Shorty’s Swingin’ Coconuts - Mai Tai In Hi-Fi 7" EP (Hi-Tide)
The cover art for this EP might throw you for a loop - it looks like it would be straight-up exotica, but the music on the 7" actually balances early 60’s instrumental rock n’ roll and vintage Hawaiiana. A couple of the songs fall into the former category - “Il Cavaliere” is a great, mono recorded surf instro - the likes of which you’d find in any compilation of early 60’s rarities, and “Raunchy Twist” has a heavy Link Wray influence. The other two tracks, “Slave Girl” and “Sugar Moon” are smooth, tranquil tunes influenced by the sounds of Hawaii. The combo is made up of Shorty Poole (steel guitar / standard guitar) as well as musicians that play with The Hula Girls, Big Sandy & his Fly Rite Boys, and The Dave & Deke Combo.
Tracks: Il Cavaliere - Slave Girl - Raunchy Twist - Sugar Moon