Here’s where vintage meets modern, modern meets vintage, and the results are wholly satisfying and gratifying. Split between material dating back to the sixties and stuff recorded in recent months, “Retrophonic” toasts the boss music of Davie Allan and The Arrows in a remarkable light. Previously unreleased tunes, liner notes from the guitar master himself, and nifty photos and artwork lend added attractions to package.
While the stellar reputation of Davie Allan and The Arrows centers on their electrifying instrumentals, they also fare mighty well in the vocal division. From the sixties, covers of Smokey Robinson’s “You Really Got a Hold on Me” (done Beatles style) and Gerry Goffin and Carole King’s “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” complemented by blissful harmonies and a killer guitar solo, stress the Southern California band’s flair for playing radio friendly pop songs. Pinched from The Mamas and The Papas catalog, “Straight Shooter” further captures the combo’s synchronized chemistry. Moving onto the early seventies, the ethereal etchings of “Building Blocks And Lollipops” mirrors the psychedelic explorations of The Byrds, and from 1980, there‘s the country-fried flavoring of “Honky Tonk Jezebel.” A couple of present day efforts, “Evil Did Too” and “Los Cabos” feature the crystal clear vocals of Lisa Mychols, surrounded by classy arrangements and fairly exotic motifs.
Avid Arrows fans don’t need to be told the group has encountered some personnel shifts over time. Bassist Sam Bolle and drummer Dusty Watson join Davie in the current configuration of the band, and their talents are put to good use throughout the disc. Charged with power and clarity, “Devil Dust” and “Uprising” squeal and roar with thunderous riffs and rhythms. Davie’s trademark fuzz pervades every single inch of these bone-rattling instrumentals, topped with sheets of heavyweight melodies. The appropriately titled “Buzz Saw Effect,” along with new takes of “Extrasensory Deception” and “The Glory Stompers” proceed to twitch, turn and tremble with ongoing action and adventure to the brutal beat of fuzz, fuzz and more fuzz.
Dedicated to the memory of rhythm guitarist, Wayne Allwine, who sadly died in May of this year, “Retrophonic” performs a billion dollar job of documenting the different phases and complexions of Davie Allan and The Arrows. Those in the know have always acknowledged Davie as one of the greatest guitarists in the history of rock and roll. His cutting edge fusion of reverb-washed surf sounds, grungy garage rock and psychedelic seasonings remains unsurpassed. Davie makes his guitar talk—communication breakdown is not part of his vocabulary!
Beverly Paterson
TLM Chief Staff Writer
(©Lance Monthly Vol. 10, No. 5 October 2009 )
Tracks 1. Devil Dust 2. Uprising 3. Heavenly Blues 4. Buzz Saw Effect 5. The Glory Stompers 6. Straight Shooter 7. The Lone Arranger 8. You Really Got a Hold on Me 9. Rebel Rouser 10. Will You Love Me Tomorrow 11. Recycled 12. Building Blocks and Lollipops 13. Extrasensory Deception 14. Honky Tonk Jezebel 15. Night Crawler 16. Los Cabos 17. Evil Did Too |
Can you tell me more about RV Stewart Productions?
Welcome to RvStewartProductions, home of Record collectibles, the Lance Monthly, Cool Links Publishing, and Lance Music Publishing. Lance Record's focus is on early rock and roll from its official birth in 1954 throughout the ‘60s with a special emphasis on early ‘60s guitar-rock instrumental styles by King Richard and the Knights and modern guitar-rock offerings by Ritch Stewart, his brother, the late Jason Stewart who sadly passed on April 15, 2021, and their father, Dick Stewart. RvStewartProductions (Record collectibles) is not a new company.
The spark for Record collectibles came when Albuquerque-native, Dick Stewart was bitten by the rock-and-roll bug in 1954 and wanted to do more than just listen and dance to its infectious beaHe wanted to be a contributor.
Guitar-rock instrumentals became his passion after listening to the late ‘50s and early ‘60s hits by George Tomsco and the Fireballs from Raton, New Mexico, and the Ventures from the Pacific Northwest. As a result, in 1961, Stewart formed the Knights that later became known as King Richard and the Knights. A few years later, Stewart composed and released a guitar instrumental titled “Precision” with his band, and it earned a number-one spot on KQEO, the leading rock-and-roll, top-40 A.M. radio station in New Mexico at the time.
L.A.’s Dot Records was so impressed with the instrumental’s classical piano hook that the major record label made an offer to release it nationally but sadly changed its mind when the Beatles came to the United States. Not only the Knights, but many aspiring rock-and-roll bands suffered the same fate. It was the coming of the British Invasion and the 45-vinyl record-buying teens turned their undivided attention toward the Beatles, including a slew of newly formed British bands that immediately followed. But Stewart didn’t throw in the towel. In 1965, he published the Lance Newsletter (today the Lance Monthly) in Albuquerque to help put some of the local bands, including his own, on the map. It was during this time that Stewart formed Record collectibles which immediately signed many of these local bands which showed promise. In the late ‘60s, Stewart turned his attention toward another genre of music: Mexican/America Rancheras and formed Casanova Records. He released several vinyl record albums and singles by the popular New Mexico Mexican/American bands, and he and the Knights contributed four of their own instrumental offerings.
One of them was their version of “El Rancho Grande” which became an instant hit in the Mexican/American market of the Southwest and continues to this day to do well with downloads and listens on the Internet. RvStewartProductions (Record collectibles) is very active today. Record collectibles continues to release CD albums, most of them instrumental with King Richard and the Knights with Dick Stewart and Ritch Stewart at the helm. Dick Stewart has also been busy writing books on the history of early rock and roll, his latest being Fourteen Unsung Pioneers Who Didn’t Get Their Due. In addition, the Lance Monthly will once again post new issues. There’s a lot to see and much to take in at Record collectibles. So, take your time while enjoying the rest of the recently released King Richard and the Knights’ instrumental, “Phantom Riders.” When you give Record collectibles a call, you will be directly connected, so don't wait, call now!
How can I get in contact with someone from RV Stewart Productions (Record collectibles)?
You can get in touch with Record collectibles through three methods:
Phone for Record collectibles: 505-286-0623
Email for Record collectibles: rvstewartproductions@yahoo.com
Contact form: Use the contact form on our website to get in touch with Record collectibles.
Who were The Knights?
The Knights (a.k.a. King Richard and the Knights) had its beginnings in 1961 in Albuquerque, New Mexico (U.S.A.), during a time when instrumental rock ruled the world with The Ventures and The Fireballs leading the way. Thus, the band (or combo as it was called back then) became a Ventures/Fireballs-style band, playing 40 to 50 instrumental guitar songs per gig with no vocals other than a Chuck Berry tune here and there to break the monotony. By 1964, the band finally developed an identity and released "Precision" on a little label called Red Feather Records. This guitar instrumental with a classical piano accompaniment performed by the studio engineer, Dave Bonham, became a regional hit (chiefly due to the unique combination of these two music genres) and set the record for the most time at number one for a local release on the then ruling Albuquerque, New Mexico rock-and-roll AM radio station, KQEO. But when the Beatles invaded the U.S. in Feb. of 1964, it was a bad omen for The Knights. The Knights just couldn't give up their beloved rock instrumental efforts. After a few notable vocals on John Wagner Studios' Delta Records, the band disbanded in 1967.
When you give Record collectibles a call, you will be directly connected from someone from Record collectibles, so don't wait- call now!