Essential Compilations : Part One

DISC ONE: Surf Beat (Dick Dale) / Surfin’ USA (Beach Boys) / Wipe Out (Surfaris) / Surf City (Jan & Dean) / Pipeline (Chantays) / Summer Means Fun (Fantastic Baggys) / Penetration (Pyramids) / This Little Woodie (Rip Chords) / Baja (Astronauts) / Beach Boy (Ronny & The Daytonas) / Surfin’ Safari (Beach Boys) / Surfers Stomp (Marketts) / Three Surfer Boys (Gary Usher & The Usherettes) / Shoot The Curl (Honeys) / Surfer Joe (Surfaris) / Tell ‘em I’m Surfin’ (Fantastic Baggys) / Surfin’ (Jan & Dean) / Surfer Girl (Beach Boys) / Surfin’ Round The World (Bruce Johnston) / I Wanna Take A Trip To The Islands (Surfaris) / Big Breaker (Ambassadors) / Dance With The Surfin’ Band (Hal Blaine & The Young Cougars) / Don’t Back Down (Beach Boys) / Misirlou (Dick Dale)

DISC TWO: Drag City (Jan & Dean) / Little Deuce Coupe (Beach Boys) / GTO (Ronny & The Daytonas) / Hey Little Cobra (Rip Chords) / RPM (Four Speeds) / Little Street Machine (Hot Rod Rog) / Competition Coupe (Astronauts) / Deadman’s Curve (Jan & Dean) / Move Out Little Mustang (Rally Packs) / Hot Rod USA (Rip Chords) / Move It (Chantays) / Draggin’ Wagon (Surfer Girls) / Surf Route 101 (Super Stocks) / Black Denim (Surfaris) / Bucket T (Jan & Dean) / 409 (Rip Chords) / My Stingray (Four Speeds) / Don’t Worry Baby (Beach Boys) / Burnin’ Rubber (Gene Moles & The Softwinds) / Readin’ Ridin’ & Racin’ (Super Stocks) / Hot Rod High (Knights) / New Girl In School (Jan & Dean) / Chug A Lug (Sunsets) / Be True To Your School (Beach Boys)

DISC THREE: Drive In (Beach Boys) / Gidget (James Darren) / Theme From The Endless Summer (Sandals) / Muscle Beach Party (Super Stocks) / Cycle Set (Donna Loren) / Boss Barracuda (Surfaris) / Surf Party (Astronauts) / Girls On The Beach (Beach Boys) / Ride The Wild Surf (Jan & Dean) / Gone (Rip Chords) / Little Scrambler (Ronny & The Daytonas) / She Rides With Me (Paul Peterson) / Honda Bike (Devons) / My Buddy Seat (Surfaris) / Little Honda (Beach Boys) / She’s My Summer Girl (Jan & Dean) / Beach Girl (Pat Boone) / Your Baby’s Gone Surfin’ (Duane Eddy) / Surfin’ John Brown (Ambassadors) / Sidewalk Surfin’ (Jan & Dean) / I’ll Think Of Summer (Ronny & The Daytonas) / New York’s A Lonely Town (Tradewinds) / Do It Again (Beach Boys) / Let’s Go Trippin’ (Hot Doggers)

WOW ! At first glance anyone who has the slightest respect/interest in the surf/hot-rod scene would be pretty impressed with this particular track listing, compiled by Rob Burt, author of the “Surf City / Drag City” book (see elsewhere). Hit singles, album cuts, rarities … and nearly all of the big name contributors to the Californian surf-vocal scene are featured. Sure, there’s bound to be a few personal favourites missing, and yes, there ARE a few surprise omissions (where are the Hondells for example ?), but as a collection of the more commercial aspects of the genre this set comes pretty close to being the perfect example.

