California may be the largest state in the Union, but it's only one state nuzzling one ocean, with only so many people living near the coastline, and a small minority of them have attempted to navigate waves on a board, much less possess the fetching physique to do so in public. Obviously, then, surf music isn't for surfers. If it were, Rhino would put out a greatest-hits EP instead of a four-disc box set. Cowabunga! is all the permanent-wave stuff most people will ever need. The discs are arranged in a curious manner: disc 1, "Ground Swells," chronicles the years from 1960 to 1963; disc 2 features nothing but recordings from '63; the third CD runs from '63 to '67; and the coda captures the postpunk renaissance that began in '77. Curious, isn't it, that there was so little going on in surf between '67 and '77? Maybe Jimi Hendrix almost killed it when he promised (in 1967!), "You'll never hear surf music again" on "Third Stone from the Sun." But Hendrix is dead, and Dick Dale lives! So, too, do the Revels, the Beach Boys, the Surfaris, Annette Funicello, the Ventures, and dozens of others. At least they do in this anthology. By the way, "cowabunga" is "a yell of excitement by a surfer." You learn that from the helpful glossary included in the excellent liner notes by John Blair, leader of Jon & the Nightriders. As to the lasting appeal of surf music, perhaps it has something to do with the fact that it's mostly instrumental. People make jokes about dumb California blonds, but the ones who made most of the classic surf sides knew one thing: it's wise at times to keep your mouth shut and play! --Steven Stolder
Disc: 2
1. KFWB Jingle - Beach Boys
2. Surfin' USA - Beach Boys
3. Jezabel - The Illusions
4. Body Surf - Aki Aleong & The Nobles
5. Surf Bunny - Gene Gray & The Stingerays
6. Soul Surfer - Johnny Fortune
7. Shoot The Curl - THE HONEYS
8. Baja - The Astronauts
9. Pintor - The Pharos
10. Cat On A Hot Foam Board - The New Dimensions
11. Surf City - Jan & Dean
12. Breakfast At Tressels - Rhythm Rockers
13. King Of The Surf Guitar - Dick Dale & The Del-Tones
14. Surfin' At Mazatland - The Centurians
15. Surfin' Hootenanny - Al Casey, With The K-C-Ettes
16. The Lonely Surfer - Jack Nitzsche
17. Surfer Girl - The Beach Boys
18. Beaver Patrol - The Blazers
19. Fiberglass Jungle - The Crossfires
20. Mr. Rebel - EDDIE & THE SHOWMEN
¡Gracias por tu tiempo y dedicación Egroj! 🤗
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