Drag Beat

De-Fenders | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 25, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Del-Fi Records
• ASIN: B000001JJ1
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #510,527 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Deuces Wild

2. Taco Wagon

3. Movin' And Groovin'

4. Skin Diver

5. Loose Nuts

6. Little Deuce Coupe

7. Drag Beat

8. Wheelin' Home

9. Four Banger

10. Tequila Joe

11. Rum Runner

12. Road Runner

Editorial Reviews

Armed with a solid cache of seminal West Coast studio musicians, Del-Fi Records owner Bob Keane issued the dozen selections on Drag Beat (1963) under the nom de plume of the De-Fenders. Coupling the music with copious drag racing effects, the ersatz band churn out a batch of originals and an apropos cover of "Little Deuce Coupe." Although the melody is loosely based on the Beach Boys' classic, many of the same instrumentalists used in this project also worked on the backing track to the well-known hit version. The opener "Deuces Wild" grinds steadily boasting a full-bodied rousing drive around a tune similar to that of Dale Hawkins' slightly syncopated Crescent City groove "Suzy Q." Jay Migliori (sax) and Plas Johnson (sax) provide sizable brass leads accompanying Michel Rubini's (keyboards) freewheelin' Hammond B-3 organ. A parody of Harry Belafonte's "Day-O" call-and-response introduction has been adapted to the mid-tempo "Taco Wagon," bearing the unmistakable sound of Tommy Tedesco (guitar) supplying the swinging twang. The bluesy "Movin' and Groovin'" can be likened to Lightnin' Hopkins' "Smokestack Lightning" as either Migliori (sax) or Johnson (sax) trade impressive licks while Tedesco unleashes some clean soulful picking, while the influence of Chuck Berry can be heard all over "Loose Nuts." Other interesting inclusions are the distinct R&B vibe propelling "Wheelin' Home" and the edgy "Road Runner," a song that shouldn't be confused with the Junior Walker & the All-Stars or Bo Diddley numbers of the same name. -All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars DEL-FI CLASSIC, June 19, 2008

By 

COMPUTERJAZZMAN "computerjazzman" (Cliffside Park, New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Drag Beat (Audio CD)

ANOTHER GREAT SURF AND HOT ROD MUSIC RELEASE FROM DEL-FI RECORDS IN THE 1960'S, THIS ONE FEATURES TOMMY TEDESCO ON GUITAR WITH "THE DE-FENDERS" (WHO IS PROBABLY THE MOST RECORDED STUDIO GUITAR PLAYER OF ALL TIME, A GUY WHO WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO PLAY BACKUP FOR ELVIS AND FRANK SINATRA). MY FAVORITE CUT IS THE SONG "TACO WAGON". IF YOU LIKE SURF AND HOT ROD STUFF, THIS IS THE REAL THING.

5.0 out of 5 stars [e-mail], March 13, 2001

By 

cecil musick (DAYTON OHIO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Drag Beat (Audio CD)

This is a great record the cover of it is The Tom McMullen Roadster it is Great Hot Rod Music.