Killer Surf: The Best Of The Challengers

Challengers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 1, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: GNP Crescendo Records
• ASIN: B000001OYU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #238,065 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #2 in Music > World Music > Pacific Islands > Hawaii > Instrumental
  • #95 in Music > Rock > Rock Guitarists > Surf Guitar

Track Listings

1. Lanky Bones

2. Telstar

3. Duck Waddle

4. A Taste Of Honey

5. Kami-Kaze

6. Pipeline

7. Scratch

8. The Work Song

9. The Wedge

10. Surf-Ari

11. Rebel Rouser

12. Collison Course

13. Memphis

14. Camel Back

15. Penetration

16. Sidewalk Surfer

17. Tequila

18. Small Fry

19. Raunchy

20. Cruel Sea

See all 30 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I Challenge The Challengers!, September 5, 2003

By 

Mike King "Mike Vegas King" (Taunton, MA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Killer Surf: The Best Of The Challengers (Audio CD)

This Challengers' collection contains 30 songs, clocking in at 72 minutes. They do very good versions of classic surf instrumentals, such as "Pipeline" and "Wipe Out," but they're not as good as the original versions by the Chantays and the Surfaris. This brings me to the reason why I only gave this CD two stars. The version of their signature song "K-39" on this collection sounded different to me, especially the saxophone part. I did a little research on the Internet and found a song by song review of this compilation. That review verified the fact that the version of "K-39" included in this collection is NOT the hit version. It was taken from a different recording session. To have alternate versions of certain songs on a compilation isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, when you have an alternate version of your only hit song on a best of collection, without also including the original hit version, that's unforgivable.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Surf Music Compilation!, April 10, 2001

By 

K. Brown "El Rudo Lucky Pierre!" (Walnut, Ca USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Killer Surf: The Best Of The Challengers (Audio CD)

Yes, there are LOTS of surf music compilations available on CD these days; most that I've come across are decent, but seem to have lots of mediocre "filler" songs in between the truly hep classics like "Miserlou" or "Pipeline." This rings true even with solid groups like The Ventures or, the abovementioned group, The Challengers. This particular Challengers collection is especially good if you are new to the surf music sound, and wish to find a strong album put out by one specific group. The variety is diverse in this collection, starting off with the peppy "Lanky Bones" (in my opinion, one of the under-appreciated surf guitar tunes!), going into a misty Tel-Star (sheer nostalgic bliss for early baby-boomers!), and following with 28 more strong tunes. Great versions/covers of the classics are there:Pipeline, Penetration, Mr. Moto (Moto is a particularly interesting surf tune if you listen to various groups' versions; same song, same melody, yet each group that covers this particular song puts a noticeably different instrumental spin on the piece. This version is one of my favorites as the guitar dominates the song, but a cool saxophine highlights the melody a half way through the piece), and lesser known (albeit fabulous!) songs like "Roller Derby" (a methodical but cutting guitar tune, similar to "Bullwinkle") K-39 and Cruel Sea. If there is a weakness to this album, it can only be if you could do without those "Almost Muzak" surf hits like "Lonely Bull," "The Work Song" or "Telstar." Although straight Muzak makes me ill, I do enjoy the majority of surf/department-store tunes. They are present on this CD, but not in a big honking dose! If you are a surf music fan, this CD is a must! If you're looking for just one solid surf CD for your collection, I would readily rank this on the top 5.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What on Earth is This?, May 31, 2008

By 

John E. Koontz (Lafayette, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Killer Surf: The Best Of The Challengers (Audio CD)

I'm not sure where they dug these versions up, but they are not the original versions in any case, not even for the Challengers' own material. Look further if you want surf music. These are pretty mild-mannered. Muzak, really.

I'm not saying some of these are not potentially interesting in one way or another to somebody. The sax on K-39 (not original) was OK. And I assume some some later edition of the long-lived very commercial Challengers recorded them. But teenagers never exulted to these sounds voluntarily. Even people who used to be teenagers would find them rather dull.