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KFWB Battle of Surfing Bands

Various

synopsis

review

This is an early compilation album filled with many otherwise hard-to-find tracks by some known and unknown surf bands. The cover features some of the popular disc jockeys on the front cover; notably, Roger Christian who wrote the lyrics to countless hot rod songs including ‘Drag City,’ ’Shut Down,’ ‘Dead Man’s Curve,’ ‘Don’t Worry Baby,’ Little Old Lady From Pasadena’ to name a handful.

The songs range from ‘pretty good’ to ‘not bad’ to ‘utterly unlistenable.’ Nothing sticks out much though. As expected, the best tracks are by those groups which are readily familiar - Challengers, Lively Ones - though there are few strong examples by unknown artists. One example is ‘Get It’ (second picture) by the Soul Kings. These three tracks come up high above the rest of the collection which is comprised of rather uninteresting tunes. The Biscaynes’ ‘Revellion’ is particularly horrible and the Deltas’ ‘Surfin’ Tragedy’ (left off their album) are both some of the poorest surf tracks ever laid to vinyl.

Nevertheless, if you want rare deep cuts you can’t get anywhere else, then this will be sure to please.

KFWB's Battle of the Surfing Bands!

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// 1963 on Del-Fi Records (DFST 1235/DFLP 1235)

Surf Party / Surf Battle / Vesuvius / Surfin' Tragedy / Soul Surfin' / Driftin' / Get It / Tor-Chula / White Water / Ramrod / Revellion / Delano Soul Beat

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