The Phantom Surfers - Istanbul. Lookout Records 7". Lookout 156.

I don't know who made the decision to sign The Phantom Surfers (and, indeed, The Go-Nuts) to Lookout, but it was a fairly strange one. I suppose there was all that filthy sell-out lucre they'd earned on the backs of Green Day or The Offspring to get through. I can't imagine they sold that many records despite seeming to spend quite a bit on the releases (their first Lookout LP had a Jack Davis cover!). Anyhow, Larry Livermore's losses are our gain. Here's the cover of a track by The Renegades (Istanbul) and a Phantom Surfers original (Tokyo Twist). Enjoy.

The Phantom Surfers - Istanbul. Lookout Records 7". Lookout 156.

instrumental lookout records phantom surfers surf

Man... Or Astro-man? - In Orbit EP. Shake It Records 709.

Mo mo mo Man... Or Astro-Man? I've had this one in draft form for months so it felt right that I release it ahead of a bunch of other stuff. According to the Astro-Man? Ad Nauseum blog there were 900 copies of this Cincinatti-sourced release. It's also one of the very few MOA? releases which plays at 45rpm. Tracks are Complex 34, Space Helmet, Alpha Surfari and Manta Ray. The latter two are covers; the first of a Surfaris track, the second a faithful rendition of a Pixies original.

Enjoy.

Man... Or Astro-man? - In Orbit EP. Shake It Records 709.

instrumental man or astroman? shake it surf

Jackie and the Cedrics - TV Hop. Hillsdale Records 7". HR-21.

More sounds from another one of our 'J' bands. This Tokyo-based bunch of twist and twangers are still with us after a career which has so far lasted around twenty years. This was their third Hillsdale release. Their 1+2 Records double 7" Nine Great Stomps EP was available here in August 2010 and the tracks have just been re-uploaded, as has Tales from Estrus Volume Two which features the band alongside Japanese compatriots American Soul Spiders, The Beyonds and Supersnazz. Enjoy.

Jackie and the Cedrics - TV Hop. Hillsdale Records 7". HR-21.

Hillsdale Records jackie and the cedrics japan surf vocal

Man... Or Astro-Man? vs. Europa. Homo Habilis 7". HH706

For a band with strong attention to detail and an eye for the gimmick I was always surprised that this was the only time Man... Or Astro-Man? produced a single for tour release. Disappointingly for me I got the postcard informing me of their imminent arrival after they had been and gone. I ended up buying my copy from Estrus mail order. I note the dates of the tour and wonder exactly where they spent Christmas 1993. I hope they were looked after. Enjoy.

Man... Or Astro-Man? vs. Europa. Homo Habilis 7". HH706

Europe homo habilis man or astroman? surf

Various Artists - The Phantom Surfers and The Astronauts split single. Pin Up Records 7". PIN UP 94013.

Jesus, where did the time go? I never meant to be away for nearly a month, but real life got in the way. Not in the way of transcribing vinyl, more in the way of sitting down and writing and uploading. It's been a busy time and, frankly, I've not been arsed enough to do stuff. Not now, though. I return, embiggened and there's a lot to share. The next four posts are themed - European Tour singles 'only' available from merchandise stalls during Our Favourite Bands' tours of Yoop. Tonight, it's the turn of The Phantom Surfers and The Astronauts. The former from the United States, the latter from Germany, but they got to play two dates in England so that meant some kind of getting over here vibe for them. Coming up next, in no particular order, The Untamed Youth's Special European Tour 45 1996, Man Or Astroman? vs Europa and The Mummies & Supercharger Tour '93 flexi-disc (from flexi-disc). Enjoy.

Various Artists - The Phantom Surfers and The Astronauts split single. Pin Up Records 7". PIN UP 94013.

astronauts Europe phantom surfers pin up records surf The Astronauts

Various Artists - Locked In To Surf - Volume Two. Alopecia! Records LP.

Stop Press - Last minute sleeveage thanks to Brandonio!

