Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Persuaders - Surfer's Nightmare
 | The Persuaders were also the Kreshendoes with Chuck Rio. After Chuck Rio left the Champs, he was involved in a studio project band called the Persuaders, which issued this rare and famous album. These tracks range from mostly Latino R&B to in the neighborhood of surf, with reverb and the right feel. |
Picks: Let's Go Surfin', Taking Off On A Wall, Hanging Ten, Surfer Strip, Surfer's Lullaby, Gremmie Bread, Kahuna Stomp, Toes On The Nose, Caught In The Soup, Surfer's Nightmare, The Raid, Surfin' Blues
Track by Track Review
Latin R&B Rock (Instrumental)
Pumpin' piano, party sax, and honkin' riffs tinkle their way into your living room... it's a jam.
Latin R&B Rock (Instrumental)
Big surf a la Bruce Johnston's "Pajama Party" album, with heavy influences from Mickey and Sylvia. Odd, and quite far from center stage.
Latin R&B Rock (Instrumental)
"Hanging Ten" is way more jam-riff than song. It's plinking piano and bluesy progression tell tales of studio filler.
Latin R&B Rock (Instrumental)
The Persuaders lean heavily on David Rose's "The Stripper" and bluesy riffs, with piano and sax honkery.
Dangerous Surf (Instrumental)
"Surfer's Lullaby" is a slow and shimmering track, lead by vibrato guitar and backed by saucy sax. Not exactly melodic, but really cool. The mood is obvious, the sultry looks cutting, and the danger imminent. Yikes!
Latin R&B Rock (Instrumental)
The title gives it away... "Mama's Little Baby Loves Shortnin' Bread" comes flowing from the childhood gray matter while the boys do a rockin' sax version of the ancient folk tune.
Latin Surf R&B Rock (Instrumental)
Stinging whammy and R&B riffs, shiny aural probes, and raspy sax break lines... a pretty cool track. This was also released as "Kreshendo Stomp" by the Kreshendoes.
Latin Surf R&B Rock (Instrumental)
Jammin' guitar riff rock, nearly watery, and driven, but not even remotely like the Eddie & the Showmen tune that shares the title. Squeelin' sax break, and intense guitar plucking. There's even some damped reverb after the sax snarl.
Latin Surf R&B Rock (Instrumental)
"Caught In The Soup" is a slightly surfy riff rockin' tune, nifty in a rock jam sorta way. Not a standout, but groovy enough. The surf guitar just past the break brings the breakwater into focus.
Latin Surf R&B Rock (Instrumental)
Another jam, surfy guitar tone, and squonkie sax, with cool piano, and a definite groove.
Latin Surf R&B Rock (Instrumental)
"The Raid" is much faster than the others here. It's got more of a manic surf rant style, though it relies on the sax honkin' backtrack like the Crossfires, but without their intense low-E guitar rage. Groovy piano and soulful sax and a riff.
Latin Surf R&B Rock (Instrumental)
This is a slow dramatic sax marauder, with tribal drums and ominous dockside tone. Quite a nice track.