When most people think of Surf music they think of the fun-in-the-sun vocals of the Beach Boys (their pre-'65 tunes) and the music of Jan & Dean. But to those of us who lived in Southern California during that era, surfer's music was something entirely different.

According to Surfer Magazine 'real surf music is ....this: if it sings it ain't.

B-Boys cuts like Surfin USA may be classic all American music but the genuine die hard hardcore surf licks are blistering,twangy instrumentals...Surf music originated as biting music put to sizzling surf usually for surf films.' This is for the most part true, though a few early surf vocals such as Surfin' and Surfer Joe rank as grass roots expressions of the surfer's lifestyle. But surfing music did not spontaneously appear simply as a result of the surfing experience. To imply that inspired surfers originated the surfing 'sound' to simulate 'catching a wave' is a nostalgic myth. Rock 'n Roll instrumental dance music was being formed as early as 1956 and grew in popularity until the British invasion of 1964. Such artists as the Champs, Duane Eddy, Link Wray, Johnny and the Hurricanes, the Fireballs and the Ventures gave surf music a solid foundation to build on.

The electronic innovations of Leo Fender played a major role, the most significant of which was his spring reverberation box which made the guitar sound 'wet' or like an echo in a cave. It's introduction gave guitarists on stage the big echo sound that was previously available only in recording studios. But since the rest of the band remained in the natural stage acoustics the lead guitar stood out (listen for this feature on this album).

Some surfers began to associate the 'over reverberated'guitar with the sound heard while engulfed in a wave; hence the 'surf guitar'. So leo's reverb, distinctive sounding guitars, and high powered amplifiers provided the unique combination with which 'the beach bands of Balboa' gave the existing rock instrumental formats the hybrid 'surfing sound'. And it was probably the loudest rock music played up to that time.

Early surf films by John Severson and others regularly featured sequences of surfing in Mexico, and they usually set the mood with flamenco guitar music. Surf bands later reinforced this association by using Spanish chord progressions, mixtures of famous Spanish melodies, and double picking to simulate rapid flamenco finger picking. The mixture of electric guitar reverb, and flamenco was exciting, appealing musically and characteristic of the romantic fascination surfers had with Mexico.

HOT SURF MUSIC LINKS!

DICK DALE

TRI -SURF RECORDS - The Sandels

SLEAZY MANCINI

BLUE HEAVEN STUDIOS