Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Frank Virtue and the Virtues - Featuring The Fantastic Sounds Of The Guitar
 | While instrumentals were a regular part of the hit parade during the fifties, guitar instros were few and far between, and then were usually limited to one hit wonders. Frank Virtue's band had a couple of hits, based on quirky rockabilly boogie woogie riffs. This CD collects a whole pile of his tracks (22 to be exact) with his band the Virtues. |
Picks: Guitar Boogie Shuffle, Honky Tonk, Via Con Dios, Guitar In Orbit, Guitar Twist, Caravan, Virtues Stroll, Shimmy Shimmy Guitar, Woodchoppers Ball, Guitar On Fire, Poinciana, Night Train, Begin The Beguine, Dream World, Anna, Love You, Anniversary Song, Cotton Candy, 3rd Man Theme, Bye Bye Blues, Lime House Blues, Sweet Georgia Brown
Track by Track Review
Rockabilly Boogie (Instrumental)
This was a monster hit for the Virtues in the fifties, and defined the already overcrowded rockabilly boogie field. The track has been stereo-ized, using a fake spread induced to create a rather effective illusion of a fairly modern and natural stereo. The performance is great. The guitarists are Frank Virtue and Jimmy Bruno.
Honky Tonk Honky Tonk R&B (Instrumental)
A pedestrian version of an over done tune.
Via Con Dios Bleeding Edge Lawrence Welk (Instrumental)
Fifties schmaltzomeal.
Guitar In Orbit Blues Boogie (Instrumental)
Fifties blues boogie.
Guitar Twist Popabilly (Instrumental)
Chubby Checkers' corny hit. I supposed it could be said that Frank Virtue wanted to be the Rockabilly version of the Ventures or maybe Buddy Merrill.
Caravan Schmaltzabilly (Instrumental)
It's cool... The intro, that is. It teases that a real nifty number is about to happen, but then, it transitions into dreadful schmaltz.
Virtues Stroll Stroll (Instrumental)
An average blues stroll.
Shimmy Shimmy Guitar Hollywood Rock (Instrumental)
Jeesh! Hollywood movie studio mung.
Woodchoppers Ball Big Band Boogie (Instrumental)
It's the Woody Herman big band classic, like Buddy Merrill might do it.
Rockabilly Boogie (Instrumental)
It's another version of "Guitar Boogie Shuffle," but without the annoying 15 ips tape delay echo. It's faster, cooler, and dry. Great. Oh yeah, there's a modicum of double picking.
Poinciana Italian Food Rock (Instrumental)
Italian restaurant music, like the Challengers' "On The Move," but thinner and designed for octogenarians.
Night Train Rail Rock (Instrumental)
Pedestrian cover - no not even that interesting.
Begin The Beguine Insipid Billy Boogie (Instrumental)
Buddy Merrill and Lawrence Welk battle over who can be more insipid. Wait, on the outside, here comes Frank Virtue to win the race!
Dream World Geritol Boogie (Instrumental)
Great introductory chords, cheesy lap steel, and your grand parents would have loved it. Pass the Geritol.
Anna Welkabilly Boogie (Instrumental)
All you need is the Lennon Sisters. Argh!
Love You Bachelor Pad Boogie (Instrumental)
Exotica bongos, John Barry big guitar... for agoraphobic bachelor pad inbreeds.
Anniversary Song Indigestion Boogie (Instrumental)
If you were riding the express elevator, and heard a guitar double picked with limp wristed panache faking a mandolin, and suddenly felt need of Milk Of Magnesia, you'd have heard this.
Cotton Candy Free Time Lizardry (Instrumental)
Exotic bachelor pad stupidity. It's what happens when you have tool much free time in a studio and no ideas.
3rd Man Theme Aged Flicker Frolic (Instrumental)
Antiquarian movie music
Bye Bye Blues Limpadelic (Instrumental)
Three Suns yukkage.
Lime House Blues Limpabilly Blues (Instrumental)
No blues man was ever this limp. Makes Lawrence Welk sound like he has soul!
Sweet Georgia Brown Mung (Instrumental)
Oh man! I'm so glad this CD is over...