Which is the 'purest' surf recording?

MissingLink

Joined: Jul 23, 2008
Posts: 488
Edge of the East China Sea
1 Contributor Pin

Posted on May 17 2018 08:22 AM

By "purest," I mean which record, album, CD, or recorded performance most strongly embodies the spirit and meaning of surf? Which track or collection of tracks do you feel represents the quintessence, the ideal, the essential surf sound? Not necessarily the 'greatest' or most groundbreaking; rather, if someone asked you "What is surf music?", which recording would you play for them, and why?

(I'll wait for you guys to reveal your personal surf exemplars before advocating my own choice.)

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bigtikidude

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25705
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
United States

Posted on May 17 2018 09:27 AM

Movin' best of the astronauts

—

Jeff(bigtikidude)

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ArtS

Joined: May 09, 2008
Posts: 1406
Isle of Kent, MD
United States

Posted on May 17 2018 01:54 PM

Hate to be a sellout, but the first thing that came to mine

Pipeline

—

Surf.The most dangerous of genres...

Surfcat

MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus
THE JOURNEY HOME - Free download (2025) - Agent Octopus (Single)

BANDCAMP - Agent Octopus
YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf
BANDCAMP - Reverb Galaxy

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tdsurf

Joined: Aug 13, 2007
Posts: 409
1 News Pin

Posted on May 17 2018 03:21 PM

Bustin Surfboards by Tornadoes because it isn't "pure" unless there are sound effects.

I kid, I kid.
td

—

Sound of the Surf, the movie
Facebook SOTS

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websurfer

Joined: May 14, 2007
Posts: 1753
United States

Posted on May 17 2018 03:59 PM

Something by Dick Dale. Miserlou is an obvious choice, but I like the Victor too. The essential middle Eastern tonalities. Trem picking. The gravitas, intensity and sense of urgency. Mar Gaya (Fender IV) of course has that in spades as well. But Dick Dale for me.

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Redfeather

Joined: Jul 30, 2016
Posts: 896
3 Download Pins

Posted on May 17 2018 04:46 PM

This does a pretty damn mean job of it. It must be the other side of the LP that has Ali Baba and I consider that one of the very best surf songs there is.

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mom_surfing

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 5323
the outer banks of north carolina
1 Calendar Pin

Posted on May 17 2018 06:13 PM

bigtikidude wrote:

Movin' best of the astronauts

i was going to say 'baja' by them ^^^

—

www.surfintheeye.com

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DaveF

Joined: May 10, 2009
Posts: 1117
Green Valley, AZ
United States

Posted on May 17 2018 08:44 PM

Any surf music that uses the Boss FRV-1 Fender Reverb pedal

All the bands we really like bring their own sound & make it all better.

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TuneFan

Joined: Jul 21, 2009
Posts: 212
U.S. East Coast
1 Contributor Pin

Posted on May 17 2018 09:10 PM

The Chantays version of Pipeline for basics.

The Lively Ones, others took it much further.

—

http://tunefan.com
http://www.youtube.com/tunefan

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Joelman

Joined: Sep 07, 2006
Posts: 1506
Redlands, CA
United States

Posted on May 17 2018 10:52 PM

Come on gang.
Original sounds in my opinion, It has to be the original driving sound of ' Wipeout!'.
I mean, how much more of an original sound can you get then the sounds of Wipeout?
Unless it's Pipeline, or Penetration.
These were the three that started it all!
Well at least for me and my friends in my SOCAL town in the '60's.

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RobbieReverb

Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 2391
San Jose, Ca.
3 News Pins

Posted on May 17 2018 11:01 PM

My answer, today anyway, is "Casbah" by Sandy Nelson/ Richie Podolor. Although Sandy Nelson is the artist to whom the recording is officially credited, it's really Richie Podolor's baby. Light on the drip; a little heavy on the drums (hence Sandy Nelson); to me it doesn't matter. The song itself is sheer brilliance: powerful, mysterious, exotic, exhilarating, and fun, this song embodies everything that I love the most about surf. That said, tomorrow's answer might are something completely different.

https://youtu.be/bSFfD03P7ns

—

Bob

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Kawentzmann

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1062
Berlin, Germany
3 Link Pins

Posted on May 18 2018 02:24 AM

I would like to mention The Original Surfaris because they have the wildness and energy while also a degree of lofi-ness. Plus Fender gear, spring reverb, piano and the quintessential drumming style.

—

The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann

You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy.

