The Rip Chords: Sting Ray 7" (Sundazed Music/2006)

The Rip Chords were southern California surf pop band that were signed to Columbia Records. They released two unsuccessful doo-wop influenced singles (“Here I Stand” & Gone”). Columbia Record producers Terry Melcher and Bruce Johnston - also of the surf pop combo Bruce & Terry - came in shortly thereafter and took over the lead vocal duties. The band then had huge hit singles with “Hey Little Cobra” and “Three Window Coupe”. The band released two albums and subsequently had one more charting single with “One Piece Topless Bathing Suit” before calling it a day in 1965.

The always reliable Sundazed Music later reissued the bands two albums and a best of compilation that also contained a few unreleased items. Sundazed also released a single on colored vinyl on yellow wax.

“Sting Ray” is a boogie woogie rock and roll song that references The Beach Boys “Little Deuce Coupe”. “Red Hot Roadster” is a song that appeared in the motion picture A Swingin' Summer, that the band actually appeared in and the band performed said song. “Shut Down” is the a cover of the Beach Boys classic and appeared on the the Hey Little Cobra And Other Hits album. Terry Melcher went on to produce The Byrds and Paul Revere And The Raiders. Bruce Johnston joined the Beach Boys in the Spring of 1965 and is in the band to the day. And a touring version of The Rip Chords still tours the oldies circuit.

Highly recommended for fans of The Beach Boys and 60's Surf Pop. 

Here's the video review:

Paul Revere & The Raiders: Ride Your Pony 7" (Sundazed Music/2012)

Paul Revere & The Raiders were one of the most successful bands of the 1960's. They had a total of 15 Top 40 hit singles, were the house band on Dick Clark's variety program Where The Action Is and leaders  Mark Lindsay and Paul Revere co-hosted Happening '68 and It's Happening. They've also influenced a slew of bands with their blend of Garage Rock and Protopunk sound.

On Record Store Day in 2012 Sundazed Music released a single of outtakes on Red Vinyl. Both songs were produced by Terry Melcher (Melcher was responsible for the bands biggest 60's hits). A cover of the Lee Dorsey classic “Ride Your Pony” appears on the A-Side. Recorded in the Summer of 1965 for the Just Like Us! Album, the track would have been right at home on the album as it's something of a mini-rave-up of a 60's rock dance track.

The B-Side is the original “(You're A) Bad Girl”. It was recorded for The Spirit Of '67 album a year later than the A-Side, and it's a definite stand-out track. The verses are lightly psychedelic and the song itself, retrospectively sounds like it was a hit. It would have been a nice addition to the charts during the late-Summer of 1966.

If you've not heard Paul Revere & The Raiders and a fan of garage rock or sixties pop, you should definitely purchase this single. 


Here's The Video Review:

Thanks to: Sundazed Music and Domenic Priore.