Al Casey was a prominent session guitarist during the late fifties and early sixties who played on dozens of records by such masters as Elvis Presley, Phil Spector, Simon and Garfunkel, the Beach Boys, 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 independently credited album, was allegedly birthed from a quarrel between Eddy and manager/songwriter Lee Hazelwood. At the time of Hazelwood's penning of the title tune, the two parties were not on speaking terms when, instead of trying to patch things up with Eddy, Lee opted to shop his single to another capable, albeit unknown, guitarist. Al Casey's moment in the spotlight had arrived. Recorded between two gigs in just six hours, this was also Stacy Records' only album release. Hootenanny is an intriguing fusion of 6th string twang (a la' Duane Eddy) and reverb-soaked covers of 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 Dick Dale-esque cover which is almost identical to the original. The original 'Thunder Beach' follows much of the same feel as the previous track, complete with an almost identical chord progression. Another Hazelwood number, 'Baja,' receives more reverb than the Astronauts' version, while the fast-paced 'Surfin' Blues (Part I)' finally offers something new from the guitarist. Jack Nitzsche's 'Lonely Surfer' gets revisited sans the lush orchestration. The otherwise mediocre 'Guitars Guitars Guitars' is helped out by a clean delivery from the Blossoms, while 'The Hearse' practically drips with reverb. Casey's own 'Ramrod' is an easy listen, while 'Caravan' (the original B-side to 'Ramrod''s 1957 release) 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 considering its rushed circumstances. The quirky 'Surf's You Right' ends the album with a blast of twang.

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Surfin' Hootenanny's initial pressing was so limited that original copies usually demand extremely high prices, though in recent years, these have come down a bit. 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 period's big names, Hootenanny offers some interesting history for the enthusiast...or buy it for the speckled blue vinyl.