Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA Collection: Guitar Mania Volume 09
 | Most of the tracks on this volume are MOR guitar, with a couple of cool rockers and one lone surf track from the Krontjong Devils. |
Picks: Brazil, 5th Camel, Sylvia's Dream, Theme From Leningrad, The Third Man, Gringo, Gitarren Spielt Auf, Darktown Strutters Ball, Theme From A Filleted Place, The Frightened City, Big Boy, Cosy, Al Capone, Hurricane Beat, Once, Wheels, Pacific, Sabre Dance, Guitar Samba, Buckaroo, Ragtime Baby, Exodus, So Sad, The Golden Sea, Black Eyes Surf
Track by Track Review
Rock (Instrumental)
Finland's Mustangs pluck and echo through a tasty version of "Brazil." I like the Velaires' take of this song the best by far, but this is quite spirited and cool despite the Hank Marvin soundalike guitar. Lost of energy and cool drums.
Rock (Instrumental)
This is an echoed intense middle eastern epic. The Marvinisms sometimes overwhelm the theme, but it survives. Cool track.
Sylvia's Dream MOR Rock (Instrumental)
Slushy Shadowsy floating guitar playing a wistful melody.
Rock (Instrumental)
This is a fast and spirited version of this classic folk song. Pretty and almost powerful.
Rock (Instrumental)
This tweaky theme from a disturbed film becomes more-or-less sub-rockabilly in arrangement.
Rock (Instrumental)
Watery whammy and Shadows guitar tone coupled for a flight of restrained fantasy. Pleasant, but not exciting.
Gitarren Spielt Auf Rock (Instrumental)
Echoed guitar playing high register MOR melody lines. Just pleasant.
Rock (Instrumental)
This is a spunky but unremarkable track. pristine, but without the power that a double picked low-E delivery would render.
Theme From A Filleted Place MOR (Instrumental)
Dutch band the Arrows have been together for 17 years. They play pristine electric guitar like a Les Paul or a Buddy Merrill might. Nice enough, but quite pedestrian.
The Frightened City Rock (Instrumental)
The Shadows' "The Frightened City" is accurately played. Nothing here sets it apart from the original.
Big Boy MOR Rock (Instrumental)
Delicate plucking smoothly and precisely delivered. "Big Boy" is a pleasant track, but is unremarkable.
Cosy MOR Rock (Instrumental)
The Shadows' slushy "Cosy" is right where it should be, and is indistinguishable from the pack.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Al Capone" is a playful riff rocker, like some of the Champs' tunes. It never rises above the riff, but is very listenable and fun.
Rockabilly (Instrumental)
Basic rockabilly without the American fire that was usually present in this type of song.
Once MOR Rock (Instrumental)
Soft and pretty, like the kind of rocker that fills your ears at K-mart. Not particularly memorable.
Rock (Instrumental)
The String-A-Longs' too-fun "Wheels" is softly done. very well played, just too restrained for my ears.
Island Rock (Instrumental)
A military beat pumps under an almost aquatic theme with island leanings. Mostly tourist soft and breezy.
Rock (Instrumental)
Aram Ilich Khachaturian's intense "Sabre Dance" is all softened. fast and fun, just without the requisite fire.
Guitar Samba Rock (Instrumental)
The samba beat and the echoed guitar play moodily in the distance. Happy and squishy.
Country (Instrumental)
Buck Owens and the Buckaroos' too cool bouncy country epic "Buckaroo" is played with a soft and precise sound.
Ragtime Baby MOR Rock (Instrumental)
"Ragtime Baby" is OK, but not particularly memorable or cool. Just a riff and a ragtime theme.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Exodus" is played like perhaps Duane Eddy might have envisioned it. Tasteful, almost intense, and fluid.
So Sad MOR Rock (Instrumental)
MOR pluckable easy rock... way too slushy for me.
Island Rock (Instrumental)
This is very Shadowsy, with an almost island melody and a too-smooth sound.
Surf (Instrumental)
Holland's Krontjong Devils do a grodie and soft vibrato shimmered version of "Black Eyes" as if they were at a spooky lagoon after dark. Delicate, yet grodie.