Penetration: Best of

penetration: best of

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Long Beach, California's Pyramids were famous for their shaved heads and their early '64 surf instrumental hit, "Penetration." An admitted knockoff of the Chantays' brilliant "Pipeline," it's a memorable tune in its own right. The album it spawned has been expanded to include everything the band released plus a couple of bonus tracks. This amounts largely to a clump of fraternity-band vocal standards ("Walkin' the Dog," "Louie Louie," L.A. favorite "Koko Joe"--written by Sonny Bono--and the novelty "Long Tall Texan," later recorded by both the Beach Boys and Lyle Lovett), and surf instrumentals of varying quality (the supercharged "Road Runnah" and "Midnight Run," along with "Penetration" variations "Contact" and "Pressure," being the highlights).

A couple of slightly unusual cover choices (Round Robin's L.A.-specific dance hit "Do the Slauson" and Tommy Roe's "Everybody," easily convertible to surf thanks to an underlying throbbing pulse) stand out. But aside from the hit, the most appealing songs are the vocal hotrod tunes "Custom Caravan" and the previously unreleased, guitar-laden "Record Run," plus the bizarre and uncharacteristic "Here Comes Marsha," a charming hybrid of Mary Wells and primitive garage pop with Jimmy "Handy Man" Jones-style falsetto runs. --Ken Barnes

Product Description
Crazed, head-shaven, moshing surf warriors from planets unknown, the Pyramids slammed and honked out a loony wagon full of guitar-driven hot surf and rod tracks, collected here for your edification. This Sundazed release includes the bonus tracks 'Pyramid Stomp', 'Everybody', 'Long Tall Texan', 'Do The Slauson', 'Out Of Limits, and 'Louie Louie'.

The Penetration!: Best of the Pyramids,The Pyramids,Sundazed Music Inc.,Instrumental Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Surf

Penetration: Best of
Best of Penetration
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Best of Penetration
    Penetration
    Manufacturer: Caroline
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    PunkPunk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    British PunkBritish Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
    Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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    1. Penetration
    2. The Silent Partner
    3. Favourite Worst Nightmare

    ASIN: B0006JDXGI
    Release Date: 2007-04-03

    Tracks:

    1. Don't Dictate
    2. Firing Squad
    3. Life's a Gamble
    4. Reunion
    5. Silent Community
    6. She Is the Slave
    7. Nostalgia
    8. Danger Signs
    9. Free Money
    10. Come into the Open
    11. Stone Heroes
    12. Shout Above the Noise
    13. Come into the Open [Live]
    14. Movement [Live]
    15. Lovers of Outrage [Live]
    16. She Is the Slave [Live]
    17. Too Many Friends/Killed in the Rush
    18. Don't Dictate [*][Demo Version]
    19. Firing Squad [*][Demo Version]
    20. Duty Free Technology [*][Demo Version]
    21. Never Never [*][Demo Version]

    Album Description

    Import exclusive compilation for the obscure British punk act featuring the powerful vocalist Pauline Murray features their classic 'Don't Dictate', live material, & four bonus tracks, 'Don't Dictate' (Demo), 'Firing Squad' (Demo), 'Duty Free Technology' (Demo), & 'Never Never' (Demo). 21 tracks. EMI.
    Don't Dictate: The Best of Penetration
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Don't Dictate: The Best of Penetration
      Penetration
      Manufacturer: EMI Gold Imports
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      PunkPunk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
      British PunkBritish Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
      Alternative RockAlternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
      RockRock | Imports | Stores | Music
      ASIN: B000006TED
      Release Date: 2004-04-27

      Tracks:

      1. Come Into The Open
      2. Lifeline
      3. Firing Squad
      4. Never
      5. Life's A Gamble
      6. V.I.P.
      7. Danger Signs
      8. Stone Heroes
      9. Don't Dictate
      10. Free Money
      11. Shout Above The Noise
      12. She Is The Slave
      13. Party's Over
      14. Future Daze

      Album Description

      1995 compilation featuring 14 tracks, 'Come Into The Open', 'Lifeline', 'Firing Squad', 'Never', 'Life's A Gamble', 'V.I.P.', 'Danger Signs', 'Stone Heroes', 'Don't Dictate', 'Free Money', 'Shout Above The Noise', 'She Is The Slave', 'Party's Over' & 'Future Daze'.
      The Penetration!: Best of the Pyramids
      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
      • Pyramid Power
      • The Power Of The Pyramids!
      		 The Penetration!: Best of the Pyramids
      The Pyramids
      Manufacturer: Sundazed Music Inc.
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
      Surf RockSurf Rock | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music
      Surf GuitarSurf Guitar | Rock Guitarists | Rock | Styles | Music
      Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
      Oldies & RetroOldies & Retro | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
      Rock GuitaristsRock Guitarists | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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      1. Killer Surf: The Best Of The Challengers
      2. Lost Legends of Surf Guitar, Vol. 1

      ASIN: B000003H0P
      Release Date: 1995-06-26

      Tracks:

      1. Penetration
      2. Road Runnah
      3. Pyramid Stomp
      4. Koko Joe
      5. Sticks and Skins
      6. Everybody
      7. Paul
      8. Long Tall Texan
      9. Do The Slauson
      10. Out Of Limits
      11. Louie Louie
      12. Here Comes Marsha
      13. Walkin' The Dog
      14. Contact
      15. Pressure
      16. Pyramid's Stomp (45 version)
      17. Custom Caravan
      18. Midnight Run
      19. Record Run
      20. Bikini Drag

      Amazon.com

      Long Beach, California's Pyramids were famous for their shaved heads and their early '64 surf instrumental hit, "Penetration." An admitted knockoff of the Chantays' brilliant "Pipeline," it's a memorable tune in its own right. The album it spawned has been expanded to include everything the band released plus a couple of bonus tracks. This amounts largely to a clump of fraternity-band vocal standards ("Walkin' the Dog," "Louie Louie," L.A. favorite "Koko Joe"--written by Sonny Bono--and the novelty "Long Tall Texan," later recorded by both the Beach Boys and Lyle Lovett), and surf instrumentals of varying quality (the supercharged "Road Runnah" and "Midnight Run," along with "Penetration" variations "Contact" and "Pressure," being the highlights).

