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Hey all!
I've been trying to get to know DD's more obscure tracks over the
last couple of months. I have a Surf label bootleg vinyl that
gathers a bunch of lesser known stuff (unfortunately, I don't have a
couple of DDs sixties LPs, so this fills that hole nicely), and one
song in particular has been standing out lately. It's called "Nitro
Fuel" and it's from Dick's fourth album "Mr. Eliminator".
You know, I always thought all that "Father Of Heavy Metal" stuff
was a bunch of crap hype (just because you play loud, it don't make
you metal!), but after listening to this track over and over, I'm
starting to think that there may be something to it. The track
itself ain't much, just a riff repeated over and over again. But
the solo in this song is astonishing. Dick plays a bunch of fast
scalar runs (very unlike him, actually), lot of screaming bent
notes, and ends on a pretty much perfect unexpected bluesy note. I
think any '80s shredder would have a big smile and a thumbs up after
hearing this solo. And that freakin' solo gives a LOT of context
for Shigeo's playing (of the Surf Coasters, for the uninitiated)!
Anyway, just had to get this off my chest. Check it out if you have
it, and pay attention to the solo.
Ivan
PS Yes, I know a lot of jazzbos could and did play really
fast 'shred'-like stuff way before the early sixties - but this is
the earliest solo I know that's truly a r&r shred solo. That's all
I'm saying.
