Various Artists - Surf City: The California Sound

Title: Surf City: The California Sound Artist: Various Artists Release Date: 1/1/1995 Label: Sony Music Distribution, Life Times & Music Album Type(s): Various artists collection UPCs: 720593918222, 9781567991826 Genre: Rock Styles: Rock & Roll, Instrumental Rock, Early Pop/Rock, Psychedelic, Surf, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Standards Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 1 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. The Wedge :: Dick Dale
2. Surfari :: Original Surfaris
3. Surfer Girl :: The Beach Boys
4. Surfer's Stomp :: The Marketts
5. Draggin' Wagon :: The Surfer Girls
6. Baja :: The Astronauts
7. Hey Little Cobra :: The Rip Chords
8. Summer Means Fun :: Bruce & Terry
9. Surf City :: Jan & Dean
10. Surf Beat :: Guitar Ramblers
11. Mr. Moto :: The Bel-Airs
12. K-39 :: The Challengers
13. Wipe Out :: The Surfaris
14. Pipeline :: The Chantays

Year Type Label Catalog # 1995 CD Sony Music Distribution 26038 1995 CD Life Times & Music 82

Surf Music's Greatest Hits

The reason Surf City works as a good compilation is that it features examples of both the instrumental surf rock and the more radio friendly surf pop of the early '60s. The companion book issued with the CD is a phenomenal account of the style's history. Beginning with a brief look at the culture of white middle class society in southern California, the book shifts its focus to rather lengthy biographies of the genre's most prolific artists. It shows how the major players, like Dick Dale and the Beach Boys, were manipulated by record companies. The biography of the Beach Boys actually spends most of the time focusing on how the group was closely controlled rather than giving a blow by blow account of their career. The most disturbing bit of the groups history is the account of how Murry Wilson, Dennis, Brian, and Carl's father, set up his own publishing company and stole the rights to the music, selling them in 1969. In addition to the major biographies, the book contains brief inserts about various aspects of the scene, including surfing lingo, lesser known bands, skateboarding songs, and The Wrecking Crew, a group of session musicians who are featured on most of the hits of this period. This CD and book provide an excellent introduction to the genre and dispels some of the myths that this era of American music was absurdly wholesome. ~ Curtis Zimmermann, All Music Guide

Name Credits Barri Composer Benjamin Boyington Editing Bob Barbour Photography, Images Brian Wilson Biographical Information Bruce & Terry Performer Carman Composer Dan Lyons Photography David Leaf Biographical Information Dennis Hallinan Photography Dick Dale Performer Emilya Naymark Editing Frank Driggs Photography Gene Trindl Photography Greg Allen Photography Guitar Ramblers Performer, Band Hal Blaine Photography Hazelwood Composer Jack Wood Author, Liner Notes, Book Jan & Dean Band, Performer Jay Blakesberg Photography Jeff Batzli Art Direction Jimi Hendrix Liner Notes John Blair Biographical Information Johnson Composer Jon Pareles Biographical Information Michael Ochs Photography Michael Putland Photography Oldsmobile Photography Original Surfaris Band, Performer Photofest Photography Rob Santos Photography Robert J. Dalley Photography, Biographical Information Sloan Composer Stephen J. McParland Biographical Information Steve Gaines Biographical Information Steve Kolanjian Biographical Information Tanya Ross-Hughes Design The Astronauts Performer, Band The Beach Boys Band, Performer The Bel-Airs Performer The Challengers Band, Performer The Chantays Performer, Band The Marketts Performer, Band The Rip Chords Performer, Band The Surfaris Performer The Surfer Girls Band, Performer Wilson Composer