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Wild Sammy & the Royaltones: Speed Crazy (One Million Dollar
Records, Germany)
This is the same band as the Royal Fingers, about whom there was
some discussion here recently. So, a Japanese trio with a girl bass
player. I first heard their song Echo Rocket 66 on the Continental
zine compilation and thought it was really great, so I bought their
Del Fi album `Wild Eleki Deluxe' and hated it. I put the CD away
and forgot about it, until people started talking about it on SG101,
at which point I pulled it out again and gave it another spin.
Strangely enough, I got really into it at that point, and now love
the CD. `Speed Crazy' is pretty much as good `Wild Eleki Deluxe',
though it is more lo-fi in production. Most of it is lo-fi in a way
that makes it sound kinda vintage (with a lot of distortion of the
rhythm section), though there are two songs (Jet GT and Pipeline,
both maybe live?) that sound really bad, like they were recorded on
a seventies boom box. There is slight overlap between the two CDs,
with four songs being on both CDs: Wild Datsun, The L.A., Running
Donkey, Echo Rocket 66. But as far as I can tell they're different
performances and recordings, so it's not that big of a deal.
The sound is very much Eleki the Japanese instrumental surf sound
of the mid-sixties. Eleki is more melodic and complex than the
typical surf song, and requires more guitar technique. The eleki
guitar style sounds like DD meets Nokie heavily reverbed, somewhat
overdriven and aggressive, with lots of pull-offs and hammer-ons and
wild, extreme bends. And Sammy has totally mastered it. The guy is
a monster guitarist. I bet you he could go head-to-head with Shigeo
of the Surf Coasters and completely hold his own. Truly awesome
chops, best demonstrated in the closing song Tsugaru Jyongarabushi,
which is (after the short main theme) mostly a one-chord vamp with
Sammy just going OFF. Most of the songs also have either an
additional rhythm guitar or organ (or both), which definitely fills
out the sound very nicely. As far as the other two members, the
drumming is serviceable if not outstanding, and the bass playing is
pretty good, sometimes adding some very cool parts. But what really
matters is the songs, songs, songs, and this is where Wild Sammy &
the Royaltones excel. There are no songwriting credits, but I think
only a couple of the songs are covers of classic eleki (The L.A. and
maybe Wild Jet Beach both really awesome, very tough-sounding),
with the rest being originals. Among those, Echo Rocket 66, Wild
Datsun, Royal Tones No. 1, Aoi Hoshikuzu and Eleki Heiankyou really
stand out, incredible stuff. But hell, every song on the CD offers
something really cool. I highly recommend you all pick up this
release. All the tradheads will LOVE it, and even the more prog-
types may be able to get into more than a few of the songs. (I got
both this and the Surfaris CD I reviewed before on Amazon.com)
Next: The Defiant Ones!! (Oh boy...)
Ivan
That Wild Sammy album is great. Ivan nailed it with his review--it
really doesn't matter if you're a trad-nazi or more into progressive-
type surf, you definitely need to check this one out.
"Tsugaru Jyongarabushi" is an almost note-for-note rendition of the
monster version on Terauchi Takeshi's live album, and "The L.A." is a
Yuzo Kayama cover that The Ghastly Ones have been doing under the
name "Yuzo's Twist."
"Aoi Hoshikuzu" is probably a traditional Japanese tune--the Sharp
Five, Terry and Yuzo Kayama each did a version. (That's my best guess-
-they didn't seem to cover each other's songs, and it's on the Sharp
Five's "Japanese Classics" album.)
I'm pretty sure "Tsugaru Jyongarabushi" is as well--Terry's studio
version was on an album (Let's Go Eleki Bushi) that was traditional
Japanese songs played as fuzzed out Eleki, albeit with the drums
somewhere waaaaaay off in the distance.