Another LP. I can't find a large enough scan of the cover of this one and my own attempts at photographing ten and twelve inch releases were laughably bad, so instead here's some great footage of two of the acts on this LP, The Astronauts and The Trashwomen. The Astronauts were from Germany and can be seen here performing the theme from the hit German TV show, Die Munsters. The Trashwomen treat us to Let's Go, which was simultaneously released, to worldwide acclaim, by German label Pin-Up and US label Repent.

Other acts on here include Sir Bald Diddley and his Right Honourable Big Wigs, Los Kogas, The Finks, The Surf Trio, The Apemen and The Green Hornets. All worthy of your attention. I'm sure there must be a full track-listing out there somewhere...

Various Artists - Locked In To Surf - Volume Two. Alopecia! Records LP.

England Germany surf The Apemen The Astronauts The Green Hornets The Surf Trio The Trashwomen

The Lone Surfer and his Super Pals - Planet Pimp Records Present ... Planet Pimp 7" PPR-003.

A garage rock/surf super group that only came about because one member of The Phantom Surfers choked when Dick Dale had a gig the same night they were due to play at The Pony Express Pizza Parlour. The full story, along with the story of the fella getting a fist full of cash at the bottom left of the sleeve, can be found here. This release is pure Planet Pimp flogging a dead horse exploitation. Enjoy.

The Lone Surfer and his Super Pals - Planet Pimp Records Present ... Planet Pimp 7" PPR-003.

phantom surfers planet pimp records surf The Mummies The Trashwomen

Man... Or Astro-Man? - The Sounds of Tomorrow. Estrus 7". ES783.

We've not had any Man... Or Astro-Man? for a little while, so here's a 1996 offering from the ever-reliable Estrus records. Track three, Green-blooded Love, is by Thee Shatners, a bunch of Star Trek-loving chancers who had connections with The Ne'er'Do'Wells and The Dukes of Hamburg, and whose only release was an LP on Planet Pimp Records. Enjoy.

Man... Or Astro-Man? - The Sounds of Tomorrow. Estrus 7". ES783.

estrus instrumental man or astroman? star trek surf

The Boss Martians - XKE! - Hillsdale Records 7" HR-45-3.

Back to normal tonight. Here's an early release by The Boss Martians on Johnny 'Slowhand' Bartlett's Hillsdale Records. If you dig traditional-sounding, twangy surf music you'll enjoy this one, crackles and all. Enjoy.

The Boss Martians - XKE! - Hillsdale Records 7" HR-45-3.

Hillsdale Records surf the boss martians

The Trashwomen - The Trashwomen vs. Deep Space Pin-Up Records LP.

 

 The Trashwomen are two bands. On one hand, the shrieky, screechy annoying harridans of doom vocal band and on the other one of the best surf instrumental bands to grace my turntable. Both have their merits, but their own schizophrenic battle of the bands would be won by the vocal-less trio. One day I will separate out their tracks into words and no words. Just so that I can enjoy the full effect of both. In the meantime, enjoy.

The Trashwomen - The Trashwomen vs. Deep Space Pin-Up Records LP.

pin up records repent records surf The Trashwomen

The Galaxy Trio - Saucers Over Vegas. Estrus 10". Estrus Arts ES105.

One of two 10" EPs I own by this band. Both are on Estrus. Beyond that I don't really know much about them at all. Despite the name, I'd argue that they are an instrumental band, rather than a surf band. Maybe they started out as a straightforward surf band and evolved, similar to the journey undertaken by Man ...Or Astro-Man?. Or maybe they're just bad at being 'surf'. Either way, it's good stuff uncluttered by crap lyrics. Enjoy.


The Galaxy Trio - Saucers Over Vegas. Estrus 10".  Estrus Arts ES105.

estrus instrumental surf the galaxy trio

The Del Lagunas - Time Tunnel. Estrus Records 7". ES760.

Another in a long series of Estrus-released surf singles that is pretty, pretty good. Estrus maintained that they were 'Greenland's No. 1 surfin' instro combo'. A likely story. Enjoy.

