Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Surf Riders - Ten Tons Of Wet (Johnny Kitchen Presents The Surf Riders) (Remastered)
 | Ten Tons Of Wet (Johnny Kitchen Presents The Surf Riders) (Remastered) 2011 is The Cornells' album in rechanneled stereo and poorly restored from vinyl - pops and clicks left in. Stick to the real deal on Sundazed. |
Picks: Agja Ole, Ten Tons Of Wet, Caravan, Miserlou, Riding The Curl, Hashboard
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
This is so close to "Sloop John B," that it is hard to defend it as the original their producer claims it to be. It is spirited, infectious, and has elements of exotica in it. It's a nice track. "Agja Ole" was originally titled "Aqua Caliente" on the Cornells' release.
Surf (Instrumental)
Opening with a whammy chord, this is a dry surf number, among the surfiest on the album. It's rhythm and riff orientation, accented by a wailin' sax break is prototypical surf single fare. A nice track. "Ten Tons Of Wet" is a retitled "Beachbound."
Surf (Instrumental)
Duke Ellington's famous pre-exotica masterpiece is rearranged into a semi surf, highly rhythmic track that is sax led, and infectious. It's energy carries it. This cool track has a similar feel to the Royal Tones' "Flamingo Express."
Surf (Instrumental)
Obligatory surf track, relatively low energy, like a subdued Challengers rendition. Precise enough, just not very intense, and definitely pedestrian as "Miserlou's" go.
Night Train Surf (Instrumental)
Another R&B classic, with none of the flair and energy of James Brown and his Famous Flames or Paul Revere and the Raiders, and minus the style of Rhythm Rockers or the Merced Bluenotes. Basic dance club fare.
Surf (Instrumental)
"Ridding [sic] The Curl" ("Riding The Curl") is an instrumentalization of the Pastel Six's hit record dedicated to the club where they were the house band. The only nifty part is the dual horn harmony. Otherwise, it's just high school hop fare.
Detour Surf (Instrumental)
This is the Duane Eddy hit, nicely done, but not arranged in a way that makes it unique.
Surf (Instrumental)
The heavily damped lead guitar without reverb and a softly played backtrack yields a seriously R&B flavored number that only suggests the surf genre. It's a nice tune, but not very surfy. Sure, some of the elements are there, but the overall impression is an R&B band naming their instro surf to cash in. "Loop" is a re-titling of the Cornells' "Malibu Surf."
Surf (Instrumental)
This is "Deep In The Heart Of Texas," fit into their surf sound category. It was common in those early days to take super familiar standards like "Little Brown Jug," and surf them up. This is actually one of their best tracks, sporting more energy and fun than most. "Hash Board" was also "Lone Star Stomp" on the Cornells' LP.
Surf (Instrumental)
This shows the Pacific Northwest influences on the band quite well, though the sound is a more subdued dry LA sound. The original Wailers tune sports more tension. This version sports a more relaxed jamming feel, with handclaps throughout.
The Long Ride In Surf (Instrumental)
This is pure R&B instro jam fare, more tilted towards the Pacific Northwest sound of the Viceroys than the LA sound of surf. It's also not very interesting, being quite derivative. "The Long Ride In" is also called "Stompin' After Five."
Joe The Hype Surf (Instrumental)
Like almost all covers of Joe Saraceno's forties style studio instro "Surfer's Stomp," this is a straight copy, with nothing new happening at all. The name "Joe The Hype" must be a reference to Joe Saraceno.