Album Review:

There is just about no information avaiable about Sonny & the Demons or Drag Kings. Like the ghostly sounds on the album, just who the Demons were has been lost to time. What we do know is that producer Sonny Lester was involved and wrote all of the tracks, and it was released October of 1963. To me (and I say this as someone who has collected and listened closely to more surf/hotrod music that most), it sounds like some of the same musicians that played on the Munsters - Newest Teenage Singing Group album. The organ sound is practically the same, as are many of the nuances of the tenor saxophone lines.

'Road Angels' is an eerie mid-tempo tune that features one of the most creative guitar riffs in the genre. 'Dusters' is another oddly mysterious track. Keeping with the other worldly theme, 'Banshees' is fun crypt rocker, while 'Bearing Burners' is more grounded in the hot rod sounds of the day. 'Road Kings' is a jazzy Duane Eddy type number that is perfect late-night driving fodder. 'Demons' tiptoes around some chromatic ostinato figures. Following the 'Satan's Angels,' we get a jam session entitled 'Rebels.' 'Deuce of Deuces' features a prominent bass guitar, though ultimately stalls at the starting gate. 'Fender Bender' trades off between guitars and a sleepy jazz piano. 'Wailers' is enjoyable enough, though doesn't add anything beyond what the previous tracks do. The album kicks back into high gear with the fabulous 'Jokers' - a track that would've fit snuggly on the aforementioned Munsters release.

For all it’s scarcity, Sonny and the Demons' Drag Kings actually have a pretty great little album. It's a shame not many people have heard it as it's mysteroious and, at times, spine-chilling sounds are especially unique among the other hot rod releases.