Let's Get With It, Baby! by The New Arrivals

They recorded with the legendary Leo de Gar Kulka at Golden State Recorders and Coast Recorders, where a number of instros were captured.

One of San Jose's best surf instros is here, the amazingly cool "Moon Racers."

Five stars for the Preps' "Moon Racers" alone, and add to that there fine pop single "Take Me For What I Am" and the moody "Night Theme," and it's a win-win. Some tracks date from the seventies and eighties, but for me it's vintage stuff that really matters.

Picks: Night Theme, Moon Racers

"Night Theme"

"Night Theme" is a moody number with chamber reverbed drums and haunted organ in the lead. It's a pretty simple song, but it sure does stand up well over time. The Chantays covered this on their first album. This was a successful track for the Preps, issued on Dot nationally. Sly Stone is the bassist on this track. Originally cut by the Mark II.

Rock Instrumental Mono

"Moon Racers"

"Moon Racers" is a stunningly cool surf instro, and as the band says in the liners, it reflects their roots in instros and surf. The soaring whammy chords, the space surf feel, the dramatic production, and the well thought out mix all contribute to this fine instro. It's the kind of track raises the hair on the back of your neck. Rumor had it back then that a very large number of takes was required to get the sound and performance they wanted, and for my money it was very much worth the effort. This track alone is worth the price of admission. Interestingly enough, it was written by Herb Alpert and Scott Turner!

I first came to it from KLIV's tendency to use it as a bumper in 1965, and later in that year while visiting friend and DJ-mentor Squeaky Martin during his overnight weekend shift there, I was fortunate enough to pull the acetate they had discarded from their junk barrel, a source for many surf singles still in my collection, along with many great garage punk singles.

Surf Instrumental Mono

One of the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland Metro Area's original rock bands, The New Arrivals have a second release on TAJ Stone Records and CD Baby. It is the follow-up to "Finally" and continues their historical evolution in the studio. Included are tracks featuring various incarnations of The New Arrivals in session at different Bay Area studios."

From the far reaches of memory...

Some interesting trivia about this album:

1. That's Sly Stone playing bass on "Night Theme"

2. "Moonracers" was written by Herb Alpert who really liked this version.

3. "Take Me For What I Am" was The New Arrivals first vocal release.

4. "Let's Get With It. Baby" was first done as "Let's Get With It at Macy's"....a commercial jingle with announcer v/o. It was then released on Macy's/7UP label for giveaway. The guys were also drinking Janis Joplin's hooch left behind from an earlier session. Song was written in 8 min 22 sec. Not a record!?!?!

5. "A Going Thing" was another Macy's spot featuring the early singing of Holly Penfield... now a European star in her own right! Judy Davis students did pretty well. (Mathis, Streisand, Holly, etc)

6. That's a violin solo on "Don't Get Hooked"

7. David Dumont played keyboards on "Lahaina".

8. David Ladd did all the sax and flute work.

9. The New Arrivals started life as "The Preps" in the band room at Bellarmine College Preparatory in 1962.

10. If you're interested in The New Arrivals/Preps/5th Street Exit original 45's in mint unplayed condition email us for a price list and availability. We do have some after all these years that were in the garage at Tom's old house. Trades are possible.

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