Final Project California Surf Music Narrated Playlist Erin Paredes Dr.

r. Tullos Dec 8 2013 American Routes Surf Rock sensationalized the West Coast and gave way to one of Americas most popular rock/pop bands, The Beach Boys. At their peak, they were so successful that they even rivaled The Beatles in popularity, who at the time, nearly took over popular music in America. Ive assembled this playlist because Surf Rock is often neglected of its importance and contribution to American music. The playlist will begin with the Father of the Surf Guitar, Dick Dale. From there, I will explore early instrumental surf rock hits and how they evolve and transform into surf music with vocals. This gives rise and opportunity to The Beach Boys, who become the most popular and well-known surf band, and a staple of surf music in the U.S. After creating a foundation of the formation and the peak of surf rocks popularity, I will fast forward in time to more modern interpretations of Surf Rock and its implications in todays music.

Dick Dale Miserlou Id like to begin this playlist, which tracks the history and rise of surf music, with Dick Dales classic hit Miserlou. A cover of the original Miserlou, a 1927 Greek rebetiko, Dick Dales version features his distinctive reverberation, and rapid alternate guitar-picking characteristic of the genre1. This wet reverb became a staple of surf music and is thought to emulate the sound of "Dick Dale Discover music, videos, concerts, stats, & pictures at". Last.fm. 200902-11. Accessed 2013-12-09.
1

waves2. This single became a huge hit in the early 60s and helped explore new territories that were previously unheard of in the rock music genre. Dick Dale kickstarted the surf genre with this hit and became widely known as The King of the Surf Guitar. Miserlou was released on Dick Dales first album Surfers Choice. This song is a perfect first stop for this Surf Music playlist because it was so influential on the surf music era, and even today Dick Dales cover of Miserlou remains a classic.

The Chantays Pipeline This song is a suitable next choice for the Surf Music playlist as it is considered one of the landmarks in the surf music genre. The alternate guitar picking is present, as well as the wet reverberation. The bass is also loud, rumbling, and in the forefront. The guitar riffs are smooth and consistent, and combined with the tempo, ties in perfectly with early surf music. Pipeline was the only hit by The Chantays, but nonetheless it influenced many other artists and helped define the surf genre. Like many of the classic surf band, the Chantays were formed in California.

The Bel-Airs Mr. Moto The Bel-Airs were formed in South Bay, Los Angeles and were a highly influential surf music band. Their best-known 1961 hit, Mr. Moto features many of the classic surf music requisites. This includes reverberation, a rumbling bass, but also features some additional instruments including a saxophone and keyboard. Mr. Moto does not necessarily feature any major divergence or

Bogdanov, C. Woodstra and S. T. Erlewine, All music guide to rock: the definitive guide to rock, pop, and soul (Backbeat Books, 3rd edn., 2002), pp. 1313-4.
2

break from the previous song in terms of the surf genre, but it does help drive home to the listeners ears the classic sound of early instrumental surf rock.

The Surfaris Wipeout Next on the playlist is a classic hit by The Surfaris. Which, as the name would suggest, was a popular surf band formed in Glendora, California. Another instrumental surf rock hit, this song features a classic up and down guitar riff and a classic solo drum roll break3. It is this drum roll break that has been emulated by so many bands and has become such a commonly used tactic in rock and roll that Wipeout deserves recognition in this playlist. It shows the listeners that while surf music has not maintained its once soaring popularity in the 60s, its influence on other bands is certainly prominent.

The Trashmen Surfin Bird Next we have Surfin Bird. This was the Trashmens most popular hit which reached #4 on the Billboard hot 100 in 19634. This song is right after Wipeout because in Surfin Bird, solo drum roll breaks are present throughout the song. Thus, this shows the influence of The Safaris as previously noted, given their influential sound on later bands such as The Trashmen. Surfin Bird, however, includes lyrics, which begin to become prominent in the surf music genre. Therefore, this song is an excellent bridge between early instrumental and the soon rising vocal surf music.

