Let’s Spin!

Description

Let’s Spin! is the debut album by the American alternative rock combo The Swirling Eddies, released on Alarma Records in late 1988, a division of Frontline Music Group, distributed by The Benson Company. (In June 1986 Frontline Records did reform Daniel Amos’ Alarma! Records brand as one of their labels, focusing on alternative artists.) The album was recorded and mixed by Doug Doyle at Asylomar Studios in Los Angeles, California; with band member Camarillo Eddy producing (a.k.a. Terry Taylor of Daniel Amos fame).

Early 1988 Terry Taylor went into the studio with fellow Daniel Amos members Tim Chandler and Greg Flesch, as well as session drummer David Raven formerly of European based Deliverance fame (Daniel Amos drummer Ed McTaggart was not available, as hinted in the title of the album track “Ed Takes A Vacation”). This combo recorded at least three songs (“Suns Down”, “Like Lazarus” and “Stones Of Venice”) if not more, under the moniker “Crime Wars” (sometimes mistakenly referred to as “Crime Horse”). They intended to release a full album of this material, but these songs were rejected by the label which preferred a less serious approach. As a result, the Swirling Eddies were born.

Although the true identities of the Swirling Eddies were later revealed, it remained a complete mystery for most people at the time of this album’s release. Frontline Records helped to launch the Swirling Eddies debut release with a “Guess the Eddies” contest. Advertisements were placed in CCM Magazine, Harvest Rock Syndicate, and Cornerstone Magazine that included clues as to the identities of the Eddies. Contest participants were able to submit their own lists of who they thought the Eddies might be.

A live recording of “Let’s Spin” – featuring Terry Scott Taylor, Phil Madeira and Michael Roe, among others – was released as a bonus track on the 2001 multi-artist sampler, Beat: Silent Planet Records Compilation 2.0.

Now that you’ve all seen the contest and heard the hype, maybe you’ll want to get beyond all that to what really matters; Is Let’s Spin! a good record? The answer is… even with all the silliness and pseudonyms (look who’s talking?), the Swirling Eddies have made a great, funny rock ‘n’ roll album.

While charading as a debut from a new artist, Terry Taylor (recently exposed as Camarillo Eddy) admits now that the Eddies gave him a new setting to work with recent and past partners in crime. Without naming names, it is still important to make the connection. Let’s Spin! takes Taylor & Co. back to the beach country boy roots of Shotgun Angel, the good humor of Horrendous Disc, and makes a creative musical statement equal to the progressive works, Doppelganger and Darn Floor Big Bite.

All Fireside Theatre comedy allusions notwithstanding, Taylor is funniest and most poignant when seemingly tossing off a lyric like it just came to him. Take this line from Taylor’s reflection on the end result of decadence and greed. «Rodeo Drive»: “We all need God above/ We all need a little more time/ We all need money and love/ But when we get all we need, it’s never enough.” Or this off-hand joke from the man who often fills his songs with poetic, philosophical reflections: “Deep thoughts don’t occur to me/ I’m not famous for my brain/ But a log just dropped on my Destiny/ And love has fanned the flame,” from «I’ve Got an Idea».

In the past, Taylor has worn the “I’m a fan of John Lennon” badge to the point of self-parody, here he recallse Brian Wilson in the Disc-like suite «Ed Takes a Vacation», itself the biggest clue to the remaining Eddies identities, and adds a Jagger-ish growl to one of the most distinctive and enjoyable voices in rock.

Musically, the Swirls touch much of Taylor’s past; guitars recall recent Darn Floor histrionics and Jerry Chamberlain’s Alarma-era melodic trill, while the rhythm section is tough, yet danceable, and the keys manage with a lot of body and soul. Strong arrangements, great vocal harmonies and the funniest songs Terry Taylor has offered us in a long time make Let’s Spin! the big fun album to starty off the new year.

Go figure why these guys had to play hide and seek, but the real revelation about the Swirling Eddies is in the music, as it should be. [Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM, February 1989]

And now for the $64,000 question: WHO ARE THESE GUYS ANYWAY? I have a good idea, but I’ll not tell. The Swirling eddies have appeared out of nowhere with a new album, Let’s Spin. It is an invitation which should not be taken lightly.

