Delphonic Sounds Today: Del-Fi Does Del-Fi

RELEASE
October 20, 1998
LABEL
GENRES
Pop/Rock, New Wave, Rockabilly Revival, Neo-Psychedelia, Alternative/Indie Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Power Pop, Indie Rock, Garage Rock Revival, Punk/New Wave, Singer/Songwriter, Alternative Pop/Rock, Post-Grunge, Surf Revival

Album Review

A tribute album to the Del-Fi label, for which 20 alternative artists of the late '90s cover songs, from hits to rarities, released on Del-Fi in the late '50s and '60s. It could not be said by even those most sympathetic to the concept that the world was awaiting this salute with great impatience, but here it is. A few of the bands have modest reps in the underground (Brian Jonestown Massacre, Man or Astroman? Baby Lemonade), and original '60s guitar hero, Davie Allan covers Bobby Fuller's "Our Favorite Martian," but most of the artists are unknown. As, indeed, are most of the songs covered -- "I Fought the Law" and "Hippy Hippy Shake" are here, but there aren't many, if any, versions of tunes like Beauregard Ajax's "Things Will Work Out Fine," Barry White's "All in the Run of a Day," Frank Zappa's "The World's Greatest Sinner" or the American Four's "Luci Baines." As is often the way in projects like this, most of the updates are well-intentioned and unremarkable. The best are those that take a lot of liberties with the original arrangement for a major revamp, like Nan Vernon's spooky and spare reading of Bobby Fuller's "A New Shade of Blue," which would have fit in well on the soundtrack of a Twin Peaks episode.
Richie Unterberger, Rovi

Track Listing

  1. I Fought the Law
  2. Hippy Hippy Shake
  3. Yo Yo's Pad
  4. The Slauson Shuffle
  5. My Lovin' Baby
  6. Hitch Hiker
  7. Come on, Let's Go
  8. Things Will Work Out Fine
  9. Full Moon (Tropical Blend)
  10. An Afternoon Affair
  11. Bullwinkle P. II
  12. Luci Baines
  13. The World's Greatest Sinner
  14. The Magic Touch
  15. All in the Run of a Day
  16. Our Favorite Martian
  17. When I Did the Mashed Potatoes With You
  18. A New Shade of Blue
  19. Surf Rider
  20. Donna