-Warren
--- In , "ipongrac" <ipongrac@...> wrote:
>
> The sound is very much Eleki the Japanese instrumental surf sound
> of the mid-sixties. Eleki is more melodic and complex than the
> typical surf song, and requires more guitar technique. The eleki
> guitar style sounds like DD meets Nokie heavily reverbed, somewhat
> overdriven and aggressive, with lots of pull-offs and hammer-ons and
> wild, extreme bends. And Sammy has totally mastered it. The guy is
> a monster guitarist. I bet you he could go head-to-head with Shigeo
> of the Surf Coasters and completely hold his own. Truly awesome
> chops, best demonstrated in the closing song Tsugaru Jyongarabushi,
> which is (after the short main theme) mostly a one-chord vamp with
> Sammy just going OFF. Most of the songs also have either an
> additional rhythm guitar or organ (or both), which definitely fills
> out the sound very nicely. As far as the other two members, the
> drumming is serviceable if not outstanding, and the bass playing is
> pretty good, sometimes adding some very cool parts. But what really
> matters is the songs, songs, songs, and this is where Wild Sammy &
> the Royaltones excel. There are no songwriting credits, but I think
> only a couple of the songs are covers of classic eleki (The L.A. and
> maybe Wild Jet Beach both really awesome, very tough-sounding),
> with the rest being originals. Among those, Echo Rocket 66, Wild
> Datsun, Royal Tones No. 1, Aoi Hoshikuzu and Eleki Heiankyou really
> stand out, incredible stuff. But hell, every song on the CD offers
> something really cool. I highly recommend you all pick up this
> release. All the tradheads will LOVE it, and even the more prog-
> types may be able to get into more than a few of the songs. (I got
> both this and the Surfaris CD I reviewed before on Amazon.com)
I remember getting this cd about 5 years back or so, and liking the
energy, and reverb. But was so turned off by the extra Lo-fi
recording that I sold it to my buddy Baja Marty. He still raves
about it from time to time. Maybe I'll have to go back and give it
a listen again. But there is so much surf stuff that's coming out,
that I can't keep up, buying it all. I know there ton's of bands
out there that I don't know about. I've just given up on trying to
find out about them all, and buying it all.
Kinda makes me sad, but I still have tons of stuff to listen to,
that I've bought recently, and do get some newstuff once in awhile.
Jeff(bigtikidude)
--- In , "captainspringfield"
<captainspringfield@...> wrote:
>
> That Wild Sammy album is great. Ivan nailed it with his review--it
> really doesn't matter if you're a trad-nazi or more into
progressive-
> type surf, you definitely need to check this one out.
>
> "Tsugaru Jyongarabushi" is an almost note-for-note rendition of the
> monster version on Terauchi Takeshi's live album, and "The L.A." is
a
> Yuzo Kayama cover that The Ghastly Ones have been doing under the
> name "Yuzo's Twist."
>
> "Aoi Hoshikuzu" is probably a traditional Japanese tune--the Sharp
> Five, Terry and Yuzo Kayama each did a version. (That's my best
guess-
> -they didn't seem to cover each other's songs, and it's on the
Sharp
> Five's "Japanese Classics" album.)
>
> I'm pretty sure "Tsugaru Jyongarabushi" is as well--Terry's studio
> version was on an album (Let's Go Eleki Bushi) that was traditional
> Japanese songs played as fuzzed out Eleki, albeit with the drums
> somewhere waaaaaay off in the distance.
>
> -Warren
>
> --- In , "ipongrac" <ipongrac@> wrote:
> >
> > The sound is very much Eleki the Japanese instrumental surf
sound
> > of the mid-sixties. Eleki is more melodic and complex than the
> > typical surf song, and requires more guitar technique. The eleki
> > guitar style sounds like DD meets Nokie heavily reverbed,
somewhat
> > overdriven and aggressive, with lots of pull-offs and hammer-ons
and
> > wild, extreme bends. And Sammy has totally mastered it. The guy
is
> > a monster guitarist. I bet you he could go head-to-head with
Shigeo
> > of the Surf Coasters and completely hold his own. Truly awesome
> > chops, best demonstrated in the closing song Tsugaru
Jyongarabushi,
> > which is (after the short main theme) mostly a one-chord vamp with
> > Sammy just going OFF. Most of the songs also have either an
> > additional rhythm guitar or organ (or both), which definitely
fills
> > out the sound very nicely. As far as the other two members, the
> > drumming is serviceable if not outstanding, and the bass playing
is
> > pretty good, sometimes adding some very cool parts. But what
really
> > matters is the songs, songs, songs, and this is where Wild Sammy &
> > the Royaltones excel. There are no songwriting credits, but I
think
> > only a couple of the songs are covers of classic eleki (The L.A.
