Surf Rock Instrumental Review: Various Artists-American Surf Treasures Volume 1 & 2

Paul Johnson’s importance to the development of surf-instrumental music, more specifically South Bay Surf, cannot be overstated. His contributions to the genre helped to create and establish the music as a viable source of entertainment for teenagers nationwide during the early sixties. He is so vital that he stands alongside The Ventures, The Shadows, Merrell Fankhauser, and Link Wray as one of the true pioneers and innovators of a musical genre that has a colorful past and continues to grow and evolve today.

These two CDs, aptly titled American Surf Treasures Volume 1 & 2, are a significant part of surf-instrumental music history. Volume one delves into PJ’s work and his collaboration with The Galaxies and Art Fisher of the Journeyman, offering a glimpse into the admiration and respect PJ had for Artie and his group. This is not just a collection of music, but a historical narrative of PJ’s journey and his influence on the genre.

 

PJ was ready to grow and move on as a developing and influential guitar player at all times, hence his continuing evolution in several different groups and metamorphosis into a fabulous solo career that is going with a full head of steam to this day (check out his MP3 site-remember that?).

 

Volume two gives you a glimpse of some of the more progressive groups of the time, chosen by PJ to record and be guided by his musical genius in the studio. The Nocturnes, Vibrants, Wheely McSidewalk & The Ball Bearings (how do you like that name!), and the Revelairs, known for their experimental and innovative approach to surf music, are given equal time with their priceless songs. It proves the influence, importance, and respect that PJ had from his peers in the genre early on.

 

Some of these songs are surprisingly rocking for the time they were recorded. You can tell that the playing is slightly restrained, so they would not veer off too far into the rock and roll sound, a more aggressive and vocal-driven style, that could have soon derailed the surf-instro music phenomenon dead in its tracks.

 

Volume one has twenty-five tracks while volume two is bulging with twenty-eight tracks. How could I possibly cite any one song as a standout? They are all timeless pieces of surf-instrumental history, forever linked together. There was not one song that I didn’t enjoy.

 

That says a lot for the selection and quality of the songs and the sound.

 

The only drawback to the entire set is that the folks at Gee-Dee ignored PJ’s request to proofread the liner notes. It’s rife with errors. It’s a shame because it’s an exciting and fabulous read that could have been given the care it deserved, to complement the immense quality and significance of the collection. It’s an easy enough error to overlook when you sit and listen to the music, so don’t let that stop you from picking up these priceless gems.

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
September 7, 2001

Track Listing

Volume One:

01. Tally Ho

02. Andele

03. Rise And Fall Of Flingel Blunt

04. The Shimmy (AKA Side Two)

05. Wild Goose

06. The Moldau

07. One Mint Julep

08. Rockin’ Pnuemonia & The Boogie Woogie Flu

09. Big Shot

10. Scouse

11. Lanky Bones

12. Comin’ Home Baby

13. Belly Button

14. Ramrod

15. Vamonos

16. (It’s Gonna) Work Out Fine

17. Squad Car

18. Mariah

19. Fink 20. Work Out

21. Bag’s Groove

22. Surfer’s Blues

23. Surfer’s Rule

24. Artie’s Blues

25. Rum Runner

 

*Tracks 1-14 are PJ & The Galaxies, 15-19 are PJ & Artie, 20-25 are the Journeyman.

 

Volume Two:

01. Third Star To The Left

02. Sticky

03. Bha-Ree-Ba!

04. Space Probe

05. Surfer Street

06. Midnight Run

07. Journey To The Stars

08. HonkyTonk

9. Comin’ Home Baby

10. Wipeout

11. Shootin’ The Pier

12. Memphis Beat

13. Funky Beat

14. Surf Beat

15. San-Ho-Zay

16. Hawaiian Warchant

17. Ridin’ High

18. Skokiaan

19. Scorpion

20. Zorchy

21. Stomp Crazy

22. Wild Fire

23. The Breeze

24. Fuel Injection

25. Whispering

26. Theme From “Blacksaddle”

27. Dark Eyes

28. The Cruel Sea Third Star To The Left

 

*Tracks 1-11 are the Nocturnes, 12-14 are Wheely McSidewalk & The Ball Bearings, 15-18 are the Revelairs, 19-24 are the Vibrants, 25-28 are the Revelairs.

