Album Review:

What do surfers do in the fall when leaves start to change? Well, apparently, they go sidewalk surfing! Following the spirit of Jan & Dean's classic track 'Sidewalk Surfin'', the Challengers decided to catch the excitement of the new sport in this first release on Triumph Records. 

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An excellent cover of the Chantays' 'Pipeline' opens up the album, followed by the Thom Starr-penned 'Asphal Spinner.' 'Raunchy' gets a bouncy makeover. One of the best surf songs of all time, 'Hop Scotch' would later be rerecorded for the Surf's Up album under the name 'Channel Nine.' 'Big Shot' is a weaker Paul Johnson track, while Lee Hazelwood's 'Johnny October' shimmers. 'Skinned Shins' is an electric piano-heavy number played by Hal Blaine and Steve Douglas well. 'Delvy's Sidewalk Capers' is another classic tune in the Challengers style, while 'Bust Your Buns' sounds like a small whirlwind set to music. An energetic cover of Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas' 'The Cruel Sea' outpaces the original by a landslide. Steve Douglas' 'Banzai Washout' was originally recorded by the Catalinas for their Fun Fun Fun album. The Challengers version improves on the original. Based on the Rick Griffin cartoon character, the oddly-titled 'Rise and Fall of Flingel Bunt" is an ecstatic tune with some of Hal Blaine's best drum rolls.

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The Challengers Go Sidewalk Surfing! is an enjoyable and easy album to get into. While Richard Delvy may have passed a few instrumental duties over to the capable hands of the Wrecking Crew session musicians, the result is still unmistakably a Challengers album - and it's great fun!