Al Casey was a prominent session guitarist in the late fifties and early sixties, who played on records by the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, Phil Spector, Simon and Garfunkel, and Frank Sinatra. In addition to a long list of artists, he also co-wrote two Duane Eddy hits, 'Ramrod' and 'Forty Miles of Bad Road.' Surfin' Hootenanny, his only independent album, was allegedly birthed out of a fight between manager/songwriter Lee Hazelwood and Eddy. It seems that the two were not on speaking terms when Hazelwood penned the title tune and, instead of trying to patch things up with Eddy, Lee opted to shop his single to another capable, albeit unknown guitarist, Al Casey. Recorded between two gigs in just 6 hours, this was the Stacy Label's only album release. It is an interesting fusion of 6th ring twang (a la' Duane Eddy) as well as reverb-drenched covers of some popular surf tunes.

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The album opens up with the Duane Eddy-styled title track where Casey mimics guitarists such as Dick Dale, the Victors, and, of course, Duane Eddy, backed with a chorus of girls (credited as the K-C-ettes, but actually the 'Blossoms' in disguise). Lee Hazelwood's 'El Aguila' gets a very Dick Dale-esque cover which is almost identical to the original. 'Thunder Beach' an original follows much of the same feel, complete with an almost identical chord progression. Another Hazelwood number, 'Baja' gets a little more reverb than the Astronauts' version while the fast-paced 'Surfin' Blues (Part !)' finally offers something new from the guitarist. Jack Nitzsche's 'Lonely Surfer' gets a revising except without the lush orchestration. The otherwise mediocre 'Guitars Guitars Guitars' is helped out by a clean delivery from the Blossoms while the otherworldly track 'The Hearse' dies a little too soon. Casey's own 'Ramrod' is an interesting listen, while 'Caravan' is among the strongest tracks on the record. 'Surfin' Blues (Part II)' allegedly recorded in one take, while Casey's taxi waited in the parking lot, is actually one of the more memorable moments on the album, especially given its rushed circumstances. The quirky 'Surf's You Right' ends the album with an ocean-spray blast.

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Surfin' Hootenanny sits on the fringes of the surf music catalog. While deeply rooted in the sounds and consciousness of surf music, the initial pressing was so limited that original copies usually demand extremely high prices. Thankfully, the Sundazed people took the initiative to reissue it on similar colored vinyl, making it possible for a wider audience to hear the sounds of Al Casey and the K-C Ettes. While not exactly in the ranks of any of the big names of the period, Hootenanny does offer some interesting history for the enthusiast...or just buy it for the speckled blue vinyl.

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