Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
The Sanctions - Then Came The Electric Prunesdotdotdot
artwork

The Sanctions were James Lowe - lead guitar, Ken Williams - lead guitar, Mark Tulin - bass / organ, and Mike Weakley drums. The vocals by the Sanctions are reverb drenched top forty covers, all crudely cut.

There are also four tracks from the band under their later name Jim and the Lords, who were the same with the return of pre-recording member Dick Hargrave. These tracks bridge the Rolling Stones / Leaves garage gap, but still sport lots of reverb.

By the time they became the Electric Prunes and were in full swing, Mike Weakley and Dick Hargrave were replaced by Mike Gannon - rhythm guitar, and Quint - drums. Their indelible mark with glorious songs like "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night," "Sold To The Highest Bidder," "The Great Banana Hoax," and "Get Me To The World On Time," shaped the direction of rock 'n' roll.

There are only two surf instros here.

Picks: Moon Dawg, Jack The Ripper

Track by Track Review


Moon Dawg dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

This pre-surf standard, originally released by Derry Weavers' band the Gamblers, is energetic and youthful. The tone is like a cruddy version of the Surfaris. They were very young, their spirit and willingness outflanking their musicianship at this early stage. Their playing and the sound aside, this is an honest document of surf in the garages of America circa 1965. Recorded March 27, 1965 direct to disc at Russ Bottomley's home in Woodland Hills, California.

Jack The Ripper dotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

While the cruddy sound buries the lead in the murk, the infectious energy and youthful exuberance keep this afloat. Nothing special here, just a capsule of a changing time. Link Wray's edge is replaced with reverb. Recorded March 27, 1965 direct to disc at Russ Bottomley's home in Woodland Hills, California.