Some of the dates noted in this thread so far are not correct. Check the date I show in my book for the Challengers' "Surfbeat" LP.

www.johnblair.us
www.soundofthesurf.com

Here's kind of a weird question. When was the last (first wave) LP (or single, for that matter) issued? Is that even a sensible question?

Tuck wrote:

Here's kind of a weird question. When was the last (first wave) LP (or single, for that matter) issued? Is that even a sensible question?

Great question! I'm going to say The Avengers VI "Real Cool Hits" 1966.

even though Randy Neurt(the Bass player in the Challengers) and I both agree that the 1st R%R surf album was Surf beat,but having said that we also know that the 1st real all instro surf album would have been slippery when wet by Bud shank 1956 even though it a Jazz record and the soundtrack to an early bruce brown surf movie it still the 1st and really surf record that set the stage for Dick Dale and the Belairs and modern Surf Music which at the time was a new form of west coast dance music

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Indeed, the cool West Coast Jazz of Bud Shank was the first soundtrack of surfing movies. I believe Greg Noll mentioned early that he was into Link Wray, but didn’t really care about “surf music”.

Like John Blair says, what we know now as surf music developed mostly through the teen social scene. “Stomps”, aka teen dances is where the music really spread, especially to other parts of the country.

The singles came first but the LP’s were released in this order…

MARKETTS – SURFER’S STOMP – 4/62
BEACH BOYS – SURFIN’ SAFARI – 10/62
CHALLENGER’S –SURF BEAT 10/62
DICK DALE – SURFER’S CHOICE 11/62

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There are no "definitive and standard" sources for dating commercially released recordings. Still, those of us who try to do so rely on several things that often must be taken together to be meaningful. First, the record's delta number, used by only Monarch Pressing in L.A., but is helpful to narrow down a release to a month/year (http://www.45rpmrecords.com/date_monarch.php). They are generally the most accurate way to determine release dates (but only IF the record, 45 or LP, was pressed at Monarch). Of course, you have to own the original vinyl recording. CDs won't help (unless you have well-written and researched liner notes). If the record has no delta number, it wasn't pressed at Monarch and requires a different approach to try and determine a release date.

Secondly, Billboard and Cashbox magazine issues from the time period. Helps to narrow down a rough time of year, not so much the month, if the record is reviewed and/or charted. Third, there are the monthly Schwann record catalogs originally used by record stores to order new releases. They are not all that great in many cases, but do help in some instances. There are a few other minor sources, but these are the main ones.

You have to be careful when trying to ID the "first" of anything related to music recordings. It can be a slippery slope. This is one reason why there's an exhaustive explanation in my book about how I classify "surf music recordings."

www.johnblair.us
www.soundofthesurf.com

Last edited: Sep 27, 2014 14:01:02

Thanks John!

Insect Surfers
The Tikiyaki Orchestra
The Scimitars
Lords Of Atlantis
Fiberglass Jungle - Surf Radio

OK, now I'm totally confused. John, your liner notes from the 1994 Sundazed CD re-issue of Surfbeat begin with "Released in January, 1963..."

*interesting side note: "Let's Go Trippin'" appears on all 4 of the aforementioned releases!!! Whether or not it's considered the "first" Surf tune, it's impact at this time cannot be ignored!

Insect Surfers
The Tikiyaki Orchestra
The Scimitars
Lords Of Atlantis
Fiberglass Jungle - Surf Radio

OK, now I'm totally confused. John, your liner notes from the 1994 Sundazed CD re-issue of Surfbeat begin with "Released in January, 1963..."

Please don't be confused, grasshopper...

It's exactly things like this that prompt the revision (into a new edition) of printed information resources, such as discographies. The date of The Challengers' 1st LP was changed to 10/62 in the latest, 4th edition of my discography because of more circumstantial evidence that it was available a few weeks earlier than January, 1963. I have yet to see any empirical evidence of a specific release date (as well as anything to help provide an exact date for the "Surfer's Choice" LP, too), so these dates could change again. The digging (and discovery) continues...

<edit> As a postscript: the "Surf Beat" LP appeared @ #1 on the KFXM (San Bernardino) Top 40 list for the week of 12/15-21/62, and it appeared @ #5 on the KFWB (Los Angeles) Top LP chart on 1/5/63.

www.johnblair.us
www.soundofthesurf.com

Last edited: Sep 27, 2014 22:55:29

The Beach Boys got a lot of crap from uptight surf snobs. Dennis probably decked a few. The big myth is that Dennis was the only Beach Boy to surf. The truth is, Brian and Carl are the only Beach Boys who didn't surf. Dave surfed with Dennis and athletic Mike surfed a lot, well into adulthood. Even Bruce Johnson did some surfing. How good were they? I'm sure they didn't have time to get really good. Personally, I'm glad they concentrated on the music.