Rat Fink Hot Rod Graphic MS Designer

By Keith Hannaleck

I was experimenting with MS Designer and asked it to create some Rat Fink Hot Rod art, which it did. It's not the same as the originals from the '60s, but it's colorful! It is fun to see what comes up! It's Rat Fat 2025!

Ed Roth was the master of this artwork. You can see some on the official site here https://www.ratfink.com/ 

If you have artwork like this or anything related to surf instrumental music or the culture, please send it to me, and I will post it for you!

The Final On Vinyl Podcast: Merrell Fankhauser Interview - January 15, 2025

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I have been covering Merrell Fankhauser’s music since 1999, when I conducted a two-part internet (email) interview with him.

This current audio interview was long overdue and was my absolute pleasure. Merrell was one of my primary inspirations when I started reviewing music.

His longevity in the business speaks volumes. He started in the ’60s and is still going strong at 81!

In this interview, he discusses how his music has reached fans over the years and his relationship with keyboard player Nicky Hopkins (Rolling Stones, etc.)

Please sit back and listen to a music legend about how he has stayed fit and successful, and take some time to stream some of the best of his catalog via Spotify.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Surf Music and Art Founder

January 19, 2025

Surf Instrumental Reviews: The Knights-King Richard's Red Hot New Mexican Chile Stew – Art

One of the progenitors of surf instrumental music, Dick Stewart, and his band The Knights returned in 2006 with a new release titled King Richard's Red Hot New Mexican Chile Stew – Art. The title is a playful nod to Stewart's love for spicy food and Southwestern roots. I knew the band's previous release, In Progression, would be hard to top; it is my favorite, and I do not think The Knights will ever come up with anything better than that album. It stands alone in uniqueness for the instrumental genre. That does not take anything away from this new release; it is destined to be a classic as well. This excellent CD will find its way into the hearts of the true instrumental fans waiting for a new release from the Stewart camp.

You may recognize some of the tracks on this new album from the band's 1998 CD release, Surfin' the Web. This CD is no longer available, so hang on to your copy if you have one. The tracks on Surfin' the Web were never mastered, so Stewart decided to fix that and add a few new twists and turns, such as updated arrangements and improved sound quality.  One of the tunes, "Cool Links," now has a son, Jason, ripping off some slick fretwork on the bridge to make the newly mastered recording sound as crisp and powerful as possible. Listening to the Stewarts play is like guitar 101—old school vs. the new wave; it is a lot of fun, and the contrasts are fascinating and can be very educational if you own your six-string.

 

The first track kicks things off with style with a haunting wind blowing as "Phantom Riders" begins-it is Dick's own "Ghost Riders In The Sky" 2006 if you will, which he happens to cover on this release as well (remastered and reissued). I love the song; it has the melody and rhythm you cannot resist, and I think it will go down as an instrumental classic—you heard it here first. An essential nod for a job well done goes to Dick's son Richard for his fine bass playing on the track.

 

"Riley's Switch" (formerly "Surfin' The Web," now updated and mastered) is a tribute to the legendary town of Clovis, New Mexico, once called Riley's Switch. One thing you can count on with Dick Stewart when he records an album is that you will get a history lesson about the area in which he lives. He is an avid historian and has studied meteorology over the years. His music uniquely blends history and culture, offering listeners a rich and intriguing experience.

 

Stewart's love affair with the Southwest continues with this brilliant release, from "Chas" Pike's colorful and cultural artwork on the CD cover to the surf-rock-country (with Southwest spice, incorporating elements of traditional Southwestern music) influenced music you will hear on this CD. Other outstanding new tracks are the atmospheric (evoking a sense of space and depth) "Cimarron," "Waterfalls," with its rapid-fire metallic picking pushed through a phase shifter, and the self-explanatory "Calm and the Storm."

 

Once again, King Richard and his court have gathered to delight all comers to his castle instrumental. I am glad, but I expect it to be when a new album comes out. Dick Stewart is a fantastic man; he is 66 with the heart and spirit of a man 30 years younger. It’s no wonder he keeps crankin' out the tunes with regularity. There are not many original '60s instrumental dudes around still making music. We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to hear one of the best still bending the strings with passion and purpose.

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

August 10, 2006

Tracks & Credits:

01. Phantom Riders (Dick Stewart – first lead guitar, Jason Stewart – second lead guitar, Ritch Stewart – bass) (3:58)

02. Cool Links (Dick Stewart – first lead guitar, Jason Stewart – second lead guitar, Gary Snow – bass, Steve Hudgins – drums) (3:47)

03. Riley’s Switch (Dick Stewart - lead and rhythm guitar, Gary Snow – bass, Steve Hudgins – drums) (3:30)

04. La del Moño Colorado (Dick Stewart – lead guitar, Floyd “Flaco” Gonzales – rhythm guitar, Jose “Prospero” Montoya – bass, Anthony Lucero – drums) (2:20)

05. Ghost Riders (Dick Stewart – lead and rhythm guitar, Gary Snow – bass, Steve Hudgins – drums) (3:59)

06. Mother Road (Dick Stewart – lead and rhythm guitar, Gary Snow – bass, Steve Hudgins – drums) (5:14)

07. El Rancho Grande (Dick Stewart – lead guitar, Floyd “Flaco” Gonzales – rhythm guitar, Jose “Prospero” Montoya – bass, Anthony Lucero – drums) (2:32)

08. Cimarron (Dick Stewart – lead and rhythm guitar, Gary Snow – bass, Steve Hudgins – drums) (3:28)

09. El Incendio de Los Alamos (Dick Stewart – lead and rhythm guitar, Gary Snow – bass, Steve Hudgins – drums) (3:16)

10. Waterfalls (Jason Stewart – all instruments) (2:08) 

11. Poco de Todo (Dick Stewart – lead guitar, Little Ralph Pais – backup lead guitarist, Floyd “Flaco” Gonzales – rhythm guitar, Jose “Prospero” Montoya – bass, Anthony Lucero – drums) (2:30)

12. Penetration (Dick Stewart – first lead guitar, Jason Stewart – second lead guitar, bass, and keys) (3:22)

13. Surfin’ the Rio Grande (Dick Stewart - lead and rhythm guitar, Gary Snow – bass, Steve Hudgins – drums) (4:16)

14. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow  (Dick Stewart - lead and rhythm guitar, Gary Snow – bass, Steve Hudgins – drums) (4:13)

15. Calm and the Storm (Jason Stewart – all instruments) (4:12)

16. A Medias de la Noche (Dick Stewart – lead guitar, Little Ralph Pais – backup lead guitarist, Floyd “Flaco” Gonzales – rhythm guitar, Jose “Prospero” Montoya – bass, Anthony Lucero – drums) (3:12)

17. Adios (Dick Stewart – lead and rhythm guitar and vocal, Jason Stewart – keys) (1:52)