(*)Bobby Darin - Darin At The Copa (ATCO)
This is a smokin' set of live tunes from the young Sinatra-wannabee best known for his rendition of "Mack The Knife". You'll find that song here, along with "Lonesome Road", "Love For Sale", "I Have Dreamed", "I Got A Woman", and twelve other standards. What sets him apart from Sinatra is his ability to arrange tunes so that they really, especially on this live recording. (Hmmm... #7)

(*)Sammy Davis, Jr. - Capitol Collector's Series (Capitol)
This CD serves as a fine introduction to Sammy's years with Capitol Records. Personally, I prefer his later years when he joined Frank at Reprise Records. Still, this is a fun set of music to listen to. "Inka Dinka Doo" is one of my favorite Sammy tunes of all time. Half the time Sammy is singing these songs as impersonations. Occasionally he will be using his own distinctive voice; at other times he will be adopting the voices of Dizzy Gillespie, Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughn, Jimmy Durante, James Cagney, and Jimmy Stewart among countless others. With comprehensive liner notes and twenty great tunes, this is one release that you'll want to add to your Rat Pack Collection. (Hmmm... #7)

(*) Dave & Deke Combo - Chrome Dome (Bucket-Lid)
This is an amazing 2-track disc from Deke Dickerson and his sidekick Dave Stuckey, who have both done time in The Untamed Youth. They go for a very different sound here, yet it is just as cool. Chrome Dome is hillbilly rocker about how tough it is to score when you don't have a nice thick head of hair. Carryin' On is an excellent tune highlighting the skillful picking of Deke Dickerson, one of the unsung heroes of today's music scene. (Available from Continental Mail-Order.)

Ronnie Dawson - Just Rockin' and Rollin' (Upstart)
"He's a true tock n' roll trailblazer; a performer who will shake you to your very soul!"
This is the latest album by rockabilly legend Ronnie Dawson, a collection of tunes recorded at Toe Rag studio. They have captured the vintage sound of the 50's through the use of equipment used back then along with recording the album live. Joining Ronnie on this disc are Eddie Angel of Los Straitjackets, Holland's Tjarko Mol, London's Bruce Brand and Japan's Mr. Tone. They have cooked up a cool set of steamin' tunes which will getcha movin' in no time. (Hmmm...#7)

The Daytonas - Emerging From The Tube (Solamente)
Excellent lo-fi surf loaded with tons of reverb and energy. If you dig the sound of The Phantom Surfers, you are sure to dig The Daytonas!! The fine folks at Solamente Records just can't do no wrong in my book - it is great to have a domestic release available from this prime European combo. (Continental #5)

The Deep End - The Deep End (Atomic)
I haven't even heard of these guys before, yet they only 80 miles away in Seattle. Their debut CD has nine original tunes and an excellent cover of The Savage. They have a great guitar sound accompanied by some spooky vintage organ and a nice backbeat. Alki Surf, The Savage, The Sheik of Hips & Werewolves on Wheels were my personal faves, but every cut on this disc has something going for it. It's high time you check out the spooky sounds of The Deep End. (Continental #4)

The Delstars - Peel Out! with The Delstars 7" (Swizzle)
"The foursome merge the sounds of surf music with the super-charged power of hotrod."
These guys really cook, mixing surf, twang, hot rod, and a touch of psychedelia on this 4 track single. Featuring 3 instros and the vocal title track, The Delstars strive to create a sound of their own, while borrowing plenty of the attitude from the past. The production on this gem brings out the power of each musician. "Last Wave" closes the EP on a gentle note, swaying like the palm trees on a Waikiki beach. (Swizzle Records, P.O. Box 684586, Austin, TX 78768.) (The Continental #1)

(*) Deke Dickerson - Asphalt Aisle (Estrus)
Deke is back with more of the wild guitar work you've come to love him for in those supercharged combos UNTAMED YOUTH and THE DAVE & DEKE COMBO. The FLY RITE BOYS back him up on this two-track stomp, which is housed in a nifty retro sleeve designed by Art Chantry. (Continental #5)

