One of my absolute favorite guitar instrumentals is Bob Taylor's Thunder on the Yucca label. It has been comped countless times (and even makes an appearance on one of the Lux and Ivy Favorites). The B-side is great too, but man, Thunder kills!
A few years ago, I came upon an auction for a song called Thunder Reef, by the Shindigs. The song was attributed to Bobby Fuller AND Bob Taylor. The sound sample attached to the auction attested to the fact that it was indeed a "re-imagining" of Thunder! It took me forever to get the actual 45 (at a halfway decent price), and I present it here for you to check out.
I can't decide which one I like better, they are both such amazing records. There was definitely something in the water down in El Paso!
This version of Thunder Reef has never been comped to my knowlege. A version of the song has appeared on a few Bobby Fuller compilations, but it has an accoustic guitar sound that really takes the heat out of the song.
Give a (repeated) listen to the 2 versions below, and as an added bonus, there is a link to the other side of the Shindigs record as well, a great instrumental with a nod to the Wolfman!
(beware, the Wolfman side is REALLY scratchy)
Bob_Taylor_-_Thunder
The_Shindigs_-_Thunder_Reef
The_Shindigs_-_Wolfman
Great stuff again.
ReplyDeleteThanx Kogar
i have a copy of the bobby fuller version of "thunder reef" if you want to hear it
ReplyDeleteCool! I have a somewhat nicer mp3 of the "Wolfman" track (attributed to Randy Fuller, not the Shindigs). It'll be on my new compilation of Halloween-themed instrumentals, which will go up at the WFMU Ichiban blog on Monday...
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff. The Shindigs version is my personal favorite (I at least rank it ahead of the re-recordings by the Bobby Fuller Four).
ReplyDeleteAnyways, the original master has been found, and it was given a proper release on Shakedown! The Texas Tapes Revisited. Since this article, it's been on a few other compilations as well.