Rare West Coast Surf Instrumentals [Import]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 22, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Ace Records UK
• ASIN: B00005B9MS
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #121,143 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Ghost Hop - The Surfmen

2. Rockin' Rebel - The Strangers

3. Makin' Out - The Storms

4. Earthshaker - The Lancasters

5. Satan's Holiday - The Lancasters

6. Paradise Cove - The Surfmen

7. War Path - Davie Allen

8. Beyond The Blue - Davie Allen

9. Boogie Man - The Strangers

10. Young Maggie - The Strangers

11. The Breakers - The Surfmen

12. Cassanova - The Surfmen

13. A Lost Soul - The Strangers

14. The Scramble - The Playboys

15. Navajo - The Strangers

16. El Toro - The Surfmen

17. Malibu Run - The Surfmen

18. Driven Insane - Gary Usher

19. You're The Girl - Gary Usher

20. The Cat Walk - The Playboys

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

All of the two dozen cuts on this anthology were issued between 1959 and 1964 on Titan, a small Los Angeles indie. Actually, a few of these -- particularly the pre-1962 cuts -- are not surf instrumentals so much as the pounding instrumental rock that was influential in the birth of surf music. But who's talking? Just one of these was a national hit, and a modest one at that -- the Strangers' aptly named "Caterpillar Crawl" made it just inside the Top 50 in 1959. As a whole, the compilation's OK but nothing more: period instrumental and early surf music. Interestingly though, a few fairly big names pop up here and there. Joel Hill of the Strangers eventually landed in Canned Heat and the Flying Burrito Brothers in the 1970s, and plays some pretty wicked blues-rock guitar on the 1959 single "Hill Stomp," one of the few cuts here that transcends the generic. Davie Allan of "Blues Theme" fame is heard on his 1964 single, "War Path"/"Beyond the Blue"; these are among the better tracks in their sub-"Apache" style. The Playboys, heard on a not-bad 1963 single, are actually the same Playboys of Gary Lewis & the Playboys fame. Ray Hunt of the Surfmen would later join the Soul Giants, who would eventually evolve into the Mothers of Invention after he was replaced by Frank Zappa. Gary Usher, represented by a couple of dippy 1961 teen idol-type sobbers (which have vocals, despite the title of this CD), would become an important figure in California rock as a producer and songwriter for surf, sunshine pop, and folk-rock acts going all the way up to the Beach Boys and the Byrds. Also, a young Ritchie Blackmore plays on the Lancasters' single "Earthshaker"/"Satan's Holiday," which was cut in England by a studio band and sold to Titan by producer Kim Fowley. "Satan's Holiday" is a fine, menacing tune, with part of the songwriting credit going to James Phelge, the Rolling Stones' friend honored by half of the Nanker-Phelge pseudonym the Stones used on early group compositions. All that doesn't add up to much more than some interesting trivia; the music itself is mostly routine, of interest virtually exclusively to surf/instrumental rock specialists. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yet another surf age compilation you can't afford to miss, July 28, 2010

By 

Martijn13Maart1970 (Husavik Iceland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rare West Coast Surf Instrumentals (Audio CD)

Ace did it again, with this wonderful compilation Cd. The title says it all; packed with surf age instrumentals that are worth to reissue but are songs you probably never have heard before. Needless to say that ACE took care of the sound quality as well as good track information in their usually elaborate booklet. Good news for fans of this music genre who don't want to spend too much on collecting albums from all those separate bands that emerged in the early sixties.

Other surf rock, or surf instrumental compilations I recommend for those who love the surf rock sound are:
ACE RECORDS
The Birth Of Surf, Volume 1 and 2
Big Surf (OOP)
Toes On The Nose

RHINO
Cowabunga 4CD set (OOP)
Rock Instrumental Classics Volume 5, Surf

Sundaze Records
Lost Legends Of Surf Guitar Volumes 1-4
Rare Surf 1-6

If you buy all those, for sure there will be some overlap, but not a lot. It will be worth it!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF THE BETTER COLLECTIONS OF SURF MUSIC, April 24, 2010

By 

Stuart Jefferson (San Diego,Ca) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Rare West Coast Surf Instrumentals (Audio CD)

54 minutes in length approximately. The tracks,from the original analogue tapes,have been remastered. The sound is fairly crisp and open. The booklet contains some good info on the bands,producers,and the era.

This collection does contain some rare West Coast surf music,from the small Titan Records label. This was one of a myriad of small,independent record companies in the late 50's/early 60's that released surf music hoping to cash-in on the surf/instrumental craze (which only lasted a short time),then coming into vogue. Usually the vast numbers of these groups (THE SURFMEN,THE STRANGERS,THE STORMS,THE PLAYBOYS,among others), sold their records only locally,or at best,regionally. Very few of these groups made it to the national level in sales. It's interesting that (the late) Gary Usher (heard here),who was responsible (and famous) for dozens of teen records (both instrumental and vocal),made his first recordings for Titan.

The tracks here range from up-beat instrumentals,to slower,atmospheric tunes,which are very evocative of their time. This gives this collection added depth and appeal. Besides Usher,probably the most well known musician appearing here (courtesy of Kim Fowley) is Ritchie Blackmore (first guitarist in DEEP PURPLE),playing with an English pick-up group called THE LANCASTERS. This was a three-piece band originally called THE SUPERSTITIONS. The two singles (which have some good guitar),from 1964,went basically nowhere,even after being sold to Titan for U.S. release. The only other musician listeners might recognize is Davie Allan,known for his intense fuzz-styled guitar sound with his group THE ARROWS. Allan's two tracks are easily recognized by his guitar playing.

But no matter who the groups were,the music in this collection has a certain sound and feel that raises it above the typical surf music collection. If you're looking for some great guitar music with that twangy sound,with the standard honking sax,this is it. It would make a good addition to almost anyone's musical library of surf music. It's good period music,especially if you live near the ocean and can remember the era. If you can't relive those times,or aren't near the ocean-this music will transport you there. Cowabunga-pray for surf!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surf guitar at its best, November 10, 2006

By 

feoras - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rare West Coast Surf Instrumentals (Audio CD)

This is one timeless piece of music history, i listen to it and i can hear the evolution of musical genious... Sure it came before Zeppelin and the Doors (all hail the doors) But this music can really take you somewhere if you let it... It's very creative and beautiful, a he11 of a cd to own, and not too expensive either, for what all you get, so buy it now or buy me one!