ESSENTIAL COMPILATIONS : PART TWO

Beach Party (Dave Kinzie) / The Wipe Out (Kenny & The Sultans) / Red Hot Scrambler Go (Captivations) / Waikiki Rumble (Vince & The Waikiki Rumblers) / Summertime Is Surfin’ Time (Surf Bunnies) / Escondido (Torquays) / Lets Go To The Beach (Sanford & The Sandies) / Kaha Huna (Gene Moles) / Little Bitty King Of The Road (Captivations) / Surf Dance (Kenny & The Ho-Daddies) / Surfin’ With Jimmy (Judy Russell) / Countdown (Rockets Band) / Big Bad Ho-Dad (Lord Douglas Byron) / The Scavenger (Gary Paxton) / Firewater (Bucky & The Dales) / Surfin’ Back To School (Fashions) / Speedshift (Captivations) / With Vigor (Kenny & The Sultans) / Surfers Memories (Fashions) / War Path (Lonnie McLaughlin) / Wild Wild Mustang (Captivations) / Surfers Cry (Torquays) / Warrior (Rockets Band) / Two-Hump Dual Camel Named Robert E Lee (Gary Paxton & The ?’s) / Goofy Guitar (Kenny & The Ho-Daddies) / Dear Henry Ford (Zip Codes)

Garpax Records was the label established by songwriter, producer and recording artist Gary Paxton during the extremely creative ‘surf’ period of 1963/1964, and it saw a number of

wonderful appearances gracing the grooves, most of which had direct involvement from Paxton himself.

This collection gathers up 26 such releases, 8 of which were previously unreleased prior to this collection, and Paxton himself appears to have assisted with the gathering of material. Particular highlights for this reviewer come in the form of the four offerings credited to the Captivations (including their previously unheard take of the excellent “Wild Wild Mustang”), the amazingly cheesy “Let’s Go To The Beach” by Sanford & The Sandies, Paxton’s original version of “The Scavenger” and the many female-vocal inclusions, including contributions from the Fashions, The Surf Bunnies and Judy Russell (many of which are noticeably more r’n’b-based than you would expect).

A nice gathering of work from an extremely underrated provider of many well-waxed tunes …

  *** 3-Star Recommendation

Recorded and included here purely for personal posterity … as this was the very first chance I ever had to behold the aural delights of Jan Berry and Dean Torrence on record, and boy, did I love it ! A 20-track collection, issued in the UK, pulling together most of their finest summer anthems into one glorious album.

OK, with the benefit of hindsight, I can now honestly say “what about “Surf Route 101”, or “She’s My Summer Girl”, or “The Restless Surfer” …?” but as an initial introduction to the sounds of Messrs Berry and Torrence there simply was no better to place to start, and that amazing illustration featured on the rear of the sleeve said it all to me, and it still does … thirty years later.

Just look at the classic line-up of featured tracks. How could I not be drawn into it ? And the final ‘bonus’ of the Fantastic Baggys track as an album closer was another clever ploy to help me on my way to surf-obsession – although in this instance it took me a little while longer to take the bait. The “All Summer Long” LP had introduced me to the Beach Boys a year or so beforehand, but this album just took me one step nearer to Surf City Paradise …

  **** 4-Star Recommendation

Where on earth to start ! Four volumes (to date) uncovering many ‘lost’ instrumental gems from the vaults of the 1960’s recording archives … with all of these featured acts having one thing in common … SURF GUITAR !

Quite how you qualify to actually be regarded as a ‘surf act’ has always been a dubious area for discussion. Does a reverb unit automatically qualify you ? Is the driving, fast-paced staccato workout essential ? Does the composition/band simply have to have surfing terminology in the title/name ? Well, the researchers at Sundazed clearly know where they’re laying their boundaries on the table – and many previously forgotten acts and recordings have their moment in the spotlight once again. Hidden amongst the wealth of familiar names are a few that may well have thought that they had been wiped-out of musical history, but no so, and once again The Progressives, The Tandems, The Teensmen, The Truants, and many similar bands find themselves back on board.

Additionally, even the more recognisable contributors to the genre have had a few forgotten moments resurrected from the vaults, with The Surfaris, David Marks & The Marksmen, The Original Surfaris and Thom Starr & The Galaxies all having previously unreleased material included on the discs. And package each disc up with informative sleeve notes, quotes from those in the know, and rare label scans and photographs, and you have a truly wonderful collection of classic surf moments …

  ***** 5-Star Recommendation

Much desired, sadly overly-priced on the auction sites, wonderfully compiled 4-CD set courtesy of Rhino Records, that justifiably deserves its status as perhaps the definitive collection to date. If the earlier reviewed 3-CD “Surf Set” was the pinnacle in vocal surf-hot-rod collections, then this gathering, a mixture of both vocal and instrumental recordings, easily ranks alongside in quality and production and just blows all competition out of the surf in presentation. If you’re serious about your surf music, but tend to view the poppier-edge of the vocal contributions as lightweight, then this is the one for you …

From the early, pre-surf scene instrumental prototypes of The Gamblers, The Belairs, The Revels and The Frogmen, through the more recognisable moments from the Beach Boys, The Surfaris, The Chantays and Jan & Dean, this set covers most of the big names synonymous with the genre along the way. Richie Allen, Dick Dale, Eddie & The Showmen, The Challengers, The Astronauts, The Sentinels … all scattered liberally amongst a vast wave of long-forgotten memories.

Disc Four concentrates solely on the late 70’s and 80’s surf revival, which I personally could have done without (I’d have loved more from the initial period …) but that’s just personal. For those who simply wish to bathe in the aural delights of the entire spectrum then grab on board, and take the entire ride … for it really shouldn’t be faulted.

  ***** 5-Star Recommendation