3 4

The Surfaris Biography , accessed Dec, 9, 2013 The Trashmen Biography Allmusic, accessed Dec 9, 2013

The Beach Boys Surfin This song is a hallmark of the rising popularity of surf music, as well as the rise of The Beach Boys, who became a sensation in the 1960s and rivaled the popularity of The Beatles, who really captured the ears of almost all of American during this time. This song is a great addition to the playlist because it encapsulates some of the key features of The Beach Boys that would become a trademark of their sound and music. Some of these key features include the doo-op background harmonies behind a strong synchronized melody, as well as lyrics revolving around the strong waves of the California Ocean and the company of ones girl. All of these themes become prevalent in the surf music era.

Jan And Dean Surf City This is a next suitable pick for our Surf Music playlist. It encapsulates many of the themes mentioned in the previous song Surfin and is a hallmark in surf music. This song was a #1 hit record in July 1963 for two weeks5. The surf music of Jan and Dean evokes images of suntanned California kids & beaches filled with sunshine and surfing. Surf City ties in well with the previous song because the original Surf City was actually written by Beach Boy member Mike Love, who gave the instrumental track and opening line two girls for every boy to Jan and Dean6, who actually had a #1 hit before The Beach Boys. Together, The Beach Boys and Jan and Dean helped create a romanticized and partially fabricated image of California as being defined by attractive young females, surf waves, and beach parties.

5 6

Jan and Dean Biography Allmusic accessed Dec 9, 2013 Jan And Deans Surf City hits #1 History.com Accessed Dec 9 2013

The Beach Boys I Get Around Because we just listened to the first #1 hit of Jan and Dean, it makes sense to now move forward to The Beach Boys first #1 hit, I Get Around. This song is largely about cruising around the streets on a summer day and finding a place where the hip kids are. And although it does not make a mention of ocean waves or California beaches, it features classic California surf music elements such as the ooh ahs in harmony with the repeated I get around melody of the song. The singing is well synchronized and is a recognizable element of The Beach Boys unique sound. This song also highlights the soaring popularity of The Beach Boys. For this reason, I Get Around is a classic in the genre of surf music and deserves a spot in this playlist.

The Beach Boys California Girls Without including too much of one artist, it is imperative to understand how important The Beach Boys were to the rise in popularity of surf music in the 1960s. For this reason I am including California Girls, a classic Beach Boys hit about the jaw dropping beauty of native California women. This theme of beautiful women inhabiting the beaches of California is another, very powerful attraction of young people to the genre of surf music. This song in particular deserves direct attention from this surf music playlist because it is so recognizable across America and really encapsulates one of the most appealing aspects of surf music. This is not limited to the appealing aspect of women in swimwear, but draws upon the larger overarching theme of California surf music. And that is this idea of romanticizing, and escaping from, the real world. Surf songs

such as California Girls allow the listener to escape reality and enter a world where only the warm sun, the soft sand, and crisp high waves exist. In addition, friends and beautiful women surround us. California Girls perfectly seizes these themes.

Aqua Velvets Surf Nouveau Given the extensive history and progression of Surf Rock music covered in the playlist so far, I decided to end the 60s era of surf music in this playlist on a high note instead of the inevitable distinguishing of the genre due to the rise in popularity of rock & roll. Thus, the playlist will continue with the continuing influence of surf music on later bands. I decided to break away from the vocal aspect of surf music to venture back to where the surf music first originated with the Dick Dale influenced sound. First will be Surf Nouveau, by the Aqua Velvets. This band, not surprisingly, was formed in San Francisco, California in the 1980s. The Aqua velvets created a new unique style of surf rock and took inspiration from musicians such as Dick Dale and The Ventures7. Their distinctive take on the classic surf sound incorporated elements of Mediterranean as well as rockabilly music. But most importantly, this song is included on the Surf Rock Music playlist because it represents the continuing survival of the instrumental Surf Music genre, despite its plummet in popularity after the 1960s. It also shows the listeners how surf music continued to influence new artists, despite its drop in popularity.

