Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on May 07 2011 05:24 PM
Here are some notes on the song Latin'ia, by the Sentinals. The official credits are to Mark Hilder & Thomas Nunes (see, e.g., www.allmusic.com), i.e., record producer Tony or Mark Hilder (Mark Anthony Hilder?) and lead guitarist Thomas "Tommy" Nunes of the Sentinals. I assume Nunes did the writing part, no doubt with collaboration from the rest of the band, and Hilder did the paying for the recording session part.
Yes, spelled Latin'ia. Some people think n' is supposed to be ñ and some people think 'i is supposed to be í and correct accordingly. Sometimes you see Latini'a, Latinia or Latina. For what it's worth Sentinals drummer Johnny Barbata always spells it La Tiña. To the best of my knowledge the word is unique to the song title. Latin'ia may be intended to suggest "a song in the latin style," which, of course, it does and it is. Incidentally Nunes is not Nuñez. I think the name Nunes is of Portuguese origin.
I think Nunes himself is on record as saying the song is something of a cross between Slave Girl, by Santo & Johnny, and Malagueña, originally by Cuban composer-pianist Ernesto Lecuona. How much of that was conscious as he wrote it and how much of it he simply recognized later I don't know. (I forget where I saw this comment.)
Everyone agrees it's one of the best surf songs ever written.
Versions from the First Wave
- dates and confirmation mostly from John Blair, 4th Ed., 2008
- For some reason Latin'ia, etc. are only partially indexed in Blair (normally an iconic example of excellent indexing)
Sentinals * Latin'ia (1962) single and on LP Big Surf
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at7N2jIvTnE
Jim Waller & the Deltas * Latin'ia (1962) on LP Surfin' Wild
- The Deltas' version is rather different from others.
Challengers * Latin'ia (10/1962) on LP Surf Beat
- http://soundcloud.com/poru/latinia
Centurians * Latin'ia (2/1963) on LP Bulwinkle Part II
Lively Ones * Latin'ia (11/1963) on LP Surfin' South of the Border
Original Surfaris * Latin'ia (recorded 1963, released 1995) on LP Bombora!
New Dimensions * Latin'ia (1963?) on LP Deuces & Eights
- This is one I haven't heard!
Bob Vaught & the Renegaids * Latin'ia (2/1963) on LP Surf Crazy
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fthHMN_mUa4
Charles Wright & the Malibus * Latinia (date?) single
- This is one I haven't heard!
- Apparently this is Charles Wright backed by Bob Vaught & the Renegades, per John Blair 2008:139
Post First Wave Covers
- I do not claim this list is complete, please point out additions!
Beach Party http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9sPb6DXx7s
John Blair & the Trespassers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL98U-cYGmM
Breakaways http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JXp9HyTols
Burnin' Sands http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6x3o3_2skE
Fin-Dicators http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih8Y9Wmhmmk
Mermen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxrD8H5K8gA
Outerwave http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_oIBgBRzjc (Based on the Deltas' version)
Supertones http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXl4DwGw__U
Vibes on Velvet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBBLfYTn-sA
====
References
Blair, John. 2008. The Illustrated Discography of Surf Music `961-1965 (4th ed.)
Dalley, Robert J. 1996. Surfin' Guitars: Instrumental Surf Bands of the Sixties (2nd ed.). Popular Culture, Ink.
Last edited: Feb 27, 2015 13:27:59
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ChazSurf
Joined: Nov 25, 2010
Posts: 191
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Posted on May 07 2011 05:57 PM
I love this song. Has anyone got links to a good tab for it?
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Fady
Joined: Mar 07, 2010
Posts: 2226
North Carolina
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Posted on May 07 2011 07:31 PM
Nice, Tuck! I'm pretty certain it's my favorite surf tune.
Bambi's do a nice cover of it on Intensity!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvupl8g4Ju8 (live Croatia 2006)
— Fady
El Mirage @ ReverbNation
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Sonichris
Joined: Mar 06, 2006
Posts: 1872
Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies
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Posted on May 07 2011 09:10 PM
Latin'ia is one of those songs that is hard to do justice to. It's an easy song, melodically, but hard to play and make come off. Too often it ends up boring as hell after about 30 seconds. There's a groove, and a drive that is hard to find. At least that's my experience. It's frustrating.
— "You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been"
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11010
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on May 07 2011 09:26 PM
It's all in the percussion and the looseness of the guitar, Chris. I'm partial to the Langhorns version.
— Danny Snyder
Latest project - Now That's What I Call SURF
_
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
I'm back playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Last edited: May 07, 2011 21:28:38
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Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on May 07 2011 10:44 PM
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Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on May 07 2011 11:01 PM
ChazSurf wrote:
I love this song. Has anyone got links to a good tab for it?
Try http://surfguitar101.com/news/story/292/ for starters.