At the very least the Eddies are a whole lot of fun. The music is fun, the lyrics are fun, and the whole project is fun, fun, fun. To begin: There is a contest in which listeners have a chance to guess the names of the Eddies. That’s right, Camarillo Eddy, et al. are not their real names. (Contest details can be found elsewhere in this issue.)

To continue: From these audacious beginnings springs forth an album that is more pure enjoyment than anything to come along in quite awhile. The songs have a wonderful sense of humor and irony. Take, for example, «Snowball», an instrumental track. How can an instrumental song have a sense of humor? By having the only lyric be the word “snowball” spoken by a woman in a breathy, husky whisper. It is like Charles Foster Kane saying, “Rosebud.” I don’t get it. I suspect that it is an inside joke for the Eddies. It is a riot.

«Snowball» is followed up by the funky and soulful «I’ve Got an Idea» in which the vocalist (you tell me which one it is) sings “Deep thoughts don’t occur to me/ I’m not famous for my brain/ But a log just dropped on my Destiny/ And love has fanned the fame/ I’ve got an idea (I think I love you.)”

Camarillo Eddy, who has written most of the songs for Let’s Spin, further makes fun of himself as he writes in «What a World, What a World», “I could stay in California – stay a little dim/ But there is a light bulb on in my head/ I might move out East to some college town/ Study big thick books – turn my fortunes around/ Roll L.A. River, roll and take me to a better world.” It is ironic that the L.A. River becomes a metaphor for the River of Life. As anyone who has watched Adam-12 on TV or seen any of the hundreds of action/adventure movies could tell you, the L.A. River is a trickle of water in a concrete channel. See what I mean?

Make no mistake, though, the Eddies are not making fun of themselves and everyone else just to be making fun. There is an important message in these songs. We hear that, “We all need money and love/ But when we get all we need, it’s never enough… and the beast is slouching down Rodeo Drive («Rodeo Drive»).” While the singer of «What a World, What a World» uses an odd metaphor, the search for a better place, Heaven if you will, is genuine and moving. In «Ed Takes a Vacation» the Eddies pay homage to “the hard working joes/ Who keep this country strong,” the people who get little public recognition but are nevertheless very important in the whole scheme of things. These ideas and many more are handled with humor and with an understanding that we are all human and we are all together in the task of life.

While I cannot tell who plays which instrument on Let’s Spin, I can tell that the musicianship is top-notch. One thing we can know for sure about the Eddies is that they know what they’re doing. The percussion work is full of energy, it is inventive, and strong throughout. The bass line is clever and creative and it’s played solidly, with assurance and authority. The lead guitar work is as sharp as a knife and has a distinct voice all its own. The keyboards are not overpowering but are integral to the Eddie’s driving rock ‘n’ roll sound.

Speaking of sound it is easy to determine some influences of the Eddies’ sound. There are hints of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Talking Heads, and even early Daniel Amos. Although these influences are present the sound is like no other band. It is the Swirling Eddies own, and it is fun indeed.

Let’s Spin is a terrific product from a new band, even if the band must be a little crazy. Join in the fun. Put Let’s Spin in your CD player or whatever and let the Swirling Eddies take you for a fun ride. [T. L. Faris, Harvest Rock Syndicate, Winter 1988, Vol. 3, Iss. 4, 1988]

