Both of the
Rip Chords'
mid-'60s albums are combined onto one disc on this 30-song CD, which despite the large number of tracks, lasts just over an hour. While this does offer almost everything the
Rip Chords
ever recorded, it's probably too much for everyone except completist surf and hot rod collectors. Although the hit
"Hey Little Cobra"
was one of the greatest
Beach Boys
/
Jan & Dean
soundalikes, much of the rest of their output, unfortunately, reminds you that they weren't as good as
, let alone
the Beach Boys
. None of the songs exclusive to disc are outstanding, some of them displaying an unexpected taste for doo wop and even country music. All things considered,
Sundazed
's more selective
Summer U.S.A.!: The Best of the Rip Chords
is a better deal, especially as it includes all of the group's best and most successful tracks, far more comprehensive liner notes, and three previously unissued cuts. Also note that one of the better songs,
Terry Melcher
and
Bruce Johnston'
s ballad
"Beach Girl,"
has notably inferior sound quality on this release, sounding as if it was mastered from a source running at an irregular speed. ~ Richie Unterberger