Album Review:

Amidst a lawsuit concerning unpaid royalties, it seems that the Sentinals made a brief departure from Del-Fi records to the budget Sutton label to record Vegas Go Go. Their only 'live' album, the Sentinals, reveal another side of themselves that is far removed from their souled-out surf style. 

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"Ladies and Gentlemen, live from the Teen Beach Club in Las Vegas, Nevada, here they are the Sentinals!" is the group's introduction as they launch into a loose and under-rehearsed cover of Bobby Freeman's 'The Swim.' 'Stubborn Kind of Fellow' is a take on the Marvin Gaye version, while yet, another spoken introduction (same as above) re-introduces the listener to the group right as they jump into the brassy instrumental, 'Get It.' The popular rock and roll number, 'Money,' gets a rather enthusiastically underwhelming treatment while 'Out of Sight' finds the group stepping into more Marvin Gaye territory. Side two opens with a third introduction to the band as they perform a hilariously awful version of 'Exotic' with some added dueling trumpets; whoever played on this one must've had a few too many drinks at the bar between shows. A brief 'I Go Crazy' is followed by an obligatory cover of 'Louie Louie.' 'Shout' also pales in comparison to the real version. After a reminder to the audience that the group was currently in the process of recording an album entitled "Sentinals at the Teen Beach Club," the band concludes the set with the drums-only 'Go-Go.' 

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While it is interesting to hear a live concert from the band, Vegas Go Go is far from the same caliber as The Beach Boy's Live Album or even Jan and Dean's Command Performance Lp. However polished the tunes may have sounded back in 1964, 60+ years later, the execution of the material is poor and at times unlistenable, with misplaced drum strikes, messy trumpets, and tuning issues galore. The only reason I can think to grab a copy would be for a priceless version of 'Exotic,' which is so bad, it's good.