Relaxing Surf
L. | La Mesa CA United States | 05/25/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I disagree entirely with the previous reviewer. As fine as the other Challengers albums are, and there are many of them, this one has always been among my favorites. Although On Broadway doesn't really fit the surf genre this is a fine instrumental cover of that song. What sets this apart from the others, however is that it has a laid-back spirit and feel that is easy to listen to without incorporating as much of the driving beat of most surf albums. Foot Tapper should have been a radio hit, but surf music had already drifted into the sunset by the time this album was released. Happy Cowboy is a brilliant cover of the earlier Billy Vaughn Orchestral original. Adventures In Paradise is easily the best recorded version of that title ever put on vinyl. Apache is the best recording of the Jorgen Ingmann hit other than the original itself. All of the remaining numbers are fine recordings that should please any fan of soothing instrumentals. A note: this is the last record which features Glen Grey on lead guitar. He laid down the silkiest, smooth, and energetic lead tracks, on all of the first four Challengers albums that surf music ever enjoyed, during its original heyday. One subsequent album, now out of print, titled New Wave, is a more recent testimony to the adroit producing of Richard Delvy, who has produced more of the finest surf albums ever made than anyone else in the business. At the current price of this CD I doubt you'll be disappointed with it."
Challengers Rock, But This Album Does Not
K. Brown | Walnut, Ca USA | 09/29/2003
(2 out of 5 stars)
"The Challengers are one of the finest instrumental surf bands ever, but this album lacks their magic touch. Aside from the slick cover of "Hava Nagila" and "Apache," the cd has tepid takes of songs like "On Broadway." Only for the most hardcore Challengers fans. If you want a good dose of this great group, I recommend "Killer Surf," their "Best Of" collection."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1