Guitar Beat is the debut album by the neo-surf band the Raybeats. It was released in 1981 and produced by Martin Rushent. The album features ten original instrumentals, plus a Jan and Dean cover.

Guitar Beat
Studio album by
Released1981
RecordedApril 1981, Woodcottage, Goring-On-Thames
GenreSurf rock, avant-garde
LabelPVC/Passport
ProducerMartin Rushent
The Raybeats chronology
Guitar Beat
(1981)
It's Only a Movie!
(1983)

In tongue-in-cheek fashion, the original LP sleeve characterized the first side as the "listless, spotty & wasteful side" and the second as the "brave, clean & reverent side". The record sleeve also featured on the front a hand-colored photo of the band by photographer Laura Levine.

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]
Trouser Pressfavourable[2]

AllMusic called it "a magnificent, echo-drenched set of concise and atmospheric riff-driven tunes that in a better world would have turned up as the soundtrack for a James Bond movie directed by David Lynch."[1]

Track listing

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All compositions by Pat Irwin, Jody Harris, Don Christensen and George Scott III except as indicated.

Side one

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  1. "Tight Turn"
  2. "Big Black Sneakers"
  3. "Tone Zone"
  4. "The Backstroke" (Irwin, Harris, Christensen)
  5. "B-Gas Rickshaw" (Jan Berry)
  6. "International Operator"

Side two

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  1. "Searching"
  2. "The Calhoun Surf" (Danny Amis)
  3. "Piranha Salad"
  4. "Cocktails" (Irwin, Harris, Christensen)
  5. "Guitar Beat" (Irwin, Harris, Scott, Amis)

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Guitar Beat – Raybeats | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  2. ^ Young, Jon; Robbins, Ira. "TrouserPress.com :: Raybeats". TrouserPress.com. Retrieved May 13, 2016.