Perhaps by the time we get to Disc Three some of the many inclusions are sounding a bit too familiar, and although there are a few variations in the line-up by this stage there are some

tracks that could possibly have been left out (James Darren and Donna Loren being the prime ‘soundtrack’ examples) in favour of stronger choices, but as I say, these are just personal opinions …

The accompanying booklet is a brief, yet informative addition to the package – and the only major flaw in the entire set comes with the front cover. The image of the Californian wave-rider is one of suntanned, beach-god … and for reasons unknown we are left looking at a middle-ages, balding gentleman, looking decidedly uncomfortable as he descends through the drop. Bizarre …

Note: The collection was reissued shortly afterwards using a different, but equally as unimpressive picture on the front …    

  ***** 5-Star Recommendation

He’s My Surfin’ Guy (Beach Girls) / Surf Bunny Beach (Surf Bunnies) / Our Surfer Boys (Surf Bunnies) / You Can’t Take My Boyfriends Woodie (Powder Puffs) / White Levi’s (Majorettes) / Love Those Beach Boys (Sea Shells) / Sammy The Sidewalk Surfer (Surfettes) / Skiing In The Snow (Beach Girls) / Surf City High (Surf Bunnies) / Dance With The Surfin’ Band (Hal Blaine & The Young Cougars) / I Miss My Surfer Boy Too (Westwoods) / California Surfer (Dee D Hope) / Surfers Memories (Fashions) / What Does A Lifeguard Do In The Fall (June August) / Chusen Lung (Bermudas) / Surfin’ Sally (Petticoats) / Go Go GTO (Carol & Cheryl) / Black & White Thunderbird (Delicates) / Don’t Drag No More (Susan Lynn) / Yum Yum Yamaha (Carol Connors) / Draggin’ Wagon (Surfer Girls) / Daddy, You Just Gotta Let Him In (Satisfactions) / A Swingin’ Summer (Carol Connors) / Go Back To Your Pontiac (Darby Sisters) / Hot Rod City (Marie & The Papaya Girls) / Sports Car Sally (Bernadette Castro) / Baby Blue Mustang (Petites) / Cycle Set (Donna Loren) / Bad Motorcycle (Storey Sisters) / Get Your Daddy’s Car Tonight (Petites) / Motorcycle Michael (Jo-Ann Campbell) / In His Car (Robyn Ward)

A wonderful gathering of all-girl vocals, compiled and released by … well, I don’t really know. This set first began doing the rounds during 2004/2005, but it appears to be no more than a somewhat unauthorised compilation, with no ‘official’ release. Still, beggars can’t be choosers, and if no major label was going to pick up on such a release then hats off to whomever did (and if you know more – then please contact the “Pipeline” address …).

32 great tracks, well – maybe they’re not ALL great songs, but the majority are certainly great fun to listen to, and a vast majority of these would have perhaps remained in the forgotten vaults were it not for this collection offering up a second wind to them. Classic offerings from the likes of The Westwoods, Carol & Cheryl and The Surf Bunnies sit

comfortably alongside lesser gems from such performers as The Fashions, The Delicates and the wonderfully named Marie & The Papaya Girls. One noticeable exclusion (which, considering the albums ‘unofficial’ status, is rather a mystery) is that of the Honeys, who should certainly not be overlooked in the high ranking surfer-girl stakes … but maybe taking on the mighty Capitol Records, with one of their more recognisable acts, was pushing it a step too far.

Well worth searching out, if only to hear the majestic “Skiing In The Snow” by the New York-based Beach Girls.

  **** 4-Star Recommendation

VOLUME ONE: Misirlou (Dick Dale) / Pipeline (Chantays) / Mr Moto (Belairs) / Bangalore (Blazers) / Penetration (Pyramids) / Goofy Foot (Lively Ones) / Bombora (Original Surfaris) / Surf Beat (Dick Dale) / Out Of Control (Crossfires) / Mr Rebel (Eddie & The Showmen) / Sunset Beach (Sentinals) / Chifaldo (Tom Starr & The Galaxies) / K-39 (Challengers) / Wipe Out (Surfaris)

VOLUME TWO: Surfin’ Safari (Beach Boys) / Goin’ Surfin’ (Dan & Jean) / Surfer Girl (Beach Boys) / California Surfer (Dee D Hope) / Surfer Dan (Turtles) / Surfin’ Bird (Trashmen) / Surf City (Jan & Dean) / Do The Surfer Stomp (Bruce Johnston) / New York’s A Lonely Town (Tradewinds) / He’s My Surfin’ Guy (Beach Girls) / Surfin’ (Beach Boys) / Surfer Joe (Surfaris)

