KICKSTANDS - Black Boots And Bikes (Capitol Records – T 2078) USA 1964 Mono LP (Surf, Rock'n'Roll)
 | vinyl: NM (mint-) | cover: NM (mint-) 
There was some formidable talent involved in the sole LP by the studio-only hot rod band the Kickstands, which mixed instrumentals and vocals. Gary Usher and Roger Christian, who wrote material for the Beach Boys and other notable early-'60s Southern Californian surf and hot rod acts, penned a few of the tracks. Guitarist Jerry Cole, drummer Earl Palmer, and saxophonist Steve Douglas, all top Hollywood sessionmen, played on the record. The fact is, however, that this was a hot rod exploitation album, hurriedly recorded while the fad was still on track. As Usher himself is quoted as remembering in the liner notes to the 2006 CD reissue on Sundazed, "You have to understand, these albums meant a steady income for the troops. I was trying to funnel as much money into these guys as I could -- the demand was not going to last forever." Accordingly, it's not top-notch hot rod music; it's rather formulaic, though the lyrics (and song titles, in the case of the instrumentals) have a somewhat more rebellious, more ominous streak than most of the tunes in what was usually a fun-loving genre. There's some good growling guitar playing, particularly on the closing instrumental "Scrambler." But the disc is really only for the hot rod-surf completist; most other general rock fans will be happy enough to hear this kind of stuff on Jan & Dean or selective instrumental surf compilations, where the songs in this style are much more inspired.