Aqua Velvets Biography AllMusic Accessed Dec 9, 2013

Weezer Surf Wax America Moving forward in time, the Surf Rock Music playlist now looks at modern day bands using inspired themes of ocean waves and surfing to entertain their listeners. The inclusion of these 90s and 00s bands is meant to show the continuing influence of 60s surf music on artists today. The first here is Weezers Surf Wax America. This song is a notable addition to the playlist because it includes many major themes of surf music that were so prevalent in The Beach Boys music. These themes include vivid descriptions of the ocean, surfing as spiritual release from worldly tribulations, and the companionship of friends as well as beautiful women. The guitar riffs also model that of Dick Dales reverberation. This song leads the viewers to a modern picture of Surf Music and how bands such as Weezer have incorporated surf music themes into their sound. Blue Album, which features Surf Wax America, was debut in 1994 as Weezers first album. This song demonstrates just how profoundly surf music has evolved and adapted since the early days of Surfin Bird.

Best Coast The Only Place Continuing on in our modern day surf-influenced music, Best Coast is a great band to explore in this playlist. Best Coast was formed in Los Angeles, California in 2009, true to the native land of surf music. Best Coast consists of two members, guitarist and vocalist Bethany Cosentino, and guitarist Bobb Bruno. The Only Place was released in 2012, and makes very apparent the influence of 60s surf music on the bands sound. The guitar riffs are peppy and consistent throughout the song, which maintains overall a feel-good and foot-

tapping rhythm. Thus, Best Coast is deserving of a place in the modern day portion of this Surf Music Playlist. With lyrics conjuring images of a romanticized California, including Why would you live anywhere else? Weve got the ocean, got the babes, got the sun weve got the waves, one can easily parallel Best Coast to The Beach Boys and their love of all things on the coast of California. This song is a key addition to the playlist because it draws a check by every theme present in typical Surf music hits.

The Drums Lets Go Surfing A great place to end the playlist would be with yet another modern surf tune by The Drums, formed in Brooklyn, New York in 20088. Lets Go Surfing captures all of the elements of surf rock that Best Coast does. This includes vivid descriptions of the shining sun and coast, and a carefree life characterized by the love and appreciation of surfing. In terms of audio, The Drums take quite a break from The Beach Boys sound. The sound is much more modern indie, and is not as cheery or peppy as The Beach Boys. The reason for including another modern surf tune such as Lets Go Surfing would allow the listeners a more full understanding of the evolution and survival of surf music. However, bands like The Drums are indie groups that are not signed to any major record label. However, this is an excellent place to end the playlist because bands such as The Drums and Best Coast are both indie bands, growing slowly in popularity, but will most likely never reach the commercial success of American pop groups. The whole idea of including these last two bands shows the listeners just how in the past few decades,
8

The Drums Biography AllMusic Accessed Dec 9 2013

the surf rock genre has largely disappeared yet still is picked up occasionally by these indie groups.

Images of crisp ocean waves, women in bikinis, soft sand, and soothing vocals have all become trademark characteristics of Surf Music. In a way, its largely a part of American culture. This playlist has taken the listeners on a auditory historical journey, tracing surf rock from its inception, with the help of the Father of the Surf Guitar, Dick Dale, to its peak, the music of The Beach Boys. Following this track, the playlist jumps forward to modern day music, inspired by the 60s era of Surf Rock. The purpose of this jump in time not only because Surf Rock saw a large decline after the 1960s, but to also give the listeners an idea of modern bands that have their own unique take on surf rock, and how surf rocks romanticizing themes have appealed to modern rock bands. Using this playlist, listeners can successfully understand the history of surf rock and create a more full understanding of surf rock and its place in America.