One year after the release of Darn Floor Big Bite, Daniel Amos decided to secretly reinvent themselves as the Swirling Eddies, complete with pseudonyms and an air of novelty and farce. All this in support of a stunning record that hearkens back to the 1980 DA classic Horrendous Disc in both sound and attitude. Mature writing and rootsy guitars separate this release from the more experimental records DA had been releasing up to that point, along with more conspicuous Southern accents on the part of the vocalists. The analogue with Horrendous Disc is pronounced: The title track easily calls to mind «I Love You #19» and the «Ed Takes a Vacation» suite is reminiscent of «(Near-Sighted Girl With Approaching) Tidal Wave». All in all, however, this is significantly more mature than the earlier works to which this release refers. It offers less oblique references to a Christian doctrine and more poetic lyrics, along with higher standards of musicianship and better arrangements. Whereas Darn Floor Big Bite relied less on synthesizers than previous releases, Let’s Spin! goes back even further to more traditional instrumentation. It contains very little echo and a lot of acoustic guitar, and guitars are primarily strummed rather than finessed (à la Darn Floor). Quite a left turn from works up to that point, but an excellent record overall. [Mark Allender, AMG]

Retroactive Records Promo, 2025 LP/CD Re-issue

* Remastered CD; Bonus Tracks; Collector’s Sleeve; Limited to 500 CDs
* First Time Ever on Vinyl; Remastered for Vinyl; Pressed on Lime Green Vinyl; Limited to 300 Copies

Long before alter-egos and anonymity were trendy, The Swirling Eddies spun onto the scene in 1988 like a holy hurricane of satire, soul-searching, and sheer rock ’n’ roll mayhem. Conceived as an anonymous offshoot of the groundbreaking Christian band Daniel Amos, Let’s Spin gave Terry Scott Taylor (under the alias Camarillo Eddy) and crew a playful and unfiltered outlet to stretch their creative wings – and their sense of humor.

Originally cloaked in mystery, the Eddies adopted fictitious names like Gene Pool, Berger Roy Al, and Spot, inviting fans to guess their true identities. But behind the disguise was an all-star lineup of Daniel Amos members and alumni – including the return of Jerry Chamberlain and Rob Watson, plus new drummer David Raven (The 77s, The Surfaris). The result? A raucous, artful, and sometimes apocalyptic debut that brilliantly skewered evangelical clichés while delivering sunny power pop hooks and Beach Boys-worthy harmonies.

Now available for the first time ever on vinyl, Let’s Spin has been remastered for wax by Rob Colwell (Sixpence, Mad At the World, Rose) and pressed on eye-catching Lime Green Vinyl, limited to just 300 copies. This Deluxe Edition includes a full-color 4-panel 12×12 insert (2 pages, front and back) featuring complete lyrics and a massive collage of rare photos – a visual feast for collectors and longtime fans alike.

From the quirky funk of the title track «Let’s Spin», to the jangly sunshine of «Catch That Angel», to the gorgeous Beach Boys homage «What a World, What a World», the album balances absurdist joy with hidden depth. Tracks like «The Big Guns» and «Rodeo Drive» carry a satirical sting, while «Ed Takes a Vacation» evokes eschatological longing – all wrapped in a seemingly carefree package of genre-defying pop brilliance.

For fans of Daniel Amos, Terry Taylor, Tom Petty, R.E.M., They Might Be Giants, or even Weird Al Yankovic, Let’s Spin is more than a musical novelty – it’s a work of offbeat genius.

Only 300 copies exist – don’t miss your chance to hear the Eddies the way they were meant to spin: on vinyl. Because if you’re going to spin… spin with the Eddies.

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/lets-spin/389811880)

CD tracklist:

01. Let’s Spin! – 4:12
02. Catch That Angel – 3:58
03. The Unsuccessful Dutch Missionary – 0:10
04. The Big Guns – 4:42
05. Rodeo Drive – 4:20
06. Ed Takes A Vacation (A Suite) – 5:50
07. Snowball – 4:07
08. I’ve Got An Idea – 3:57
09. Don’t Ask Me How I Feel – 5:50
10. Ed Again – 0:33
11. What A World, What A World – 5:10

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Alarma Records. Remastered by Rob Colwell and re-issued by Retroactive Records in 2025 on both CD (Deluxe Collector’s Edition featuring three bonus tracks recorded by Terry, Tim, and Greg to pitch to a mainstream label, recorded after Let’s Spin, before Outdoor Elvis; 500 copies) and Limited Edition 12-inch vinyl LP (300 copies) pressed on Lime Green Vinyl (released through Limited Run Vinyl/Limited Run Music).