Let's Go! With the Routers

Album Review

Although the Routers had a huge Top Twenty hit with the title track to this long player, the combo were as much of an organic band as the Archies in that the music on the group's albums was recorded by a collection of studio musicians — many of whom were concurrently members of Phil Spector and Brian Wilson's team of top shelf pop instrumentalists. With music publisher and guitarist Mike Gordon and producer Joe Saraceno behind the proverbial wheel, the Routers served up a number of LPs, of which Let's Go! with the Routers (1962) is the first. Undoubtedly, anyone who has ever attended a football, basketball or baseball game — in particularly on an amateur level — has experienced the incessant cheerleader anthem "Lets Go"." With its rhythmic hand claps and peppy vocalization of the title, it seemed to become the unofficial theme song of American sporting events in the early '60s, remaining as such for decades. The Routers — who in reality included the formidable talents of Hal Blaine (drums), Leon Russell (keyboards) and Tommy Tedesco (guitar) among others — built upon the uniquely American trend of school spirit and the somewhat homogeneous sounds of pre British Invasion pop rock. This disc includes a dozen tracks ranging from cover versions of concurrently popular songs such as "Limbo Rock" — which had become a signature tune for the Champs as well as Chubby Checker — and Chris Montez's "Let's Dance"." These complement the exceedingly quirky and zesty originals "Half Time" and "Pep Rally"." While the melodies are notably different, the honkin' sax leads as well as the frenetically paced synchronic clappin' and finger-snappin' hearken back to a much simpler America. This is also true of the quaint and wonderfully generic ensemble vocal interjections featured prominently on the title track as well as "Bucket Seats"." Those who love this brand of ersatz two-minute pop songs are encouraged to check out not only this, but all Routers' LPs — many of which have been resurrected on CD by Collectors' Choice Music.