John Blair Interview (Part One)

I had the opportunity to speak to another surf music legend and author, John Blair, of Jon and the Night Riders.

This was a great conversation, and learning about how things happened for John was fascinating.

Give it a listen!

Surf Instro Review: The Sentinals -The Best Of The Sentinals: Sunset Beach

The Sentinals formed in 1961. They rose from the confines of a garage to national prominence as one of the top surf groups in the country in the 1960s. This group was known for raising the roof at live venues. 

Their trademark hit, "Surfers Stomp," was very popular. The song brought the house down, literally at times, because teenagers of the day would dance and stomp their feet so hard the building shook! Now that's rockin'!

The Best Of The Sentinals: Sunset Beach is jam-packed with breathtaking, high-intensity vintage surf. They covered a wide range of styles and did it all very well. Some of the guitar playing is incredible. The saxophone also has a notable influence, proving that it was an instrument with as much power and substance as the guitar when used in a surf tune. It sounded very fresh and full.

If you put this CD on without telling anyone who it is, most people would think it was a new recording. Most of the tracks sound that good. This is a tribute to the fine production and sound mastering efforts that are standard at Del-Fi Records.

Quite a few cuts fit really well into a movie soundtrack. This is an awe-inspiring compilation. If you really pay attention when you listen to this music, you can envision the time and place it came from. It's another slice of surf culture to add to your surf collection.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

April 1999

Tracks:

01. Big Surf  

02. Exotic  

03. Latin'ia  

04. Tough Soul    

05. Revellion  

06. Pismo Beach  

07. Shout  

08. Tor-Chula

09. Sunset Beach  

10. Surfin'  

11. Intoxico  

12. Latin Soul   

13. Hideaway  

14. Surfin' Tragedy  

15. Surf 'N Soul

16. Gremmies Walk

17. Sentinal, The  

18. Free And Easy   

19. Surfer Girl  

20. Pipe, The  

21. Surf Stomper   

22. Blue Booze

23. Ooh Poh Pa Doo  

24. Nite Shuffle     

25. Sensation       

26. Twilighter    

27. Vesuvius

Surf Instro Review: Untamed Youth - Untamed Melodies

linktr.ee/untamedyouth

Untamed Melodies by Untamed Youth is a rollicking adventure of 32 tracks, each promising fun in the sun. It's a musical journey that will keep you entertained and in high spirits.

It offers a delightful mix of instrumentals and vocal tracks, each with unique intensity. This CD is a treasure trove of musical diversity within the surf genre. It's a fun group; you wouldn't want to miss out on this musical journey.

This is a great package. I hope you have plenty of time to listen! When was the last time you picked up a single CD with that many tracks on it? Even for a surf album, this is a lot of music. It's a double dose full of reverb and party tunes.

Overall, this is a magnificent effort by one of the best American surf music scene groups today. The album has high-energy tunes that make you want to grab your sandals and surfboard. This music will transport you to the summer and sandy beaches in Alaska or anywhere else. 

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

April 1999

Tracks:

01. Some Kinda Fun  

02. You've Got To Understand  

03. Laughin' Linda  

04. Pabst Blue Ribbon

05. Beer Bust Blues  

06. She's So Satisfying  

07. I'm Going Away  

08. Haulin' Honda  

09. Go Go Ferrari

10. Santa's Gonna Shut 'Em Down  

11. Santa's Midnight Run   

12. Little Miss Go Go  

13. The Hearse

14. Hey Elly May  

15. Angel Face  

16. Contentment  

17. California Street  

18. I Live For Cars And Girls

19. Supercharged Steamroller  

20. The Gasser  

21. Overcast  

22. What'll You Have  

23. She Cares

24. Hey Little Girl  

25. Drag Race Tradgedy  

26. Russian Roulette  

27. Adam And Evil

28. Land Beyond The Moon  

29. Kapo  

3O. Sour Grapes  

31. Rollerland  

32. Some Kinda Fun Radio Ad

Surf-Rock-Western Instro Review: Cadillac Hitmen-The Assassin

The Cadillac Hitmen's album, The Assassin, is a fantastic blend of surf and Western influences blaring through loud and clear. The unique combination of these two genres, catchy hooks, and slick guitar licks make this effort a gem.

