HISTORY OF SURF MUSIC

eric_b · Post by **eric_b** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 6:16 am

My favorite Surf song is "Bangalore" by The Blazers,with "Out of Control" by The Crossfires close behind..Al Nichol was a pretty darn good guitarist..Too bad he got stifled by the whole Turtles thing..Plus,he played a Rick during his Crossfires days if I'm not mistaken.

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 6:21 am

My fav. ten instrumental surf tunes are Misirlou, Pipeline (love the Dick Dale and SRV version in Back to the Beach!), Perfidia, Diamond Head, Nitro, Penetration, Wipe Out, Walk Don't Run, Ram Bunk Shush and Instant Guitars.

Walk Don't Run 1960 and Ventures in Space were the reasons I asked for my first guitar in 1964 (I was all of 4 years old, what did I know). I just love being able to play them now.

Dick Dale, the Ventures, The Shadows and more recently Shadowy Men From a Shadowy Planet were always more my style of listening than the Beach Boys or Jan & Dean. I do like Dick Dale's California Girls for vocal type surf.

This thread is fantastic. George, your knowledge of the genre is wild! So is the way you play it! You guys do a great Penetration version.

...Dean

kenposurf · Post by **kenposurf** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 6:58 am

Thanks Dean! We made a couple of band changes this last year...a new drummer and also very happy to have Paul W on board now. We're back in the studio first of the year..hide the kids! I've always been a fan of instrumental music...surf of course but also the Memphis sound of Booker T as well as soundtracks from those Clint Eastwood Italian Westerns etc. The Ventures In Space Lp is also one of my faves,,the front cover is fantastic!

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 7:11 am

The MGs live!

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 7:19 am

Booker T's touring Hammond B-3 along with its two Leslie cabinets are on display and for sale at Bananas At Large on 4th Street in San Rafael, CA. I think they're asking $15K. Pretty reasonable when you consider what less seminal Strats and Teles are going for.

It's in working condition, but heavily "relicked". At least it's real road rash.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Tue Nov 21, 2006 7:28 am

There was a nice little era of response to surf music here in the upper Midwest in the mid-60's featuring bands like Gregory Dee and the Avantis ("Olds-Mo-William") and The Trashmen ("Surfin' Bird"...bird, bird, bird, ya bird is the word...). Really a great bunch of dance tunes. I was a kid listening to Beatles albums back then, but these bands stood right next to them in my mind at the time. I especially miss "Hey You Boy in the Be-Bop Glasses and the Suede Shoes, Come Here!" Can't remember who did that one. My all time fav surf tune to this day, however, is Wipeout. Used to imitate the opening maniacal laugh all the time, and still do the drum solo when I pound out pizzas at my restaurant.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 8:02 am

Does your restaurant serve a "Wipeout" pizza?

If not, it should...

kenposurf · Post by **kenposurf** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 8:28 am

Another interesting blast from the past. The Dawn Breakers did Hey You Boy In The Be-Bop Glasses...released on Coral Records. Beach Bop music was popular in the South and midwest..came from the family of music/doo-wop and back further to Jazz bop music...Be-Bop Glasses were a trend I think started by Dizzy Gillespie ..rather thick round glasses that the Boppers took on has a fashion statement..of course Roger M took granny glasses as part of his early look...I digress...more or less the same sound traveled to the East Coast where it was called Beach Music the kids danced the Shag to it.

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 8:42 am

My friend in MI has a buddy who rents keys and related gear to bands on the road that are playing the midwest, some pretty big names I believe. I think Booker T. might be one of them.

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:32 am

I can't wait to hear those results with Paul (back?) in the lineup, George.

That white T-bucket with wide walls and baby moons parked under that huge moon! I still have the album my Dad bought me in '64 and it is still in perfect shape.

Booker T is fantastic too, as are the spaghetti western and Bond movie themes. My son got me listening to newer instrumental stuff as well. Joe Satriani can hold his own there. But it's not that "surf" sound.

I can't wait to heat your 660/12 with wet 'verb and a band, Paul. I have tried mine on some songs, but haven't quite found it's place yet. Although it provides a pretty interesting twist to "Nitro". Hard on the fingers though. Maybe Telstar instead of the keyboard...hmmm.

...Dean

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:19 am

Probably won't be the 660, Dean. More likely one of my other Rick 12s--I think the new Ruby 360/12WB is gonna be a band guitar. I love its feel. But it needs toasters!

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:35 am

Uh Paul, i'll gladly trade you some toasters for those old higains...

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:08 am

Interested--have several sets of "those old high gains" from the '80s. Write me off-list, JB.

kenposurf · Post by **kenposurf** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:22 am

The 12 string seems very suited to melodic surf lines ala Apache, The Theme From The Endless Summer...we do a tune called Crashing Waves that is going to be a showcase 12 string song..get ready Paul!

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:45 am

Here's a question: Does the Accent vib drop enough to get that semitone slide up so necessary in the surf genre?

...Dean