Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
Thee Midniters - Greatestdotdotdotdot
artworkIf you had to boil down the the whole Chicano sound to one band before the term was applied, before the rise of War and the Plugz, you'd have to come to Thee Midnighters. They were a large band, with eight members in formal suits rockin' with the kind of heart and soul that only East LA can produce. Their contemporaries are well documented in the various East Side collections, but it was the Chattahoochie label that reigned supreme with Thee Midnighters. They only cut one instro, but it is a monster!
Picks: Whittier Blvd.

Track by Track Review


Whittier Blvd. dotdotdotdot
Pachuko Soul (Instrumental)

This is it! "Whittier Blvd." may be the ultimate cruising song. High spirits, rockin' stompin' good fun, and great mariachi horns. This is one of a handful of songs that demonstrate the incredible power of a simple riff that's well written and turned to great effect through outstanding arranging. The bass line is more melodic than the lead lines, yet the guitar and horn section pummel while the rhythm section simply rocks. A must have of the era. It's not surf, but surf bands used to play it. "Whittier Blvd." ended up being their signature, and I think it was their only instro. Totally cool.