Product Review

'Shazam!' features two-dozen vocal-free (give or take the occasional rebel yell etc) nuggets written by the great man. Star of the show is twangmaster Duane Eddy with three great tracks: the title number, the menacing 'Stalkin'' and 'This Town', a lesser-known 45 from Hazlewood's stint writing and producing gems for Nancy Sinatra and others at Reprise Records. Other key artists include guitar wiz Al Casey, top Wrecking Crew drummer Hal Blaine, renowned arranger/orchestra leader Jack Nitzsche and ace surf combo the Astronauts, not forgetting Dick Dale with his axe-shredding version of 'Angry Generation'. Compiled by Mick Patrick with in-depth notes by the guys from Pipeline magazine.