The Sidwinders were hugely hyped by their label (RCA) and they had a certain je ne sais quoi in the downtown NYC rock scene of the early '70s. I actually had the album at the time and listened to it often enough that I decided their underground cool did not make up for the crappy production by the young Lenny Kaye. Great album cover photo, however.
In any case, they never took off commercially, and these days if they're remembered at all, it's as the band that launched the careers of power pop deity Andy Paley (credits too numerous to mention) and Billy Squier (before he you should pardon the expression stroked out). 😎
11 comments:
Has a certain trash appeal. I can picture them playing their last piece at a dive bar, having a blast annoying the regulars. Just as long as they don't, you know, take it seriously.
Annoying! :-)
Captain Al
Interesting. In the same vein check out Dave Edmunds/ Love Sculpture doing Sabre Dance and Farandole in similar manic guitar style.
rs
I rather like this bit of surf/spy stuff coming down the pipeline, but it made me sad because I don't know whatever happened to my Big Muff.
I vastly prefer Edmunds "Sabre Dance," which I saw him do live and worked fabulously.
Well they are no Dave Edmunds or Ventures, but kudos for dredging up a rare one.
Honestly this sounds more Dick Dale inspired.
Willie Nininger used to do an instrumental version the William Tell overture.
A little late to comment.
I used to check out this LP from the library, probably made a cassette copy. Found a sealed copy of the LP about 6 years ago from a store that vastly underpriced it.
The Ventures did a thing called "Bumble Bee Twist" which was
basically stolen by the Sidewinders and re-titled. Hey, it's a public domain melody, right?
Best song on the LP is "Rendezvous" later recorded by Andy and his brother, Jonathan, as the Paley Brothers (released as a single on Sire). The ever-awesome Rubinoos do a great cover of the song.
Speaking of which, the Rubinoos are on a bill with the Lemon Twigs in San Fran next Wednesday. Can anyone give me a lift there?
Bob in IL
Steve, Dick Dale did do a cover of Hava Nagila 😉
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