Subject : 94 second surf
Sent Date : 05-25-2007 2:15:14 AM
How interesting to check out your web site and find a cover of 94 second surf. I wrote that song in the early sixties and recorded it in Norman Petty's studios in Clovis New Mexico (where Buddy Holly recorded). It was released regionally on a local label and in Japan (on the MGM label). Just curious about how you guys came across the song. Quite a memory jogger. ----Thanks, Steve Maase
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Reviews by Phil Dirt; KFJC - Reverb Central
20,000 Leagues No Surf Here
Label: 20,000 Leagues CD-R Demo
Conceived as 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, this Las Vegas band has a line on an original corner of the surf instro spectrum. Trad based, they are capable of unusual style mergers and original writing. This three song CD demo (not available for sale) includes two covers, one with a unique arrangement and one trad, and an original played solo on guitar. It begs more to come.
"Wipe Out"
"Wipe Out" is a hard song to cover, for many reasons, from a tendency to try to reproduce the original Surfaris' classic, through the impossibility of replicating the fluidity of Ron Wilson's drums, to the shear volume of pedestrian covers. The ones that stand out are those that show some fresh creativity in the arrangement; those that breathe new life into the song. This one falls into the latter category. The track opens with a glissando and a guitar flourish that does not hint at the tune to come. The first verse is pretty trad, with the first drum break beginning the deviation via a double picked guitar accompaniment in addition to the accent chords. The second verse moves into a slightly jazzy interpretation of the guitar lines. The second drum break is entirely nontraditional, more of a long solo with lots of drum whackage and experimenting, accompanied by some guitar work of equal character, before dropping back to "the drum riff" we all recognize. The last guitar verse is quite stylish and very energetic. Overall, it's quite a nice change from the usual "Wipe Out."
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Surf Party"
The Astronauts' original version of the William Dunham - Bobby Beverly tune is roundly energized here. The arrangement is true to the single, and the playing is quite good. Solid percussion, pumped bass, and fine reverb guitar. While not experimental, it is most enjoyable. It even fades at the end like the original film score
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Callville Bay"
This is a very nice guitar solo track, swimming with surf reverb and whammy twang. It's delicate and quite original. Without bass and drums, it is free to float on the pure tone of the genre. Without the restrictions of the trad definitions, it is free to communicate "surf" without being derivative. Short at a minute-twenty nine, but satisfying
Surf Instrumental Stereo
20,000 Leagues Surfing Undercover
.. 20,000 Leagues started inauspiciously a few years back, and have shown significant growth since then. This 8 song CD-R demo, while needing some remixing and better drum recording, never the less shows a very reverent trad band playing their love of surf out to the fullest, and dancing on the waves of pure period surf with gentle loving variation. It's not often a straight surf cover set captures my attention, but this is a fine effort. Coming soon are hopefully the originals that go with this, and maybe one day a real CD. They are highly influenced by the Lively Ones, with some assistance from Jim Masoner, who has been cutting some tracks ... I'd love to see these guys live. I think they are as close to a modern Lively Ones as anyone out there
"Penetration"
This is probably the best cover of this I've heard in a while. It's just pure surf, no invention, no morphing, just recreated in the way the Woodies used to. Perfect surf.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"94 Second Surf"
This great obscuro is made into pure surf joy. Really solid, extra reverby, and more than a little infectious. It's melodic riff and Fender leisure combine to make the Kingpins' version pale
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Pipeline"
The arrangement here is a lot like the Lively Ones'. The same kind of drive and double picked energy shines throughout. Quite nice, though the opening glissando is a little rough
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Surf Party"
20,000 Leagues cut this a while back for their first demo "No Surf Here." This take of the Astronauts' original version of the William Dunham - Bobby Beverly tune is roundly energized here, and significantly stronger than that earlier take
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Caterpillar Crawl"
The Strangers tune, as the Lively Ones arranged it, with more chunk and exquisite reverb. The string bending is shallower, but the effect is excellent. The break's long fluid double picked splendor is most appealing
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"High Tide"
This track is ultra pumped and splendidly reverbed. The sax parts from the original Lively Ones release are replaced by guitar. I think bringing the other guitar part way up in the mix will take this into the powerhouse category
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Walk Don't Run"
This is a highly reverbed variation on the Ventures original arrangement, without the damped glissandos of their surf reworking in '64. Lot's of chunk here.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
"Mr. Moto"
The Belairs classic is reverbed heavily, with the piano parts picked up by the dry second guitar. The speed is upped some, and the effect is a very nice cover. The break is original, with some double picked stuff and unusual riffage. Excellent.
Surf Instrumental Stereo