      A couple of slightly unusual cover choices (Round Robin's L.A.-specific dance hit "Do the Slauson" and Tommy Roe's "Everybody," easily convertible to surf thanks to an underlying throbbing pulse) stand out. But aside from the hit, the most appealing songs are the vocal hotrod tunes "Custom Caravan" and the previously unreleased, guitar-laden "Record Run," plus the bizarre and uncharacteristic "Here Comes Marsha," a charming hybrid of Mary Wells and primitive garage pop with Jimmy "Handy Man" Jones-style falsetto runs. --Ken Barnes

      Album Description

      Crazed, head-shaven, moshing surf warriors from planets unknown, the Pyramids slammed and honked out a loony wagon full of guitar-driven hot surf and rod tracks, collected here for your edification. This Sundazed release includes the bonus tracks 'Pyramid Stomp', 'Everybody', 'Long Tall Texan', 'Do The Slauson', 'Out Of Limits, and 'Louie Louie'.

      Customer Reviews:

      4 out of 5 stars Pyramid Power.......2005-07-04

      This CD contains all the known recordings of the Pyramids. The Pyramids were a surf group that had a hit with "Penetration", and that's about all most people ever heard from them. But they did record an album, which contained the first 12 tracks here (albeit in a different order). Half of these tracks are surf instrumentals, which are all quite good. The other half are a mixed bag of songs with lyrics, none of which sound like surf music. They are not bad, but not that great either. The rest of the CD contains the remainder of their recorded output, including a couple of unreleased songs. This consists of five surf instrumentals, two surf songs with lyrics and a cover of "Walking the Dog". The surf music is really good, but "Walking the Dog" sounds like any garage band of the time period. Despite have a few mediocre tracks here, it's nice to have all the Pyramids recordings on one CD.

      4 out of 5 stars The Power Of The Pyramids!.......2004-01-26

      Long Beach, California's Pyramids consisted of lead guitarist Skip Mercier, bass guitarist Steve Leonard, rhythm guitarist Willy Glover, saxophonist Tom Pitman and drummer Ron McMullen. Steve Leonard wrote "Penetration" as a variation on the song "Pipeline" by the Chantays, but ended up creating a unique classic in its own right. The Pyramids are perhaps best remembered for their appearance in the Frankie and Annette movie "Bikini Beach." As they are about to perform a song, their wigs fly off to reveal their shaved heads! "Penetration" peaked at #18 in 1964. After recording one album and a few singles, all of which are contained in this collection, the Pyramids disbanded in 1965.

      PENETRATION - There's no sound effects of crashing waves, or heavily echoed reverb. This song is a simple, solid, super surf classic.
      ROAD RUNNAH - The sound of a revving engine signals the start of this sizzling hot rod instrumental. With a strong beat and great guitar playing, this sounds like a big hit that somehow missed.
      PYRAMID STOMP - This rocking instrumental is a showcase for Ron McMullen's fantastic drumming, with the rest of the Pyramids firing on all cylinders.
      KOKO JOE - This rocking vocal about "the coolest little monkey in town" is very close to being a novelty song.
      STICKS AND SKINS - After a couple of guitar licks, this instrumental is one long, rocking drum solo.
      EVERYBODY - The vocals on this version rival those of Tommy Roe on his original hit version.
      PAUL - This is a rocking instrumental without much of a melody.
      LONG TALL TEXAN - This humorous song would have been better suited for the Coasters.
      DO THE SLAUSON - In the tradition of Chubby Checker's dance songs, the Pyramids sing about the slauson. Evidently, the slauson dance craze didn't extend much beyond Los Angeles.
      OUT OF LIMITS - The Pyramids cover the Marketts' classic instrumental and do the song proud.
      LOUIE LOUIE - The Pyramids cleaned up the lyrics to this classic. Their sanitized rendition pales in comparison to the hit version by the Kingsmen.
      HERE COMES MARSHA - This sounds like a standard love song from the fifties, and is the low point of this collection.
      WALKIN' THE DOG - The Pyramids do a rocking version of this Rufus Thomas song.
      CONTACT - This is another outstanding surf instrumental, which rocks from start to finish. It was one of the singles, released after their album, which failed to hit it big.
      PRESSURE - This surf instrumental is a combination of "Pipeline" and "Penetration," and yet somehow manages to sound unique.
      PYRAMID'S STOMP (45 VERSION) - The saxophone accompaniment to the guitar is gone on the single version of this song, giving it a heavier sound.
      CUSTOM CARAVAN - This vocal hot rod single sounded more polished than the vocals on their previous album.
      MIDNIGHT RUN - This rocking hot rod instrumental features a memorable melody and strong guitar playing. Its failure as a single hastened the end of the Pyramids.
      RECORD RUN - Written by Gary Usher and Roger Christian, the Pyramids perform this song in the movie "Bikini Beach." It's a hot rod classic, featuring great harmonies on the chorus.
      BIKINI DRAG - This is another Usher/Christian composition from "Bikini Beach." It's a scorching instrumental, featuring great saxophone and drumming, and closes this collection out on a strong note.

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