January Birthdays 
I got this LP directly from Domenic Priore recently (see the the thread on ordering it from him) and I really love it. If you have any of the first three volumes, you know that this is really obscure '60s surf music on the mellow and more melodic side. Vol. 4 is definitely continuing with the theme.
There's some slightly Latin-influenced surf and some space-surf. There are only two tracks that are already widely available ("The Casanova" by the Surfmen on the "Rare West Coast Surf Instrumentals" CD on Ace Records and the gorgeous "Twilight City" by the Vulcanes on the "Toes on the Nose" comp, also on Ace). The remaining 15 tracks are about as obscure as it gets!
A few highlights for me:
Bruno & the Gladiators' "Warm is the Sun" - definitely "Telstar" influenced but with a surf sound, guaranteed to put a smile on your face!
The Strangers' "In The Beginning"- this must be a European band, as they have a heavy Shadows influence - in fact, they sound just like the Rapiers, but this band is definitely from the '60s. A beautiful track, though.
The July 4's "Mr. Miff"- this is the song that the Phantom Four covered on their album. Mellow and melancholy.
Lenny & the Thunderones' "Moon of Mankoora"- some very nice exotica
The Titans' "Surfer's Lullaby" - early-Ventures influenced, very pretty
The space-surf tracks on side B are really cool, too, especially the Decades' "Strange Worlds," which is a nice bit of dark space/surf and the Exceptionals' "Sea of Tranquility", which is quite cheery and optimistic.
One bummer is that the pressing plant left off what was supposed to be the final track on the album, Jerry & the Catalinas' "Away from it All", which was intended to bring the album back down to earth - instead, it ends up lost in space!
Anyway, highly recommended! Great job, Domenic!
—Ivan
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