There are a few songs I love but know nothing about. They maintain a certain distance, an isolation, a corner of their own. This song by this band...and ask me no more questions. I could have unlocked the mystery at some point but I never thought about it. As Nigel Tufnel might say, "best leave it...unsolved."
But here in front of me is Pipeline by the Chantays, a song you probably know. I am going to abre la puerta and take a closer look.
The Chantays formed in 1961 in Santa Ana, CA...and are still playing today with at least two original members! That's 57 years! They are the only rock n roll band to play on the Lawrence Welk show. They have a street named after them in Santa Ana called Chantays Way.
Their song, Pipeline, has been covered by Johnny Thunders, The Ventures, Dick Dale and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Anthrax, Hanoi Rocks, and our friends Takeshi Terauchi & Blue Jeans. The rhythm guitar picks out a muted Alberti bass arpeggio. I didn't know what that was, did you?
OK, in spite of this new information that has come to light, Pipeline still has a shadowy mystique. It is all muted tones, surf guitar, reverb keyboards and drums. Out there catching a wave in the middle of nowhere.
Whenever we see your smiling face, we have to smile ourselves, 'cause we're the Chantays.
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