Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

I never get enough of the Wailers. This 2-fer couples their 1961 album At The Castle with 1964's The Wailers and Company, plus a half-dozen bonus tracks. Amid the 18 instros are classic raw Northwest vocals including the hard rockin' "Dirty Robber," the rippin' "Rosalie," and the late Rockin' Robin Roberts' hard drivin' "Louie Louie." The Wailers flirted with surf with their spunky "We're Goin' Surfin'" and the Beach Boys-esq vocal "Partytime USA."

Picks: Wailers House Party, San-Ho-Zay, Shivers, Sac O' Woe, Tall Cool One, Limbo Twist, Zig Zag, Soul-Long, Seattle, Doin' The Seaside, We're Goin' Surfin', Frenzy, Shakedown, Tough Walk, Mashi, Velva, Stompin' Willie and the Hand Jive, Tall Cool One

Northwest Rock (Instrumental)

Edgy crunch and grind from with the definitive Pacific Northwest band. It's sub-Dave Lewis melodically, but in that general direction structurally.

Northwest Rock (Instrumental)

This is a spirited if not exciting version of Freddie King's "San-Ho-Zay." The guitar does the groovin' jam thing and the organ pumps while the Leslie whirls.

Northwest Rock (Instrumental)

"Shivers" is a minimal chord progression thing, dependent on the Leslie's groan for interest. It's a little similar to "Mashi," without the drive. It's quite a club jam.

Northwest Rock (Instrumental)

Sorta minor league Booker T and the MG's style thing, maybe a little bluesier in the guitar and less shiny in the organ. It reminds me a bit of the early Graham Bond Organization.

Pacific Northwest Bachelor Pad Club Instro (Instrumental)

The Wailers issued this and had a national hit with it in '59. It's a great honky tonkin' piano and sax squankin' R&B track. Wonderful!

Northwest Rock (Instrumental)

"Limbo Twist" seems to me to be a typical Wailers riff rocker. It's spirited, but just not very melodic.

Northwest Rock (Instrumental)

A cha cha for your frat party. A progression without a melody. Chunky, but it just doesn't really go anywhere. Even when Rich Dangel comes in for the guitar kill, it's just a blues jam.

Northwest Rock (Instrumental)

"So long darlin', I hate to see you go..." but with no vocals. A bluesy jam, sluggish and soulful.

PNW Rock (Instrumental)

Great drums, and a sound more like Seattle's Viceroys than the Wailers. It's a progression, funky, tough, and tribal.

Blues (Instrumental)

This is a bluesy number that approaches but does not reach surf. It is infectious and interesting, rhythmic and fun.

Surf (Instrumental)

Like every other band on earth at the time, the Wailers tried to move into the pop consciousness on the wave of the surf sound. Their vocal attempts (Party Time U. S. A.) were pretty lame, but this instro is quite good, though not very surfy in the traditional sense. No double picking, and no Fender reverb, but plenty of watery groove. The girls chorus singin' "everyone's surfin', we're going surfin..." etc. could have been dropped, but still, it was a great single, and stands up well over time. The melody is the same as Dave Myers and the Surftones "Aqua Limbo Luau."

Big Band (Instrumental)

A big band number with Cozy Cole overtones. Sax, organ, and guitar all grooving and vying for the front line position.

PNW Rock (Instrumental)

Guitar boogie progression with a swingin' melody for the bachelor pad. Spunky fun, but doessn't rise above the jam.

Surf (Instrumental)

A growling organ and piano jam, with a "Have Love Will Travel" backtrack.

Grodie Organ (Instrumental)

This is my all time favorite organ based instro. "Mashi" has a distinctive sound, with the organ literally growling along, and Rockin' Robin Roberts shoutin' "Mashi" from time to time. Melodic, evil, infectious, nasty, and lasting.

Last Dance (Instrumental)

"Velva" moves slowly through the night. Sensual piano, a walking blues bass, soft drums, and a late night feeling. It's a very smooth and groovy night-ender.

PNW Rock (Instrumental)

Johnny Otis' classic "Willie and the Hand Jive" gets an instrumental treatment. The lead is carried on organ, and the Bo Diddley beat is rhythmic and infectious.

Pacific Northwest Bachelor Pad Club Instro (Instrumental)

This final cut of "Tall Cool One" recorded in '64 got significant chart action amid the British Invasion. A remarkably enduring and cool track, with piano lead and a funky beat.