 I have listened to this repeatedly and hear more with each listen.

I appreciate the diversity of the musicians. The transition from fast riffs on electric guitar to nice and smooth acoustic rhythmic guitar is impressive. It sounds just delightful, right out front or in the background. 

Those changes are perfect for the Western sound, which they can incorporate with the surf instro.

The more I listen to various surf groups, the more eclectic the music can be. The talent involved in making such an excellent album is truly commendable. This is a must for any surf collection. Their new album will be out soon; I can't wait!

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

April 1999

Tracks:

01. Black Hills  

02. Desert Floor (Mirage)  

03. Fistful Of Amphetamines  

04. Lonestar State Of Mind

05. Eldorado  

06. The Stalker  

07. The Assassin  

08. The Downhill Side  

09. Flowmaster

10. Bullwhip  

11. The Incident At Nacho Grande

Interview With Ivan Pongracic

After all these years, since the 90s, I finally got the chance to speak with one of the most admired guitar players in the world, Ivan Pongracic! He is well known in the surf instrumental community for his work with The Space Cossacks, The Madeira, and Lords of Atlantis.

Give it a listen to find out more about this remarkable man and musician!

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

Track Features: The Outback Surf Squad

I got a note from Jamie Balcombe of The Outback Surf Squad and checked out the two tunes. Please give them a listen! It's some rumblings from down under! 

I have provided the track streams.  It's always a pleasure to hear that this music continues to thrive! 

Here is my review of the tracks to entice you to give them a listen.

Thanks for sharing, Jamie!

Keith "MuzkMan" Hannaleck

May 10, 2025

"Podium Finish" begins with the sound of a hot rod revving up; this is a retro hot rod surf tune to the finish line. One brief passage reminded me of "Secret Agent Man." A lot of music is packed into just over two minutes, with enough changes to keep you interested.

"Moana Point" begins with a trippy, psychedelic sound and then transitions straight into a traditional surf instrumental featuring the core beats from the drums. There is some speedy playing going on, with numerous changes. Good guitar chops are featured.

 

Note From Artist:

The first 2 tunes from T.O.S.S are "Podium Finish" and "Moana Point." I hope you are able to review them for your site. Jason Deatherage from the Surf Hermits helped me with Podium Finish, and John Verhoef collaborated with me for Moana Point. I am also the creator/producer of Australia's no1 surf rock podcast The Dodge City Social Club....have a great day!!

Jamie Balcombe.

Island-Surf Instrumental Review: Miles Corbin - Sounds From The Tiki Hut

Miles Corbin is best known for his contributions as lead guitarist for The Aqua Velvets, an instrumental surf group. He released his solo album Sounds From The Tiki Hut in 1999.

Bandmate Michael Lindner was a special consultant on this ambitious project, keeping the Aqua Velvet’s elemental musical tides flowing.

The Kahunabud performs on the Maui log drum, Selim Nibroc plays the Moroccan bongo, and Juan Amoratima performs percussion duties. As you can see, Corbin assembled quite a varied group of seasoned musicians in the studio for this session.

The only song that sounded like the Aqua Velvets was the last track, “Trail to Magic Falls.” Everything else sounds fresh and different.

What I noticed straight away was the simplicity and enchantment of the music. This isn’t like the lush, layered arrangements he plays on his regular gig; these are bare bones and stripped-down numbers. The drums lull you into a hypnotic daze, and the guitar will keep you going along for the ride. As pictured on the cover…it’s like sitting on the beach and playing your guitar to the sounds of the surf. Much like it’s depicted on the cover, the music is the romance of the beach in a beautiful island setting. It’s not hard to picture clear blue tropical water, sandy white beaches, and warm breezes when you listen to music so picture perfect.

