sound. On the Shadows with edge side, but well developed with very strong guitar.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is the single the Surfaris covered. High spirited Aussie surf, infectious melody lines, and spunky playing. This is due out from the masters in a couple of months.
Boots, Saddle and Surfboard 
Surf (Instrumental)
Ride 'em cowboy! Spunky exuberant playing, a circular melody line, a playful arrangement, and some fine damped picking. Tuff drums and thumpin' bass complete the picture, along with requisite whoops and hollers.
Shazam Surf (Instrumental)
This is a bit of a strange cover of Duane Eddy's "Shazam." The source is quite evident, yet the horns are at times way strange.
Surf (Instrumental)
Billy Strange's "Limbo Rock" is moderately covered. It's fun, but not as spirited as the Champs' hit.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Swamped" is an infectious tune with a catchy circular riff and lots of energy in the backtrack. A little like Travis Wammack and the Belairs with glissandos. Very cool!
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a very Shadowsy number, but faster and sounding like the Atlantics. Lots of energy and intensity, to say nothing of quick whammy action. It also has some influences from the Atlantics' "Bombora" in evidence.
Surf (Instrumental)
Chuck Berry's "Memphis" is played with oomph, and in a vein that lies between Lonnie Mack and the original. Infectious and fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a lot like the Shadows' "FBI," but slightly more melodic. Choppy and rhythmic, with fun in mind.
Sandy The Surfin' Sandfly Surf (Instrumental)
This is very much like the Atlantics doing an intense modern surf tune. Hot and fiery, with rolling drums a-pounding, and lots of power. Excellent!
Surf (Instrumental)
Well inside the Atlantics' tent, "Standin' and Stompin'" romps and stomps with rolling raging drums and intense twang. Fiery guitar work and a bunch of energy.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a groovy track. Slow and vibrato cool, with some intriguing guitar trickery and a military beat. It's softly intense. Very nice track.
Surf (Instrumental)
One of the cooler covers of this hit from the forties. "Istanbul" has a big band sense, great drums, and a grin. Excellent!
Surf (Instrumental)
"Night Coach To Rio" rides above a wood block cowboy beat like a surfer on a trail drive. The mixture of styles and the catchy riffs are irresistible. Exotic, western, and very playful.
Surf (Instrumental)
Heavy echoed low-E guitar simulates double pickling, while the "Washington Square" influenced melody drives it home. Intense, infectious, and cool.
(Theme From) The Ant Hill Surf (Instrumental)
"(Theme From) The Ant Hill" is a very Shadows inspired tune, with bongos and an exotica beat. In some ways, it could have been a Preston Epps tune. Splashy and high energy.
Surf (Instrumental)
In a move towards a grodie vision of the Shadows, the Joy Boys play a slow and almost moody song that has a European sense about it. The damped high-E verse is very cool. A little on the MOR side.
Surf (Instrumental)
This is a funky country pickin' jammin' piece right outta the hipster generation. Way fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
Louis Bellson's "Skin Deep" gets a rompin' sub Big Band treatment that rocks and frolics. Quite fun.
Blues (Instrumental)
Show vibrato blues 'n' piano roll, with a kind of western saloon sound. Quite interesting, and a definite left turn for the Joy Boys.
Country (Instrumental)
This is a fun for fun's sake country frolic. Nothing serious about it, just plaid table clothe and picnic lunch fun with chicken pickin' guitar licks.
Whistling Rufus Polka (Instrumental)
This song seems like a European transplant, a polka in search of a surfboard. Fun, but unremarkable.
Surf Waltz (Instrumental)
If only the strings hadn't been overdubbed! "Waltz Of The Flowers" is a great vehicle for these guys, and they play it with soft double picked glory.
Surf (Instrumental)
Big band transformation, with near surf rhythms and honkin' sax. More fun than coolness, but worth a spin or two.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Gavotte Espresso" is softer than their other releases. Damped plucky guitar lines give it an almost String-a-longs or Les Paul feel. Bouncy and fun, and light weight liquid.
Surf (Instrumental)
Play the Blues Magoos' backtrack to "We Ain't Got Nothin' Yet " under George Gershwin's bluesy masterpiece with a raspy sax, and you get some idea how cool this might be. Great!
Smokey Mokes MOR (Instrumental)
Playful MOR styled intro work with a bouncy backtrack and frothy melody line. A long ways from their best stuff.
Jambalaya Country (Instrumental)
Hank Williams' classic "Jambalaya" gets a sax and guitar workout. Not original or remarkable, but surely fun.
Bye Bye Baby Goodbye Blues (Instrumental)
This is a softish bluesy romp with not much beyond its fifties roots.