Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Supertones - Are Go!!!
 | Most of the tracks here have appeared on one or more of the earlier CD-R vault purges. This time out, the mixes are better, giving the performances a much more flattering sound. Most are covers, many just different enough to make the cut. The originals are quite good. |
Picks: Telstar, Avanti, Lullaby Of The Leaves, Surf Rider, Hot Line, Rawhide, Diamonds, Hawaii Five-0, Last Ride, Rumble, Freefall, Wingnut, 1,000 Foot Road, Oceanside, Harbor Patrol, Penetration, K-39, Sand Pumper, Bulldog, Channel Nine, Torque Wrench, Mr. Moto, Runaway, Out Of Limits, Surfista, Walk, Don't Run, No Matter What Shape, Bumble Bee Twist
Track by Track Review
Telstar Space (Instrumental)
The effects are cool, but the arrangement's organ lead just lacks the power and grodiness of the Tornados' original.
Surf (Instrumental)
Well, not that I'm gonna let the fact that this track is named after my favorite automobile ever made influence my review, but... The lead/rhythm counter melodies are really nice to hear in surf. It has a great feel to it. I like it a lot... and the car too! This fine melody is warm and inviting, in a cool sorta way. The glissandoes are great, and the trad feel updated just enough. Excellent drums and rhythm.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Ventures' arrangement of this venerable classic, while competent and enjoyable, breaks no new ground, and has nothing that really makes it theirs.
Surf (Instrumental)
A little too fast to capture the point of the original or the Lively Ones' classic cut, yet with excellent drums and a groovy batch of whammy, it makes the grade. The raspy low down sax is a nice touch. Quite cool.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Hot Line" is a fine original, with cool glissandoes and an interesting melody riff. The drums are very fine, and the really high wet runs are great... no, that's not diarrhea from drugs...
Surf (Instrumental)
Link Wray's classic opens with "how 'bout I kick your fat ass... "Rawhide!" The piano is a nice touch, giving this surf grunge treatment a vintage sound despite the fuzz bass. Nice track.
Surf (Instrumental)
Version three of Jet Harris and Tony Meehan' song from the Supertones is different yet again. Rhythmic and more moderately rocked, this almost Ventures arrangement is friendly and lighter weight than previous attempts.
Surf (Instrumental)
The TV theme brought to the masses on radio by the Ventures is loosened up a bit by the Supertones. The percussion makes it all work.
Surf (Instrumental)
Their best original, almost. More energy than most of their other tracks. An infectious riff and rhythmic backtrack, pushed out with a real surf sound and a great walking bass line. Nice track for sure.
Rumble Surf (Instrumental)
Just plain grodie... lo-fi sound and a little too fast pace...
Surf (Instrumental)
A quiet and different arrangement of Richie Podolor's wonderful melody. The acoustic rhythm guitar is a nice touch, and carries this right along. Sad and moody, and a little exotic, "Freefall" is a pleasant respite from the angry sea.
Surf (Instrumental)
Excellent super high damped picking accents this solid rendering. Very pleasing track, with tasty glissandoes and an open road rhythm.
Surf (Instrumental)
Without the hot rod peeling out, "1000 Foot Road" becomes much more interesting. The band launches into a rhythmic number that relies on a cool riff and really nice guitar picking.
Surf (Instrumental)
Speaking of Podolor, he played lead guitar on the Super Stocks original version of this Gary Usher tune. Very smooth and less energetic than the Super Stocks.
Surf (Instrumental)
Very restrained tune with a nice structure and great sound. The buoy samples are cool. The melody riff is interesting, and the tone very appropriate for the theme. Quite surfy.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Pyramids' hit, well played in an eighties LA surf band light, with lots of energy but not much freshness. The arrangement is essentially the Ventures', though it's much warmer and sports tasty whammy.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Challengers' excellent single revamped slightly with crunchy drums and solid playing. Less energy than the original, but nicely phrased and quite enjoyable.
Surf (Instrumental)
Tasty rhythms and a friendly riff together in a solid original. The riff is varied by climbing ever higher up the neck and onto the low-E. Fast and very fun.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Fireballs surfed up and slightly energized. Sorta like the Ventures cover it I think. Nothing special.
Surf (Instrumental)
A gentle cover of one of the Challengers' best originals, also known as "Hop Scotch." Very nice gentlemen.
Ventures Surf (Instrumental)
Bits of "Competition Coupe" and a Ventures-ish dryer sound. Great drums, and a solid effort in a nineties surf vein.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Belairs' classic played well, with more drum energy than guitar spiff. It's solid, but not remarkable.
Surf (Instrumental)
A more rock-surf rendering of "Runaway" than the Chantays or other typically trad treatments.
Surf (Instrumental)
A moderate cover of the Mar-Ketts' classic hit.
Surf (Instrumental)
Great Spanish bull fight chords and a racing melody riff with warm open road leanings... nicely structured and a tip of the hat to the Super Stocks style. Nice track.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Ventures arrangement of the Johnny Smith track, all grunged our with reverb and fuzz bass.
Surf (Instrumental)
The T-Bones' TV ad hit in a muddy format with OK arranging.
Surf (Instrumental)
More Ventures worship here. Competent, but not particularly interesting, though the bridge chords are pretty darn cool.