It's been bubbling under like a shark in the water - and with the huge success of Pulp Fiction bringing the music ashore, what better time than to rediscover surf music on Rhino Records 4 cd box set, Cowabunga! The Surf Box.
Passing fans of the craze will note the Beach Boys songs ("Surfin'", the Chuck Berry inspired "Surfin' U.S.A.", and "Surfer Girl") and maybe other artists such as Jan & Dean, the Trashmen and the Ventures. But the surf craze which captured California in the late 1950's and early 1960s was much more than these artists, who captured national attention without necessarily remaining true to the sound they supposedly represented.
Surf music was played primarily by instrumental bands at local halls with packs of surfers supporting the bands, and the bands supporting the surfers. It was truly a close-knit community, one which the land-locked part of the nation couldn't quite grasp.
Dick Dale, the "king of surf music", is amply represented on the box - and with good reason. He's not only the best from the surf music crowd, but after the huge success of "Miserlou" from Pulp Fiction, he's started his successful comeback.
While the first three discs of this compilation look at the years from 1960-1967, the fourth CD is a collection of what happened AFTER the pounder crashed, and the craze wiped out; from 1977 through 1995, 22 artists are represented, including Man or Astro-Man?
There's plenty here for the casual fan, as well as for the surf afficionado. A 64 page booklet not only covers the background of each of the 82 songs represented here, but also includes pictures and commentaries by some of the luminaries of the era, such as Dale. Many of the tracks are appearing on cd for the first time, which will only add to the excitement of the real fans, while turning a new generation on to the *real* surf sounds of the 60's.
Rhino has gone above and beyond the call of duty in producing this box set, both in selection of tracks and the liner notes. So sit back and check out this bitchin' collection of tunes. Surf's up!
