"SURFIN', DRAGGIN' & TWISTIN'" - 1960's ROCK n' ROLL

Features the kingpins of 1960's Tennessee Surf world Bobby Russell, Bergen White and Buzz Carson who wrote surfin' hits for Jan & Dean.

This covers some of the output of Nashville’s Spar label that specialised in quick turnaround covers of US hits, with some originals added to their range. In these cases they used the talents of Buzz Cason, Bobby Russell and Bergen White, who were also successful as Ronny & the Daytonas behind John Wilkin’s lead. There are eight surf or drag tracks of varying quality, the best being Two Plus Two (very Daytonas-like) and Tiger In My Tank, covers of a couple of Beach Boy songs and Sandy & The Beachcombers’ Daytona Darlin’, which is obviously rooted in Chuck Berry’s You Never Can Tell. Following this comes an assortment of beat items including a Beatle-ish Right Or Wrong, some teenbeat tracks and three Twist cash-ins. Everything is handled quickly and professionally, but don’t expect any real killer discoveries here. - Reviewed by Kingsley Abbott

trax:
1. Tiger In My Tank - Bobby & Bergen 2. Wipe Out - Music City 5 3. Surfer Girl - Music City 5 4. Surf City - Music City 5 5. Telstar - Music City 5 6. Be True To Your School - Music City 5 7. Two Plus Two - Sandy & The Beachcombers 8. Daytona Darlin' - Sandy & The Beachcombers 9. Wha' Cha Gonna Do - The Olives 10. Hold Me - The Olives 11. Right Or Wrong - Bobby Russell 12. Roll Over Beethoven - Bobby Russel 13. I'm So Lonely - Dee & Robert 14. Candy From A Stranger - Garry Miles 15. Mr. Taxicab Driver - Garry Miles 16. Don't Come Too Late - Bobby Russel 17. Have You Been There - Pat & Colin 18. Baby Lay Your Love On Me - Jeb Butler 19. Wasted Years - Jeb Butler 20. Twistin' Party - Herbert Hunter 21. Hey Let's Twist - Marty & The Merits 22. Twistin' Usa - Johnny Keaton 23. I Ain't No Beatle - Jerry Foster 24. That's Alright Mama - Jerry Foster