and
> > maybe Wild Jet Beach both really awesome, very tough-sounding),
> > with the rest being originals. Among those, Echo Rocket 66, Wild
> > Datsun, Royal Tones No. 1, Aoi Hoshikuzu and Eleki Heiankyou
really
> > stand out, incredible stuff. But hell, every song on the CD
offers
> > something really cool. I highly recommend you all pick up this
> > release. All the tradheads will LOVE it, and even the more prog-
> > types may be able to get into more than a few of the songs. (I
got
> > both this and the Surfaris CD I reviewed before on Amazon.com)
>
I dont own the album myself but after checking out the tracklist, I
noticed there are some more covers: "Running Donkey" (Yuzo
Kayama), "Road Runner" (not the Bo Diddley song but done by a 1st
wave U.S. band which I can't remember the name of) and
obviously "Pipeline" ;-D
I'm not familiar with "Wild Jet Beach", is it really a cover? The
title sounds like a modern penned one to me.
/ Klas
--- In , "captainspringfield"
<captainspringfield@...> wrote:
>
> That Wild Sammy album is great. Ivan nailed it with his review--it
> really doesn't matter if you're a trad-nazi or more into
progressive-
> type surf, you definitely need to check this one out.
>
> "Tsugaru Jyongarabushi" is an almost note-for-note rendition of the
> monster version on Terauchi Takeshi's live album, and "The L.A." is
a
> Yuzo Kayama cover that The Ghastly Ones have been doing under the
> name "Yuzo's Twist."
>
> "Aoi Hoshikuzu" is probably a traditional Japanese tune--the Sharp
> Five, Terry and Yuzo Kayama each did a version. (That's my best
guess-
> -they didn't seem to cover each other's songs, and it's on the
Sharp
> Five's "Japanese Classics" album.)
>
> I'm pretty sure "Tsugaru Jyongarabushi" is as well--Terry's studio
> version was on an album (Let's Go Eleki Bushi) that was traditional
> Japanese songs played as fuzzed out Eleki, albeit with the drums
> somewhere waaaaaay off in the distance.
>
> -Warren
>
> --- In , "ipongrac" <ipongrac@> wrote:
> >
> > The sound is very much Eleki the Japanese instrumental surf
sound
> > of the mid-sixties. Eleki is more melodic and complex than the
> > typical surf song, and requires more guitar technique. The eleki
> > guitar style sounds like DD meets Nokie heavily reverbed,
somewhat
> > overdriven and aggressive, with lots of pull-offs and hammer-ons
and
> > wild, extreme bends. And Sammy has totally mastered it. The guy
is
> > a monster guitarist. I bet you he could go head-to-head with
Shigeo
> > of the Surf Coasters and completely hold his own. Truly awesome
> > chops, best demonstrated in the closing song Tsugaru
Jyongarabushi,
> > which is (after the short main theme) mostly a one-chord vamp with
> > Sammy just going OFF. Most of the songs also have either an
> > additional rhythm guitar or organ (or both), which definitely
fills
> > out the sound very nicely. As far as the other two members, the
> > drumming is serviceable if not outstanding, and the bass playing
is
> > pretty good, sometimes adding some very cool parts. But what
really
> > matters is the songs, songs, songs, and this is where Wild Sammy &
> > the Royaltones excel. There are no songwriting credits, but I
think
> > only a couple of the songs are covers of classic eleki (The L.A.
