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Important moments in the evolution of surf music
By CHRIS HANSEN ORF
GET OUT
In the early ’60s, when big-wave surfers like Hawaii's Greg Noll were capturing the attention of surfer kids on America's coasts, a young California surfer named Dick Dale invented surf music with his wild instrumentals, and the Beach Boys began singing about the surf in their trademark vocal harmonies.
Surf music's popularity waned when the Beatles and other British bands hit these shores in early 1964, and even the Beach Boys stopped singing about the tasty waves in 1966, when the landmark orchestral pop album “Pet Sounds,” which contained nary a surf tune, was released.
But suddenly surf music is back, albeit in a vastly different form than that of its predecessors.
Here's a brief history of the important moments in the annals of surf music.
1961: DICK DALE RELEASES “LET'S GO TRIPPIN’”
This tune is regarded as the very first surf instrumental ever recorded. “The King of Surf Guitar,” as Dale becomes known, releases several more of his patented reverbed, dive-bombing instrumentals until Capitol Records drops him in 1965 during the explosion of British pop bands.
1961: BEACH BOYS RECORD “SURFIN’”
Upon suggestion from his little brother, Dennis, Brian Wilson writes a song about surfing, and pop music is never the same. The Beach Boys, made up of three Wilson brothers, cousin Mike Love and guitarist Alan Jardine, become the most successful American pop band of the 1960s. Using distinctive, complex vocal harmonies, the group raises surf music above the Dale-esque instrumentals, crafting melodious narratives of beach parties and perfect waves. The party ends in the late ’60s, when Brian Wilson collapses amidst pressure to write hits, abundant drug use and his desire to become the new George Gershwin. Adrift musically, the Beach Boys, save for 1988's “Kokomo,” are never a factor on the charts again.
1963: THE SURFARIS RELEASE “WIPEOUT”
Featuring a simple, tinny guitar riff, what makes “Wipeout” a No. 2 smash in 1963 is drummer Ron Wilson's smashing drumroll breaks, making the tune arguably the most famous rock instrumental ever recorded.
1967: JIMI HENDRIX DISSES SURF MUSIC
On his debut album, the guitarist extraordinaire sounds the surf-music death knell when, during his psychedelic jazz/hard rock instrumental “Third Stone From the Sun,” Hendrix says, “You'll never have to hear surf music again.” For a long time, he is right.
1974: ‘‘ENDLESS SUMMER’’ HITS NO. 1
This greatest-hits collection of surf tunes briefly makes the Beach Boys hip again, until their 1976 album “15 Big Ones,” which features some strange doo-wop covers, more weird Brian Wilson originals and no surf tunes, sends the band back to the “where are they now?” file.
2001: FORMER PRO SURFER JACK JOHNSON RELEASES “BRUSHFIRE
FAIRYTALES”
Surfer and filmmaker Jack Johnson begins composing tunes for the soundtracks to his own surf films. His surfer friends dig his stuff. Johnson gets signed and releases his debut record in 2001.
2004: DONAVON FRANKENREITER RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM
Johnson's buddy is also a pro surfer. The duo is all about the mellow. No reverb, no staccato guitar riffs — Johnson and Frankenreiter both play an acoustic combo of folk, reggae, blues and pop that is perfect listening coming down from a long day riding waves.
Johnson's immense popularity (his Dodge Theatre show is sold out) is testament to surf music's allure. Hendrix, it turns out, is wrong after all.
Jack Johnson
With: Alo and Matt Costa
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Dodge Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix
Cost: Sold out
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