VA • Cowabunga! - The Surf Box - Set 3 Ebb Tide [1963-1967]

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: 3
  1. Penetration - The Pyramids
  2. Bombora - The Surfaris
  3. Heavies - The Rotations
  4. Moment Of Truth - Dave Myers & The Surftones
  5. My Little Surfin' Woodie - The Sunsets
  6. Let There Be Surf - The Chevell's
  7. Surfin' Bird - The Trashmen
  8. Ski Storm - The Snow Men
  9. Disintegration - The Ready Men
  10. Beach Party - Annette
  11. Theme From Endless Summer - The Sandals
  12. New York's A Lonely Town - The Trade Winds
  13. K-39 - The Challengers
  14. Tell 'Em I'm Surfin' - The Fantastic BAggys
  15. On The Run - The Rondels
  16. Walk-Don't Run '64 - The Ventures
  17. I Live For The Sun - The Sunrays
  18. Malibu Run - The Fender IV
  19. Misirlou (Live) - Bobby Fuller Four
  20. Hit The Surf - The Sea Shells


Label: Rhino Records (2) ‎– R2 72418
Released: 1996
Genre: Rock
Style: Surf

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