One of the progenitors of surf instrumental music, Dick Stewart, and his band The Knights returned in 2006 with a new release titled King Richard’s Red Hot New Mexican Chile Stew – Art. The title is a playful nod to Stewart’s love for spicy food and Southwestern roots.

I knew the band’s previous release, In Progression, would be hard to top—it’s my favorite, and I don’t think The Knights will ever come up with anything better than that album. It stands alone in uniqueness for the instrumental genre. That doesn’t take anything away from this new release; it is destined to be a classic as well. This excellent CD will find its way into the hearts of true instrumental fans waiting for a new release from the Stewart camp.

You may recognize some of the tracks on this new album from the band’s 1998 CD release, Surfin’ the Web. That CD is no longer available, so hang on to your copy if you have one. The tracks on Surfin’ the Web were never mastered, so Stewart decided to fix that and add a few new twists and turns, such as updated arrangements and improved sound quality. One of the tunes, "Cool Links," now has his son, Jason, ripping off some slick fretwork on the bridge to make the newly mastered recording sound as crisp and powerful as possible.

Listening to the Stewarts play is like Guitar 101—old school vs. the new wave. It’s a lot of fun, and the contrasts are fascinating and educational if you own a six-string.

The first track kicks things off in style, beginning with a haunting wind blowing as "Phantom Riders" starts—it’s Dick’s own "Ghost Riders In The Sky" (2006 version), which he happens to cover on this release as well (remastered and reissued). I love the song; it has a melody and rhythm you can’t resist, and I think it will go down as an instrumental classic—you heard it here first. A nod for a job well done goes to Dick’s son, Richard, for his fine bass playing on the track.

"Riley’s Switch" (formerly "Surfin’ The Web," now updated and mastered) is a tribute to the legendary town of Clovis, New Mexico, once called Riley’s Switch. One thing you can count on with Dick Stewart when he records an album is a history lesson about the area in which he lives. He is an avid historian and has studied meteorology over the years. His music uniquely blends history and culture, offering listeners a rich and intriguing experience.

Stewart’s love affair with the Southwest continues with this brilliant release, from Chas Pike’s colorful and cultural artwork on the CD cover to the surf-rock-country sound (with a Southwest spice, incorporating elements of traditional Southwestern music).

Other outstanding new tracks include:

• "Cimarron," an atmospheric piece evoking space and depth
• "Waterfalls," featuring rapid-fire metallic picking pushed through a phase shifter
• "Calm and the Storm," a self-explanatory musical journey

Once again, King Richard and his court gathered to delight all comers to his castle of instrumentals. I’m glad, but I expect it every time a new album comes out. Dick Stewart is a fantastic man—he’s 66 with the heart and spirit of a man 30 years younger. It’s no wonder he keeps cranking out tunes with such passion and purpose. There aren’t many original '60s instrumental musicians still making music. We’re fortunate to hear one of the best still bending the strings.

Tracks & Credits

1. Phantom Riders (Dick Stewart – first lead guitar, Jason Stewart – second lead guitar, Ritch Stewart – bass) (3:58)
2. Cool Links (Dick Stewart – first lead guitar, Jason Stewart – second lead guitar, Gary Snow – bass, Steve Hudgins – drums) (3:47)
3. Riley’s Switch (Dick Stewart - lead and rhythm guitar, Gary Snow – bass, Steve Hudgins – drums) (3:30)
4. La del Moño Colorado (Dick Stewart – lead guitar, Floyd “Flaco” Gonzales – rhythm guitar, Jose “Prospero” Montoya – bass, Anthony Lucero – drums) (2:20)
5. Ghost Riders (Dick Stewart – lead and rhythm guitar, Gary Snow – bass, Steve Hudgins – drums) (3:59)
6. Mother Road (Dick Stewart – lead and rhythm guitar, Gary Snow – bass, Steve Hudgins – drums) (5:14)
7. El Rancho Grande (Dick Stewart – lead guitar, Floyd “Flaco” Gonzales – rhythm guitar, Jose “Prospero” Montoya – bass, Anthony Lucero – drums) (2:32)
8. Cimarron (Dick Stewart – lead and rhythm guitar, Gary Snow – bass, Steve Hudgins – drums) (3:28)
9. El Incendio de Los Alamos (Dick Stewart – lead and rhythm guitar, Gary Snow – bass, Steve Hudgins – drums) (3:16)
10. Waterfalls (Jason Stewart – all instruments) (2:08)
11. Poco de Todo (Dick Stewart – lead guitar, Little Ralph Pais – backup lead guitar, Floyd “Flaco” Gonzales – rhythm guitar, Jose “Prospero” Montoya – bass, Anthony Lucero – drums) (2:30)
12. Penetration (Dick Stewart – first lead guitar, Jason Stewart – second lead guitar, bass, and keys) (3:22)
13. Surfin’ the Rio Grande (Dick Stewart - lead and rhythm guitar, Gary Snow – bass, Steve Hudgins – drums) (4:16)
14. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (Dick Stewart - lead and rhythm guitar, Gary Snow – bass, Steve Hudgins – drums) (4:13)
15. Calm and the Storm (Jason Stewart – all instruments) (4:12)
16. A Medias de la Noche (Dick Stewart – lead guitar, Little Ralph Pais – backup lead guitarist, Floyd “Flaco” Gonzales – rhythm guitar, Jose “Prospero” Montoya – bass, Anthony Lucero – drums) (3:12)
17. Adios (Dick Stewart – lead and rhythm guitar and vocal, Jason Stewart – keys) (1:52)

Give the instrumental a listen, and if you believe Dick and Ritch’s tune would work for the Harris/Walz campaign, you’re free to download and share THE HEATBEAT OF A FREEDOM ADVOCATE, KAMALA HARRIS.

PLEASE HELP MONETARILY OR SCROLL DOWN THIS PAGE AND PURCHASE ONE OF STEWART'S BOOKS. THEY'RE GREAT READS!