The Del Lagunas - Time Tunnel. Estrus Records 7". ES760.

del lagunas estrus gas huffer surf

The Astronauts - Lost In Space. Pin Up Records 10".

Germany's finest surf band, The Astronauts, with a superb release on Pin-Up. These fellas could hold their own against any other hard working surf band out there - The Phantom Surfers, Dick et les Espions, even The Trashwomen. Enjoy.

The Astronauts - Lost In Space. Pin Up Records 10".

pin up records surf The Astronauts

The Krontjong Devils - Romp Out With The Krontjong Devils - Hillsdale Records HR-16.

The best thing to come out of the European lowlands since the Dutch Cap, The Krontjong Devils provide three tremendous instrumentals and one okay-ish vocal track. Enjoy.

The Krontjong Devils - Romp Out With The Krontjong Devils - Hillsdale Records HR-16.

Hillsdale Records holland johnny bartlett surf the krontjong devils

Man ... Or Astroman? - Amazing Thrills in 3D. Estrus Promo EP ESP7.

Some more Man ... Or Astroman? for you all. My copy of this came free with a pre-ordered from Estrus blue vinyl copy of Is it...? A limited amount were also sold in record stores. The reverse of the sleeve is blank. Enjoy.

Man ... Or Astroman? - Amazing Thrills in 3D. Estrus Promo EP ESP7.

estrus instrumental man or astroman? surf

The Car Thieves - Planet Pimp Records Presents The Fabulous Fighting Car Thieves. Planet Pimp Records 7".

More Genius from Planet Pimp Records - FIFA-nominated Label of The Decade for the naughty nineties. Four surf standards and Henry Mancini's 'Baby Elephant Walk' given the out of tune, badly-recorded treatment. None of the tracks are named on the record itself, and the titles given on the sleeve are obviously wrong/satirical particularly with this in mind. Enjoy.

The Car Thieves - Planet Pimp Records Presents The Fabulous Fighting Car Thieves. Planet Pimp Records 7".

car thieves planet pimp records surf

The Tiki Men - Cattle Prod. Hillsdale Records 7". HR008.

The Tiki Men + Hillsdale Records = Enjoy.

The Tiki Men - Cattle Prod. Hillsdale Records 7". HR008.

Hillsdale Records ins surf tiki men

Man Or Astro-Man? - Deluxe Men In Space. Touch and Go / One Louder EP.

Inside left.

Inside right.

Mid-period Astro-Man? from the time they started to flirt with the more experimental side of their sound - March of the Androids and Rhombics may be short (both clock in at under a minute) but they demonstrate a new side to the Man or Astro-Man? sound that was further exploited in their later releases. The rest of the tracks are classic Man or Astro-Man? including a cover of U-Uranus that has my kids in fits. Enjoy.

Man Or Astro-Man? - Deluxe Men In Space. Touch and Go / One Louder EP.

man or astroman? one louder surf touch and go records

Various Artists - Get A Board! 16 Surf and Hot Rod Ho-Downs! Satan Records LP. Satan 1007.

More great 60s surf tracks from the ever-excellent Satan Records. When released on CD this was combined with tracks from Wail On The Beach!, which will be on here soon enough. This release has a good balance of vocal and instrumental tracks. The Shut Downs' Four On The Floor alone makes it worth the download. Enjoy.

Various Artists - Get A Board! 16 Surf and Hot Rod Ho-Downs!  Satan Records LP. Satan 1007.

60s instrumental satan surf

Man Or Astroman? - Captain Holojoy's Space Diner. Lucky Records 7".

One of a billion singles released ages and ages ago on behalf of the now newly-active Man Or Astroman? They were always pretty much on the ball when it came to recycling material for reissue, but some tracks did miss the cut. Including, on this single, a track called Space Potatoes and credited to Rozier. Enjoy it, and the rest of this yummy yummy release.

Man Or Astroman? - Captain Holojoy's Space Diner. Lucky Records 7".

man or astroman? surf