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SURF INSTRUMENTAL REVIEWS

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Thursday, June 26, 2025

Surf Music Waves and Sun

Here are a few more images I created with MS Designer
This is just for fun, and I'm sometimes surprised by the results!






Surf Instro Review: Dave Myers and The Surftones - The Best Of Dave Myers and The Surftones: Moment Of Truth

Dave Myers and The Surftones were as pivotal and popular a group as any others that dominated the early 60s surf craze scene. The Surftones were one of the house bands at the famous Rendezvous Ballrooms. 

The Best Of Dave Myers and The Surftones: Moment Of Truth is a vintage surf instro from the "first wave."

Dave was a music student with a good head for business. At the age of 19, he was a multi-talented instrumentalist. His saxophone and guitar playing were the core of the group's foundation. Johnny Bartlett mentions in the liner notes that it wasn't uncommon to see people like Dave in the music business back then.

Nowadays, it's unheard of for artists at 19 to have so many talents. Those were different times when children were brought up much differently than today. Technology has much to do with how an artist is disciplined and trained when following a career path in music.

The cover art indicates that the CD contains 14 pounding surf stompers. They give it to you exactly as advertised. The group utilizes the guitar and saxophone proportionately and very successfully.

When I listen to music like this, I can understand why a musician would be so attracted to it. Playing this music must have been a real charge!

This is pounding, reverb-filled surf from the vintage era, and it is a must-listen if you want to hear more about when it all began.

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

April 1999

Tracks:

01. Frog Walk Part II  

02. Church Key  

03. Smokey Stomper 

04. King's Surf  

05. Aquavelva 

06. Surferama  

07. Moment Of Truth

08. Road To Rincon  

09. Surf Breaker  

10. Surfer's Theme  

11. Passion  

12. Wet Walkin'

13. Driftin'  

14. White Water

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

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