Album Review:

Shut Downs & Hill Climbs could be considered Liberty Records' spiritual successor to Capitol's Shut Down compilation released the previous year. Much like the Capitol album, Liberty dug out a few older car-related tunes in their arsenal and mashed them together with a few newly recorded songs to create a hodgepodge of styles and genres with a unifying theme. Of most interest is 'Scrambler' by the Strangers, which is unique to this release, and two rare Ventures tunes which would later be released under alternate titles. 

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Jan & Dean's 'Little Deuce Coupe,' lifted from Drag City, is no match for the Beach Boys' original, but it does have its own charm. 'Six Days On the Road' was a major country hit for Dave Dudley in 1963 and, while not exactly surf-related, is still a great track with some excellent twangy guitar work. The Ventures' 'Kickstand' (later retitled as 'Go Go Dancer' on Ventures À Go-Go), is the first of two rare Ventures tracks on this compilation. 'Hey, Little Cobra' was lifted from the T-Bones' Boss Drag album. Johnny Bond's 1960 rendition of 'Hot Rod Lincoln' makes an appearance, followed by 'Theme From The Wild One' by Earl Palmer - a truly odd inclusion. Jan & Dean's 'Hot Stocker' from Drag City is energetic and a highlight. Paul Evans' 1959 single, 'Seven Little Girls Sittin' In the Backseat,' is another addition from the vaults. The rare Stangers' 'Scrambler' track is an eerie bike track. Paul Hampton's 'Headin' For the Girl I Can't Forget' sounds like an Elvis Presley film outtake. 'Submarine Race' was released in 1962 on Liberty and featured the voices of Jerry Naylor and Vikki Carr (uncredited). 'Candy Apple Racer' by the Ventures closes out the album.

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An odd duck, Shut Downs & Hill Climbs is not of much consequence and an example of a record label haphazardly throwing together a cash grab.