Desert Island Treasures collects the earliest recordings of veteran California guitarist Merrell Fankhauser with his surf band the Impacts and beat group Merrell and the Exiles. Both groups are excellent representatives of their given styles; the Impacts (circa 1963) were a tight surf unit with ripping sax and wild guitar, while the Exiles' material, recorded between 1964 and 1965, has a harder edge than many popular American groups attempting a British Invasion sound. Exiles guitarist Jeff Cotton would go on to play with Captain Beefheart before rejoining Fankhauser in the early-'70s band Mu. The music of Merrell Fankhauser is absolutely essential to any American '60s rock collection, be it these groups or his later psychedelic folk rock with Fapardokly and H.M.S. Bounty or progressive rock with Mu.
A1–The Impacts-Shreader
A2–The Impacts-Switzerland
A3–The Impacts-Kon Tiki
A4–The Velvetones-Mr. X
A5–Merrell & The Exiles-She's Gone
A6–Merrell & The Exiles-Shake My Hand
A7–Merrell & The Exiles-Let Me Go
B1–Merrell & The Exiles-Please Be Mine
B2–Merrell & The Exiles-Pain In My Heart
B3–Merrell & The Exiles-Long Long Time
B4–Merrell & The Exiles-Remember Me
B5–Merrell & The Exiles-Be A Good Neighbor Week
B6–James Burton Band-Burtons Jam
Interesting! Includes an obscure Champs cover which was actually written by Paul*, Crofts*, Seals*, MacKendrick*, Marshall*, the last being Canadian guitarist Moe Marshall.
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