Album Review:

It seems there were so many manufactured hot rod and surfing groups by 1964 that record labels were desperate for anything to set their releases apart from the others. In the case of Kustom City U.S.A., Smash Records opted to capitalize on the popularity of George Barris' car designs and put out an album with gorgeous cover art highlighting a few of his creations. The LP that ensued almost seems like more of an advertisement for Barris' cars than an album of car songs. The back cover doesn't mention anything about the music inside and only emphasizes Barris' contributions to the customizing world. Nonetheless, future Beach Boy Bruce Johnston's songwriting, coupled with Steve Douglas' gritty arrangements and an extra dash of George Barris' custom car art, has made the Kustom Kings' lone album a sought-after collector's item for years.

'In My '40 Ford' is really a terrible album opener. With absurd lyrics and an out-of-place brass section, it's odd that the album's inaugural composition would be also released as a single on Smash Records. After a rough start, Douglas' instrumental 'Asphalt Eater' kicks the album back into gear. 'Stick Six' is a strong vocal number and full of custom car lingo. The fuzz-laden 'Fireball' draws inspiration from the Surfaris' 'Wipe Out' while 'Jive Driver' details a charged conversation between two rodders. 'Tuck and Roll' is perhaps the album's best instrumental moment with a double-picked guitar reminiscent of Chantay's 'Pipeline'. Johnston returns for the excellent 'Super Fine '39' - easily the album's best track. 'Firecracker 400' is an enjoyable sax-driven instrumental, while a surprisingly weak cover of the Rip-Chord's 'Hey Little Cobra' follows. Incidentally, Johnston was one of the original vocalists on the original. 'Clutch Rider' boasts some great guitar work from Tommy Tedesco. The dull 'Hotty 32' is simply uninteresting filler in a country blues style. Other reviewers have noted that the album's closing track 'Speed Shifters' sounds very much like the 'Benny Hill Theme, spinning through a number of modulations before fading.

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Although Kustom City U.S.A. may have one of the most intriguing album covers of all time, it's far from the best musically. That's not to say that it's completely pointless to seek this out; tracks like 'Super Fine 39,' 'Stick Six,' and 'Fireball' are well worth the journey, though overall, it's inferior to most of Johnston's other work of this period. So if you were looking for a long-long Rip Chords album, you won't find it here. On the other hand, if you enjoy the gritty sax sound of the early Super Stocks or Jerry Cole Crown albums, then this will not disappoint.