Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
The Lively Ones - Surf Citydotdotdot
artworkA repackage of a lot off their songs from other albums, plus some pedestrian sax lead covers of Beach Boys and Jan & Dean classics. A good set, but not their best package.
Picks: Surf City, Telstar Surf, Heads Up, Malibu Run, Misirlou, Surf Rider, Soul Surfer, Sleep Walk, Crazy Surf, Livin', Tranquilizer, Forty Miles Of Bad Surf

Track by Track Review


Surf City dotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Jan and Dean classic without the vocals. Spirited, but just OK.

Telstar Surf dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

The Tornados had a major hit with Joe Meek's tune, and the whole world discovered Joe's formula super compression and fill every nook and cranny production techniques... a sort of British Phil Specter. This coexisted with the surf movement in the US, and so it was adapted to surf by many a surf band. This version is not the best out there, but certainly is among the top ten.

Heads Up dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Freddie King' "Heads Up" is given a fairly tepid treatment.

Malibu Run dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

A variation on the "Paradise Cove" / "Surfers Lament" theme. Moody, pretty, stunning bottleneck slides. Almost Polynesian, but still a dirge. Very cool.

Misirlou dotdotdotdot
Spy Surf (Instrumental)

No match for the Dick Dale version, but a damn fine rendition anyway. This has something magnetic about it, even though it is in some ways light weight.

Surf Rider dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This is what happens when a real surfband covers a Nokie Edwards (Ventures) tune that had no relation to surf as written. In fact, it started life as a Potato concept song called "Spudnik." This is the grand and beautiful song that runs under the ending credits of Pulp Fiction. This is the full length version, not the single edit.

Soul Surfer dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Wetter tones and thinner sound than the Johnny Fortune original, but it's a good take, with really strong double picked bridges.

Sleep Walk dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Standard fair, with pretty decent slides to simulate the lap steel. Slow dance romantic.

Crazy Surf dotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

A strange barely surf instro that's not very interesting.

Livin' dotdotdot
Bebop Surf (Instrumental)

A Be Bop inspired track with organ and little interest.

Tranquilizer dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This is one of the most infectious and fiery surf instros anywhere, otherwise known as "High Tide." It flies through a staccato lead line, and a softer break. Very powerful. This is one of my favorite classic surf tracks. (fake stereo)

Forty Miles Of Bad Surf dotdotdot
Duane Eddy Surf (Instrumental)

Pre-surf guitar hero Duane Eddy's classic, surfed up for maximum enjoyment.