A curious album from the get-go, John Severson Presents Sunset Surf credits no artist, only advertising that the arrangements had been written by Jimmie Haskell and the guitarist was Glenn Campbell. Surfing biographer/ photographer/freelancer John Severson lent his name to the studio project making the whole thing seem like a clever advertisement for Surfer Magazine which is mentioned many times on the back. Sunset Surf is a laid back and - at times - jazzy album that evokes images of waves at sunset. There are sweet acoustic guitars, subtle saxes, wistful flutes, and yes, some electric guitars thrown in for good measure. Yet, nothing here is too ear-catching. And that’s actually a  good thing…. While there may be moments that border on saccharine, they are consistent with the Lp package, making this release perfect for a late-night background soundtrack.

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'Murphy's Grey Wet Suit' (a reworking of 'When We All Get To Heaven') immediately settles into a gospel groove while flying through several modulations. Some flutes add an extra sparkle to 'Infinity.' 'Earl's Shorebreak' explorers the rhythms and sounds from South of the Border while still fitting nicely into the whole 'surf' canon. Haskell borrows inspiration from another extrinsic source in 'Rhodes' Surf (Surfing Song of Greece)' followed by an odd inclusion; a sun-drenched rendition of Skeeter Davis' 1962 single, 'End of the World.' While unexpected, with the help of Glenn Campbell's tasteful guitar picking, the track rises above merely MOR music. 'Goofy-Foot Glenn' falls squarely back into the surf music genre while 'Quigg Rides Again' offers some jocose moments. The tranquil 'Surfing Baja' is a nice break again featuring the flutes. 'Locked In' has the stench of Crown's repackaged jazz numbers and feels a little too casual for a surf release. 'Easy Surf' fairs a little better, though, ultimately succumbing to the same fate. Not the Jan and Dean song, 'Waimea Bay' borders somewhere between Lawrence Welk and Latin American music. Bobby Darin's 'Come September' from the same name film features some fine picking from Glenn but surf music it ain't.

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Clean, enjoyable, and safe, Sunset Surf must've had the more conservative Capitol executives at ease as nothing here too much resembles the fast-paced, gritty characteristics of other surf bands or releases of the day. And yet, before seeming too negative as to the album's wholesome (Latin-induced) reimagining of the genre, it is important to note some of its stronger moments. Songs like 'Earl's Shorebreak' and 'Goofy-Foot Glenn' definitely have some rock qualities to them, while the ballads such as 'Infinity' add an essence of polish to the cannon of slow-tempo 'Surfer Girl-type compositions. That said, John Severson Presents Sunset Surf may only prove to be of interest to two types of fans; those who have set their minds to collecting absolutely everything in the genre and those who prefer to sit back and take it slow.