The first two volumes in a 3-LP collection that appeared on Rhino Records way back in 1982, when both the label and the 80’s surf revival was still in early infancy. The third release in the series concentrated on the newer ‘surf revival’ acts that were breaking through at that time (such as the acclaimed Jon & The Nightriders), but for the sake of this site’s faith to the initial phase we shall highlight solely these first two offerings …

Volume One offers up a selection of original instrumentals (although it’s worth noting that the Surfaris version of “Wipe Out” is from a reunion concert some years later …) and it encompasses such wonderful waxed moments such as The Crossfires awesome “Out Of Control”, The Original Surfaris high-powered “Bombora” and the Dick Dale pinnacle of “Surf Beat” amongst others.

Volume Two turns its attentions to a number of surfin’ vocals, and

alongside the more obvious choices from the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean comes the likes of The Beach Girls with “He’s My Surfin’ Guy”, Bruce Johnston’s early solo take on “The Surfer Stomp”, and wonderfully innocent sounds of Dee D Hope and her “California Surfer”. There’s a few oddities thrown in for good measure – Dan & Jean’s “Goin’ Surfin’” for example, later identified as being performed by former Sunray Rick Henn and some of his old colleagues for a 1973 surf flick – but all in all both collections are worth hunting/looking out for …

    *** 3-Star Recommendation

1979 VINYL EDITION: Summer Means Fun (Bruce & Terry) / Anywhere The Girls Are (Fantastic Baggys) / RPM (Four Speeds) / Coca-Cola Jingle (Jan & Dean) / Masked Grandma (California Sun) / Top Down Time (Dantes) / Custom Caravan (Pyramids) / California Sun 65 (Rivieras) / New Generation (Trashmen) / Pamela Jean (Survivors) / Sacramento (Gary Usher) / Thinkin’ ‘Bout You Baby (Sharon Marie) / Hot Rod High (Knights) / School Is A/Gas (Wheel Men) / Image Of A Surfer (Lloyd Thaxton) / Beach Ball (City Surfers) / London’s A Lonely Town (Dave Edmunds) / The Fun We Had (Ragamuffins)

1992 CD EDITION: Masked Grandma (California Suns) / Top Down Time (Dantes) / Custom Caravan (Pyramids) / California Sun 65 (Rivieras) / Hot Rod High (Knights) / School Is A/Gas (Wheel Men) / School Is A Drag (Super Stocks) / Image Of A Surfer (Lloyd Thaxton) / Beach Ball (City Surfers) / London’s A Lonely Town (Dave Edmunds) / The Fun We Had (Ragamuffins) / Move Out Little Mustang (Rally Packs) / Big ‘T’ (Reveres) / Shortnin’ Bread (Readymen) / Wine Wine Wine (Bleach Boys) / Flashin’ Red (Esquires) / Ram Charger (Del-Vettes) / LSD-25 (Gamblers) / The Big Surfer (Brian Lord)

A semi-legendary collection that initially came out of Australia during the late 70’s, as part of the acclaimed ‘Pebbles’ series of 1960’s re-issues. This volume was entirely dedicated to rare and obscure

recordings from the original surf’n’hot-rod period of the early 60’s, and was met with wild appreciation from collectors worldwide, for many of the chosen tracks were deemed as exceedingly rare items back then …

Looking back at the original vinyl release, some of the tracks are now fairly easy to locate, and are duly recognised as some of the best moments from that particular era, but such was the lack of research available back in the 70’s that a number of the sleeve notes are now noticeably incorrect, especially with the conclusion that the Survivors were “99% certain to have been the Beach Boys …”. As stated, by the time that the CD version appeared thirteen years later some of the earlier inclusions had begun to circulate a lot more freely around the collectors circuit and so a number of changes were duly made to the release. Gone went the more accessible offerings from Bruce & Terry, The Fantastic Baggys and the afore-mentioned Survivors, and in came another batch of rarities from the Reveres, The Esquires and Brian Lord (amongst others) – the latter of which was actually an early songwriting and production incarnation of Frank Zappa and his cohorts.

Quality-wise this is a fine, fine offering, despite the often-debated legality of these releases, and whilst it is often an either/or decision with vinyl and CD re-issues, in this instance we shall make an exception … and we urge you to track down both versions !

  **** 4-Star Recommendation