The Astronauts (3) – Surfin' With The Astronauts

Hadn`t played this in a few years. Today reminded me why I bought it. FUN FUN FUN. Maybe Their Susie-Q is favorite track? But there are many killer tracks. Baby Let`s Play House is up there as well.

My copy has the Side 1 label on both sides. This LP uses the "Dynagroove" process developed by RCA which worked pretty well on rock LPs, giving them a lot of punch, but really killed the subtleties of classical records which were a large part of RCA's catalog.

From Wikipedia:
"Dynagroove used analog computers to modify the audio signal used to produce master discs for LPs. The intent was to boost bass on quiet passages, and reduce the high-frequency tracing burdens (distortion) for the less-compliant, "ball" or spherical-tipped playback cartridges then in use. With boosted bass, tracing demands could be reduced in part by reduced recording levels, sometimes supplemented by peak compression. This added top-end margin permitted selective pre-emphasis of some passages for greater perceived (psychological) brilliance of the recording as a whole. As with any compander, the program material itself changed the response of the Dynagroove electronics that processed it. But, because the changes were multiple (bass, treble, dynamic range) and algorithmic (thresholds, gain curves), RCA justifiably referred to the analog device as a computer.

"RCA claimed that Dynagroove had the effect of adding brilliance and clarity, realistic presence, full-bodied tone and virtually eliminated surface noise and inner groove distortion.

"The process was not received well by some industry commentators, with many audio engineers of the time referring to Dynagroove as 'Grindagroove.' Dynagroove was also sharply criticized by Goddard Lieberson of the competing label Columbia Records, who called it 'a step away from the faithful reproduction of the artist's performance' and by Harry Pearson, founder of The Absolute Sound, who termed it 'Dynagroove, for that wooden sound.' Another noted detractor of Dynagroove was J. Gordon Holt, the founder of Stereophile magazine, who in December 1964 wrote a highly unfavorable article entitled 'Down with Dynagroove!' Holt, a noted audio engineer and writer of the 1960s and 1970s, slammed Dynagroove as introducing 'pre-distortion' into the mastering process, making the records sound worse if they were played on high-quality phono systems."

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynagroove

By 1970, Dynagroove was gone.

Excellent twangy SoCal early 60's hip surf culture L.P. good solid fun

This is a great surf album that can be found at flea markets, second hand shops and places like that. Not too expensive and if you’re in to surf, YOU WILL DIG IT! A+ entry level collector right here!

Oh, I forgot......... Rich's sons name is Sage Fifield.

What a great job they did covering these surf tunes. Plus their original "Kuk" fits perfectly in with the times. Rich Fifield's son is a friend of mine and has an "Americana" band called the "Easy Leaves" with Kevin Carducci. Check them out.