Duane Eddy's jump onto the surf-rock bandwagon was inevitable. After all, his signature low-end twang had an intrepid influence on many surf bands of the day. Unfortunately, having been on the scene since 1958, by 1964, his string of instrumental hits had come to an end. He'd experienced his final placement on the charts with 'Son of Rebel Rouser,' a sequel to his trademark number one year earlier. In Water Skiing, Eddy is joined by Hal Blaine, Steve Douglas, and other Wrecking Crew legends for a tight little album.

   

While Mr. Eddy handles each track on Water Skiing with much finesse, the material is middling, and most of the tunes tend to mesh together, making for a rather long, drawn-out record. Probably the most memorable of the bunch is 'Whip-Off' for its exquisite guitar work and 'Rooster Tail' for its catchy melody. Additionally, both 'Backward Swan' and 'Jumping the Wake' also boasts some distinction among the other tracks, though they are not exactly essential.

 

Water Skiing’s concept is original and a fun offshoot from the regular surf genre. While it may not be essential, it does boast some great picking from one of the all-time best; and for that reason, it may be worth seeking out.