Deke Dickerson - Mother's Worry/Samoa 7" (Gas) The A-side on this record is a hot little surf n' drag number with an incredible lead guitar sound, electric piano, the standard surf beat, and loads of hot rod action in the background. The flipside is a primitive, mid-tempo instro number that features more excellent picking by Deke. I don't really need to say more - do whatever you can to buy this! (Continental #5)

Deke Dickerson - Solid Sender 7" (Ecco-Fonic) Deke can do no wrong in my book - he's done everything from rockabilly/roots (The Dave & Deke Combo) to surf/garage/frat rock (The Untamed Youth). With his solo releases he does a little of everything. Sparkin' is a quick little rockabilly/swing number that'll be on the upcoming Mai Tai Records Ready Steady Drink! compilation. The title track is one of the best tunes he has ever done. For those who miss The Dave & Deke Combo there is no need to worry, Deke hasn't turned his back on roots rock. This EP has four tracks that are just as good, if not better, than any of the cuts the 'Combo ever did. (Continental #5)

Deke Dickerson - Swingin' In Outer Space/Diggin' It 7" (Ecco-Fonic) I really love the sound of Deke's double neck Mosrite, which is featured on the instrumental A-side of this great 7". The cover is great too, with Deke wearin' a suit and sportin' FOUR ARMS playing his double neck. Diggin' It is a great instrumental rockabilly tune, showing off the quick pickin' of this prolific guitarist. (Continental #5)

(*) The Del Lagunas - Exotic/Twine Time (Sympathy For The Record Industry)
Exotic is a powerful, Middle Eastern instro tune, while Twine Time is goes for more of a traditional surf sound. Housed in a full color sleeve with shots of The Del Lagunas rippin' it up live. (Continental #5)

Del Noah & The Mt. Ararat Finks - The Big Sounds Of... (Dionysus)
Great vocal surf n' roll done by a bunch of cool cats in So Cal. Features cool hot-rod cover art by Shag and pressed onto red vinyl. Cuts featured here are Amish Drag Buggy, Spinout, Hole Shot & The Wire Wheel Set in a sleeve designed by Shag. (Continental #5)

The Del-Vamps - Drag Strip (Wiki Wiki)
This great 7" contains more cool surf from those crazy geetar pickin' fools down in Arizona. This four track EP contains three original tunes, plus their stab at The Mummies' The Thing From Venus. Drag Strip is a rip-roarin' racing tune filled with the vintage sounds of the nitro fueled monster machines. (Continental #5)

The Deoras - Channel Nine (Gunka Disc)
This is an excellent 4-track EP featuring members of Agent Orange, The Halibuts, and The Torquays. The Deoras have the surf sound down with their two guitars, bass & drum attack. One of the tunes is an instro version of the Agent Orange classic Bloodstain. Pressed onto limited edition blue vinyl and hand numbered, this will soon become a collector's item. (Continental #5)

The Drags - Stop Rock And Roll (Estrus)
"12 crazed cuts of prime Drags stomp and howl that clocks in at just under twenty blazing minutes…"
The Drags are a cool lo-fi rock n' roll band that keeps the songs short n' sweet (hell, there are a few Pink Floyd songs that are longer than this entire LP!). Every cut on this LP is cool, although my personal faves are the first two tracks - Bacon Striptease and Who's Got The Electricity. Never has so much energy been packed into so little space. Fans of the 1-4-5's will dig these guys (and gal). (Continental #4)

Dragstrip - Reaction Time (Shredder)
No press kit was included (a nifty poster was included though).
Dragstrip are a fresh, new surf combo that has updated the traditional surf sound into something that is pretty modern. I never thought I’d hear a surf version of Blue Oyster Cult’s ‘Don’t Fear The Reaper’, but it’s here. You’ll also find instro standards, such as ‘Penetration’ and ‘Jack The Ripper’, along with ten originals. This is a band to watch out for in the near future. (The Continental #2)

Click here to go back to music reviews.