Last edited: May 18, 2018 02:26:15

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Tailrocker

Joined: May 09, 2018
Posts: 63
Tacoma, WA
United States

Posted on May 18 2018 09:05 AM

Yeah, Dick Dale (actually surfed, "Let's Go Trippin'") or The Astronauts (that reverb!).

The Astronauts, ironically from Boulder, CO. Probably named as such because of Scott Carpenter?

Modern? Jetty Motel (Los Straits) sounds like core surf music to me. Or maybe Calhoun Surf. There are even a couple others off that album; all ones by Danny Amis I think on his Jazzmaster.

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synchro

Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4566
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
United States

Posted on May 18 2018 11:10 PM

I think it’s hard to improve upon Pipeline. Sure, it’s been played to death, but only because it is such an excellent tune. Surf Rider comes to mind also with Penetration and Mr. Moto as peers on the list.

—

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

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MissingLink

Joined: Jul 23, 2008
Posts: 488
Edge of the East China Sea
1 Contributor Pin

Posted on May 18 2018 11:25 PM

My nomination is the 'Surf Mania' album by the aptly-named Surf Teens. This thing is so surfy that it's practically a parody of early surf music, right down to the name of the band. First, they really were teens, the youngest being just 13. They comprised the classic (for me, anyway) line-up of lead and rhythm guitars, drums, and electric bass. They were about as First Wave as you can get, springing from coastal California and playing their first gig in 1963 when they opened for the Sentinals.

The listening experience is just like you'd expect: a reverberated but crystaline sound with all the surf riffs and cliches -- double picking, palm muting, nods to Chuck Berry, and very competent playing; it's like the surfiest bits of the Beach Boys but without the singing. I don't know what gear they used, but the guitar really sounds like a Jag, and that just makes it perfect. The album features genre icons like Intoxica, Steel Pier, Moment of Truth, and Bullwinkle, along with lesser-known but similar tunes, and the longest track is a brisk 2:40. The shortest is a hard-breathing and premature 1:27, making even the Ramones seem tedious by comparison!

Overall, I can't think of anything that screams 'Surf!' louder or evokes the original spirit better than this one.

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MrBackwards

Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 86
On the Island of Hawaii
3 News Pins

Posted on May 19 2018 03:42 PM

MissingLink

Good Call!
Awesome album, listening to it right now, took me back to
my Junior High Dances...1961

Kim

—

"To do, is to be" Aristotle ~ "To be, is to do" Socrates ~ "Doobie, doobie- doo" Sinatra

