Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Phantom Raiders - New Sound '67
 | Can you spell young? The Phantom raiders were just babies. Randy Lee (13) - lead guitar, Eddie Smith (13) - rhythm guitar, Ricky Lee (14) - rhythm guitar, Doug Almond (14) - bass, and Mitch Miller (13) - drums. They hadn't heard about the Summer of Love. It's small productions like this that provide the precious few glimpses into the backwater garage bands of the sixties. The sound is dreadfully muddy, but the high school play honesty demands a certain respect. |
Picks: Stickshift, New Sound '67, Walk, DonŐt Run, Pipeline, Wipe Out
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
The Phantom Raiders do a credible cover of the Duals' tune, more nasty and less reverby. The performance is stilted, but the teenage garage honesty is unmistakable.
Surf (Instrumental)
Trembling vibrato lead guitar plays an original tune that is actually quite nice. The shimmer makes this work really well. The profound innocence of the track just hooks you in. "New Sound '67" their only original. Excellent.
Surf (Instrumental)
Just a so-so version of the Ventures' classic 1960 arrangement, enhanced with a few original filigrees. Pretty pedestrian overall, but then they are mighty young.
Surf (Instrumental)
A mighty rough glissando opens up this honest and simple cover of the Chantays' classic. It has non of their flair, but it does reflect a homespun appreciation for the genre, more Ventures like than surf, but still cool. Some of the arrangement work tells the story of not quite working out the melody and structure correctly.
Surf (Instrumental)
High flyin' drums, and spirited guitar work. The two don't quite stay in sync, and the guitar riffs are not quite right. Like a family photo album, you had to be there.