Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Fireballs - 7th Street Legends Vol. 1
 | The Fireballs were there to set the stage for surf. Their gently reverbed two guitars-bass-drums line up defined the genre to come. many of their classic instros were covered by the surfbands, and the lasted for a more than a decade, making them contemporaries of the burgeoning surfbands. This new release sports five fine instros. |
Picks: Indian Nation, Bulldog, HarLeeGuitar, Fiero, Mexican Fun
Track by Track Review
Indian Surf (Instrumental)
Rich guitar tone floats a very cool Indian riff melody above a spotless rhythm and haunting distant howl. It's a splendid track with a warm and rich sound.
Pre Surf (Instrumental)
"Bulldog" is rhythmic and infectious, and has a quiet power about it, as did most of the Fireballs / Norman Petty output. All of their sessions are available in various CD forms, from ACE, Sundazed, and others. The Challengers borrowed "Bulldog" for their debut album Surf Beat.
Surf (Instrumental)
A double picked drone reminiscent of the rhythm line from Armageddon's "Buzzard" launches this intense country experience. Gutty and very cool, "HarLeeGuitar" has a motorcycle gang hoe-down feel.
Country (Instrumental)
This is by far the most classic Fireballs oriented tune on the disc, with that signature structure, but a more country guitar sound. "Fiero" has all the pre-surf elements that this seminal band first put forth in "Bulldog." It's a fine tune.
Surf (Instrumental)
A mid tempo pinata party flows from the great chop-guitar chords and rhythmic backtrack. Reminiscent of the Fireballs' earlier work, with mariachi horns added. Very fun, right down to the oom-pa-pa traditinal beat.