Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Bob Vaught and the Renegaids - Surf Crazy
| This 1963 LP from Bob Vaught and the Renegaids has yet to be reissued, though a few tracks have made it to the Surf Crazy compilation on GNP Crescendo. |
Picks: Exotic, Surfin' Tragedy, Makaha, Delano Soul Beat, Revellion, Latin'ia, Tor-Chula, Blue Moon, Malibu Mash, Intoxica (Soul), Rin Con, Surfin' Safari
Track by Track Review
Surf (Instrumental)
Bob Vaught's band had a pretty dry sound, but they did some really cool surf stuff, most notably, the best recording of "Surfin' Tragedy." This song started life by the Sentinals in that horn-lead Pachuko soul style of the Soul Kings and the Rhythm Kings... sort of Mariachi R&B. The Sentinals recorded it with Tommy Nunes' guitar lead, and this is a cover of that. It is interesting, but not Bob's best work, or the best version of the song in either style. This is a driving treatment of Bruce Morgan' tune, completely different from the powerful-gorgeous Sentinals treatment. This is raw in your face garage surf.
Surf (Instrumental)
Another exceptionally grand surf instro. Most of Bob Vaught's work was gutty and raw. This is shiny, shimmery, and exquisite. It ranks pretty close to "Latin'ia" in beautiful surf history. Especially if you've heard Doug Hume's vocal version. A must have.
Makaha Surf (Instrumental)
With Chuck Berry riffs and non-melodic plunkin', Bob Vaught and the Renegaids romp and rage through a mindless jam topped off by a sax wail.
Surf Latin Pachuko Soul (Instrumental)
More typical of Bob Vaught's work, this version of the Pachuko Soul number made most familiar by the Original Surfaris not very Latin. Still, Bob's band was cool. I'd really like to see GNP Crescendo reissue their entire album. Incidentally, the album was called Surf Crazy, and used the same font as the artwork of this CD. Come on Neil, get it out with the bonus tracks of his singles.
Surf Latin Pachuko Soul (Instrumental)
"Revellion" is one of those Central Coast R&B rants that often found its way into surf sets back in the day. It's a riff rocker with a "Church Key" mentality.
Surf Latin Pachuko Soul (Instrumental)
This is one of the least fluid covers of this song, yet even in this crude arrangement, the primal power of the song shines through. Somehow, the tribal urgency of the raw track just adds more fuel onto the fire. great stuff!
Surf Latin Pachuko Soul (Instrumental)
Again on the raw side, yet magically attractive, this version of the Bob Vaught and the Renegaids' "Tor-Chula" is primal and gutty in a party way. Raw sax and chunky bass.
Surf Latin Pachuko Soul (Instrumental)
This is a moody surf trash version of the classic "Blue Moon." The genuine rock and roll band sound and arrangement are precious - a real glimpse into the high school bands of the day.
Surf Latin Pachuko Soul (Instrumental)
"Malibu Mash" is a genuine riff rocker, with more frat party sense than surf. Gutty and raw, with a nasty sax growl.
Surf Latin Pachuko Soul (Instrumental)
"Intoxica" was an often covered Central Coast party song. Bob Vaught and the Renegaids do a straight version in a low key performance.
Rin Con Surf Latin Pachuko Soul (Instrumental)
Sax and soul groovin' in the way only Central Coast bands generally could. The song is nothing special - just an R&B jam, yet it's a solid groove.
Surfin' Safari Surf Latin Pachuko Soul (Instrumental)
This is an instro treatment of the Beach Boys' classic, with sax in the lead. Nothing special.