Search - Various Artists :: Instrumental Diamonds 2 / Highly Strung

If you own "Highly Strung Vol I" DO NOT GET THIS ALBUM!

pulled pork picker | North Cackalacky, USA | 09/29/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I repeat--if you have Volume one, you need not get this fine CD. Why? Because it's almost EXACTLY the same album! The only diff here is the addition of two songs by a group called the Honeycombs, whose singles were originally unreleased, and maybe should've stayed that way (although there is a certain charm in hearing a guitar player's solo feature every single lick that guitar player knows--including those in the wrong key...).



However, if you don't have either, (and this version ends up being the cheaper one you can get), I can't recommend it more. A whole bunch of fine and interesting British instrumental songs of the early 60's, almost all of 'em great, many put together by legendary producer Joe Meek. If the only stuff of this genre you've heard is American surf rock, you're in for a big treat here. Personal faves include fifth Beatle Jimmy Nicol's "Husky", which sounds like the theme to a lost Austin Powers movie, and Ahab and the Wailers' "Neb's Tune", which has the triple threat of a Middle Eastern-influenced Duane Eddy-style guitar, a whiny clavioline keyboard (ala "Telstar") and seemingly every piece of percussion the drummer could find in the studio (including gongs!). Plenty of fun, but again--IT'S NEARLY THE SAME RECORD AS VOLUME ONE!"