and
> > maybe Wild Jet Beach both really awesome, very tough-sounding),
> > with the rest being originals. Among those, Echo Rocket 66, Wild
> > Datsun, Royal Tones No. 1, Aoi Hoshikuzu and Eleki Heiankyou
really
> > stand out, incredible stuff. But hell, every song on the CD
offers
> > something really cool. I highly recommend you all pick up this
> > release. All the tradheads will LOVE it, and even the more prog-
> > types may be able to get into more than a few of the songs. (I
got
> > both this and the Surfaris CD I reviewed before on Amazon.com)
>
--- In , "Klas Fjellgren"
<surfites@...> wrote:
>
> I dont own the album myself but after checking out the tracklist,
I
> noticed there are some more covers: "Running Donkey" (Yuzo
Kayama),
Damn, yes, I actually knew that, but forgot to list the song.
> "Road Runner" (not the Bo Diddley song but done by a 1st
> wave U.S. band which I can't remember the name of)
The Road Runners? :) The song that was on the Pyramids album? I
didn't compare the two songs, but I didn't think they were same.
But maybe? I'll have to check that out. Looking at John Blair's
book, I see that there was also Road Runner by Skip Newell and & the
Mustangs. I'm not sure I have that one.
> and obviously "Pipeline" ;-D
I was only mentioning the Eleki covers - clearly Pipeline is a cover!
> I'm not familiar with "Wild Jet Beach", is it really a cover? The
> title sounds like a modern penned one to me.
I was completely guessing based on the sound of the song, which
sounded a lot like mid-sixties eleki. But it could be theirs.
Warren, do you know?
If you took a look at Warren's post, he pointed out that at least
two other songs on the album are covers: Aoi Hoshikuzu and Tsugaru
Jyongarabushi. I just didn't know.
Ivan
> > "Road Runner" (not the Bo Diddley song but done by a 1st
> > wave U.S. band which I can't remember the name of)
>
> The Road Runners? :) The song that was on the Pyramids album? I
> didn't compare the two songs, but I didn't think they were same.
> But maybe? I'll have to check that out.
Yes to both The Roadrunners and The Pyramids as they both did it.
Don't know who was first though. Both these versions are called "Road
Runnah" but it's the same song as covered by Wild Sammy under the
name "Road Runner".
> If you took a look at Warren's post, he pointed out that at least
> two other songs on the album are covers: Aoi Hoshikuzu and Tsugaru
> Jyongarabushi.
Yes, I was replying to his post which also included your original
post.
/ Klas
--- In , "ipongrac" <ipongrac@...> wrote:
>
> --- In , "Klas Fjellgren"
> <surfites@> wrote:
> >
> > I dont own the album myself but after checking out the tracklist,
> I
> > noticed there are some more covers: "Running Donkey" (Yuzo
> Kayama),
>
> Damn, yes, I actually knew that, but forgot to list the song.
>
> > "Road Runner" (not the Bo Diddley song but done by a 1st
> > wave U.S. band which I can't remember the name of)
>
> The Road Runners? :) The song that was on the Pyramids album? I
> didn't compare the two songs, but I didn't think they were same.
> But maybe? I'll have to check that out. Looking at John Blair's
> book, I see that there was also Road Runner by Skip Newell and &
the
> Mustangs. I'm not sure I have that one.
>
> > and obviously "Pipeline" ;-D
>
> I was only mentioning the Eleki covers - clearly Pipeline is a
cover!
>
> > I'm not familiar with "Wild Jet Beach", is it really a cover? The
> > title sounds like a modern penned one to me.
>
> I was completely guessing based on the sound of the song, which
> sounded a lot like mid-sixties eleki. But it could be theirs.
> Warren, do you know?
>
> If you took a look at Warren's post, he pointed out that at least
> two other songs on the album are covers: Aoi Hoshikuzu and Tsugaru
> Jyongarabushi. I just didn't know.
>
> Ivan
>
I'm fairly sure "Wild Jet Beach" is an original--either way it's a great song,
though.
-Warren
ipongrac <> wrote:
I was completely guessing based on the sound of the song, which
sounded a lot like mid-sixties eleki. But it could be theirs.
Warren, do you know?
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