Top

MissingLink Joined: Jul 23, 2008 Posts: 488 Edge of the East China Sea	Posted on May 17 2018 08:22 AM By "purest," I mean which record, album, CD, or recorded performance most strongly embodies the spirit and meaning of surf? Which track or collection of tracks do you feel represents the quintessence, the ideal, the essential surf sound? Not necessarily the 'greatest' or most groundbreaking; rather, if someone asked you "What is surf music?", which recording would you play for them, and why? (I'll wait for you guys to reveal your personal surf exemplars before advocating my own choice.) Top
bigtikidude Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 25705 Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.	Posted on May 17 2018 09:27 AM Movin' best of the astronauts — Jeff(bigtikidude) Top
ArtS Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 1406 Isle of Kent, MD	Posted on May 17 2018 01:54 PM Hate to be a sellout, but the first thing that came to mine Pipeline — Surf.The most dangerous of genres... Surfcat MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus THE JOURNEY HOME - Free download (2025) - Agent Octopus (Single) BANDCAMP - Agent Octopus YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf BANDCAMP - Reverb Galaxy Top
tdsurf Joined: Aug 13, 2007 Posts: 409	Posted on May 17 2018 03:21 PM Bustin Surfboards by Tornadoes because it isn't "pure" unless there are sound effects. I kid, I kid. td — Sound of the Surf, the movie Facebook SOTS Top
websurfer Joined: May 14, 2007 Posts: 1753	Posted on May 17 2018 03:59 PM Something by Dick Dale. Miserlou is an obvious choice, but I like the Victor too. The essential middle Eastern tonalities. Trem picking. The gravitas, intensity and sense of urgency. Mar Gaya (Fender IV) of course has that in spades as well. But Dick Dale for me. Top
Redfeather Joined: Jul 30, 2016 Posts: 896	Posted on May 17 2018 04:46 PM This does a pretty damn mean job of it. It must be the other side of the LP that has Ali Baba and I consider that one of the very best surf songs there is. Top
mom_surfing Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 5323 the outer banks of north carolina	Posted on May 17 2018 06:13 PM bigtikidude wrote: Movin' best of the astronauts i was going to say 'baja' by them ^^^ — www.surfintheeye.com Top
DaveF Joined: May 10, 2009 Posts: 1117 Green Valley, AZ	Posted on May 17 2018 08:44 PM Any surf music that uses the Boss FRV-1 Fender Reverb pedal All the bands we really like bring their own sound & make it all better. Top
TuneFan Joined: Jul 21, 2009 Posts: 212 U.S. East Coast	Posted on May 17 2018 09:10 PM The Chantays version of Pipeline for basics. The Lively Ones, others took it much further. — http://tunefan.com http://www.youtube.com/tunefan Top
Joelman Joined: Sep 07, 2006 Posts: 1506 Redlands, CA	Posted on May 17 2018 10:52 PM Come on gang. Original sounds in my opinion, It has to be the original driving sound of ' Wipeout!'. I mean, how much more of an original sound can you get then the sounds of Wipeout? Unless it's Pipeline, or Penetration. These were the three that started it all! Well at least for me and my friends in my SOCAL town in the '60's. Top
RobbieReverb Joined: Feb 28, 2006 Posts: 2391 San Jose, Ca.	Posted on May 17 2018 11:01 PM My answer, today anyway, is "Casbah" by Sandy Nelson/ Richie Podolor. Although Sandy Nelson is the artist to whom the recording is officially credited, it's really Richie Podolor's baby. Light on the drip; a little heavy on the drums (hence Sandy Nelson); to me it doesn't matter. The song itself is sheer brilliance: powerful, mysterious, exotic, exhilarating, and fun, this song embodies everything that I love the most about surf. That said, tomorrow's answer might are something completely different. https://youtu.be/bSFfD03P7ns — Bob Top
Kawentzmann Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 1062 Berlin, Germany	Posted on May 18 2018 02:24 AM I would like to mention The Original Surfaris because they have the wildness and energy while also a degree of lofi-ness. Plus Fender gear, spring reverb, piano and the quintessential drumming style. — The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy. Last edited: May 18, 2018 02:26:15 Top
Tailrocker Joined: May 09, 2018 Posts: 63 Tacoma, WA	Posted on May 18 2018 09:05 AM Yeah, Dick Dale (actually surfed, "Let's Go Trippin'") or The Astronauts (that reverb!). The Astronauts, ironically from Boulder, CO. Probably named as such because of Scott Carpenter? Modern? Jetty Motel (Los Straits) sounds like core surf music to me. Or maybe Calhoun Surf. There are even a couple others off that album; all ones by Danny Amis I think on his Jazzmaster. Top
synchro Joined: Feb 02, 2008 Posts: 4566 Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.	Posted on May 18 2018 11:10 PM I think it’s hard to improve upon Pipeline. Sure, it’s been played to death, but only because it is such an excellent tune. Surf Rider comes to mind also with Penetration and Mr. Moto as peers on the list. — The artist formerly known as: Synchro When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar. Top
MissingLink Joined: Jul 23, 2008 Posts: 488 Edge of the East China Sea	Posted on May 18 2018 11:25 PM My nomination is the 'Surf Mania' album by the aptly-named Surf Teens. This thing is so surfy that it's practically a parody of early surf music, right down to the name of the band. First, they really were teens, the youngest being just 13. They comprised the classic (for me, anyway) line-up of lead and rhythm guitars, drums, and electric bass. They were about as First Wave as you can get, springing from coastal California and playing their first gig in 1963 when they opened for the Sentinals. The listening experience is just like you'd expect: a reverberated but crystaline sound with all the surf riffs and cliches -- double picking, palm muting, nods to Chuck Berry, and very competent playing; it's like the surfiest bits of the Beach Boys but without the singing. I don't know what gear they used, but the guitar really sounds like a Jag, and that just makes it perfect. The album features genre icons like Intoxica, Steel Pier, Moment of Truth, and Bullwinkle, along with lesser-known but similar tunes, and the longest track is a brisk 2:40. The shortest is a hard-breathing and premature 1:27, making even the Ramones seem tedious by comparison! Overall, I can't think of anything that screams 'Surf!' louder or evokes the original spirit better than this one. Top
MrBackwards Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 86 On the Island of Hawaii	Posted on May 19 2018 03:42 PM MissingLink Good Call! Awesome album, listening to it right now, took me back to my Junior High Dances...1961 Kim — "To do, is to be" Aristotle ~ "To be, is to do" Socrates ~ "Doobie, doobie- doo" Sinatra Top

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Which is the 'purest' surf recording?