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Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on May 08 2011 04:12 AM
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crumble
Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
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Posted on May 08 2011 06:15 AM
This is one of those stereo recordings with instruments panned wholly left or right. I once tried to analyze it on a sequencer (DAW) and found some of the percussion was, how can i say.. slighty drunken! I wouldn't want it any other way though! One of the best surf tunes ever.
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Shut_Down_Eddie
Joined: Apr 16, 2011
Posts: 20
Kobe, japan
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Posted on May 09 2011 09:53 AM
Latinia by Charles Wright
Runky
Label
These may help for your interest.
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Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on May 09 2011 10:24 AM
Thanks, Eddie. That's cool! The Charles Wright version is pretty good. One thing about it in regard to Blair's report that the basis of the band is the Renegaids - there's piano. I'm not absolutely positive, but I don't think there's ever any piano in a Renegaids recording. Sometimes there are two saxophones. I'm pretty sure that the contents of Surf Crazy were not all recorded at one time with the same band, for example, because some cuts have two saxes and some one, while, again going by recollection, the list of band personnel only lists one saxophonist (though there were two at some points).
Last edited: May 10, 2011 02:16:38
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Shut_Down_Eddie
Joined: Apr 16, 2011
Posts: 20
Kobe, japan
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Posted on May 09 2011 10:37 AM
Hello
I did not dig so much about Bob Vaught ever.
Your opinion is very interesting.
I will check the band again....
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Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on May 09 2011 12:47 PM
I'm going by the history of the Renegaids in Dalley's Surfin' Guitars, 2nd ed., which is almost all of what I've ever seen about this little known band. The comment about the Renegaids and Wright came from Blair's Illustrated Discography, 4th ed., and I just noticed Wright and the comment for the first time the other day looking up Latin'ia.
As far as personnel in the band, the personnel for the Renegaids on the back of Surf Crazy matches one point in Dalley's account, but, for example, Surfin' Safari has two saxophonists, matching yet another point. Of course, maybe the second sax in that was just some extra person.
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Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on May 10 2011 01:54 AM
For an interesting time, try searching the Forum for Latin'ia. An insight into the problems of indexing it in Blair's Illustrated Discography, I suspect.
OK, on Charles Wright (Dalley 1996:230) Renegaids, Other Recording Appearences:
Titanic 50003 Charles Wright & the Malibus. Latin'ia / Runky [Release date unknown.] (The Malibus were the Renegaids.)
For Charles Wright (who played piano among other things) see
http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/charles-wright/511823
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTxZPc0RX6s
Apparently David Marks and the Band Without a Name also backed him some (Dalley 1996:178).
Also, Renegaids, Compilation Albums:
Northridge 1001 Surf's Up at Banzai Pipeline (San Onofre / Intoxica are listed as Neal Nissenson.) 1963
Neal Nissenson was a drummer with the group, joining in 1962 as a replacement for Sonny Hornak.
Last edited: May 11, 2011 15:54:56
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spskins
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3732
tn
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Posted on May 10 2011 09:13 AM
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Shut_Down_Eddie
Joined: Apr 16, 2011
Posts: 20
Kobe, japan
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Posted on May 10 2011 10:13 AM
I can't remember, who is Charles Wright.....
Was he a member of Tony Hilder related Doo-Wopp group?
I've ever read about him but I can't remember where it was.
He seems to be a pianist.
How about the relation ship with Billy Watkins on Challenge label?
Sorry I'm confusing.
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Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on May 10 2011 03:49 PM
Finks, definitely!
I posted a couple of links for the Charles Wright that I suspect is the right one.
For Charles Wright (who played piano among other things) see
http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/charles-wright/511823
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTxZPc0RX6s
Apparently David Marks and the Band Without a Name also backed him some (Dalley 1996:178).
I think this must be the right guy, but I'm not positive. I remember some of his funk stuff, but not the man himself. I have always been pretty much devoidafunk. Unless I haven't showered recently.
Incidentally, while Runky is not Latin'ia and not quite funky either, it is pretty damned good.
Last edited: May 10, 2011 15:54:21
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Shut_Down_Eddie
Joined: Apr 16, 2011
Posts: 20
Kobe, japan
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Posted on May 11 2011 04:43 AM
Charles Wright began his music career in 50's.
I will try to remember where I read about it.
Al Garcia's Son of The Rhythm Kings
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ArtS
Joined: May 09, 2008
Posts: 1249
Isle of Kent, MD
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Posted on May 11 2011 08:32 AM
Sonichris wrote:
Latin'ia is one of those songs that is hard to do
justice to. It's an easy song, melodically, but hard
to play and make come off. Too often it ends up boring
as hell after about 30 seconds. There's a groove, and
a drive that is hard to find. At least that's my
experience. It's frustrating.
Completely dependent on having a drummer and rhythm guitarist who can pull it off. We've been playing it for about 5 years, and it gets a great reaction from the crowd. I tend to play the lead a little behind the beat at times for effect. Great tune, love the Sentinels version the best.
— Surfcat
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Surf, the most dangerous of all musical genres...
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Tuck
Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
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Posted on May 11 2011 03:51 PM
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