How can you miss with alluring titles like “Sister Moonlight,” “Indian Summer,” and “Enchanted Island”?

The titles of the songs give you a hint of what lies in the story, and then the music paints the picture on the island canvas in your mind.  This isn’t surf music, so I call it Island Surf-Instrumental. The music stands alone waiting for a partner… it wants you to dive in, drown yourself in the salty air, and feel the ripples of musical delight brush against your senses and engage your imagination.

Grab your suntan lotion and coconut with your drink of choice and enjoy this beautiful music. Paradise awaits your beck and call…

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
May 23, 2001

Tracks:

01. Tiki Hut  

02. Coconut Syrup Daydream Skies   

03. Sister Moonlight  

04. Indian Summer   

05. Quintana Roo  

06. Enchanted Island  

07. Beats Around The Bush

08. Kahuna  

09. California Slack  

10. Trail To Magic Falls

Surf Instro Review: The O' Hara's-Devil's Desert

Welcome to the Devil's Desert, the hottest place on Earth. This music roars at you like a ball of fire, letting you know it has arrived. The O'Hara's are a steaming locomotive headed your way filled with twang, reverb, and feedback. The group launches its all-out attack of flamenco-tinged surf-rock-instro upon your restless reverb-starved soul with 10 tracks of red-hot instro madness.

This is not music for steadfast traditional surf lovers. It is an onslaught and reworking of anything traditional. Of course, everything we hear today is just an extension of the music created back in the '60s. All due respect is given to that era and its importance to the genre.

I enjoy the electricity and abandon of this style of surf-instro. At times, the pace can be frenetic and offbeat. Only the true lover of instrumental guitar will appreciate this onslaught upon the eardrums. With talent like this, there is plenty of room for improvisation. Expect more noise from this group in the future.

It's one wild ride.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

February 20, 2000

Tracks:

01. Ghosttown Exit     

02. Hara Sutra   

03. Definitely Dead     

04. Face a la Bodega    

05. Mission: XVII     

06. Stupid Bitch

07. Devil's Desert     

08. Bad Moo     

09. O'Hara Kiri   

10. Charlie's Moonwalk

Surf-Instrumental Review: The Aqua Velvets-Nomad

Website

Michael Lindner (bass, accordion, keyboards), Miles Corbin (electric & acoustic guitar, trashcan bongo), Don Spindt (drums), and Hank Maninger (rhythm guitar) are The Aqua Velvets. It is their third release, Nomad. 

The title track sets the tone, starting things off on the right foot with a trademark shimmering desert journey through instrumental music. It draws influences from surf, spy, Middle Eastern, spaghetti western, and rock genres. Of course, it’s complete with twang and reverb. 

“Holly Tiki” is just over two minutes long. The group rips through a successive progression of guitar chords in that short period, giving you the typically compact, high-energy intro song. 

“Summer at Dreampoint” really says what this group is about without a single word. It’s a picturesque adventure, taking you on a summertime ride through the scenery of your choice.  It’s an absolute classic.

Music like this has a prevailing impact. It will leave a lasting impression on your consciousness. Instrumental music is for those who enjoy having their intellect stimulated. This music will shake out those cobwebs and revitalize your mind quickly.

Hailing from the Bay Area, the group has the advantage of dipping into a diverse musical melting pot. Having a wide range of resources to help along the creative process and initiate ideas never hurts. They do a dynamite job utilizing every musical genre to shape and mold the music that becomes all their own. It’s pure instrumental bliss.

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

April 1, 2001 

Tracks:

01. Nomad   

02. Surf Nouveau   

03. Smoking Panatelas On The Blue Mediterranean Sea  

04. Holly Tiki  

05. Snorkel Mask Replica   

06. Return To Paia    

07. Ho'okipa

08. In A Spanish Mood   

09. Nervous On Neptune  

10. Summer At Dreampoint   

11. Shakahoochie   

12. Shrunken Head