Album Review:

Released in 1968 to coincide with the film of the same name, The Golden Breed Original Soundtrack had Mike Curb, Jerry Styer, and Dave Allen sharing the musical helm. Dialing back the fuzz and returning to the honest reverb-drenched early sound, this back-to-basics approach ended up making for some of the best surf sounds to come out of California since 1963. Better late than never, right?

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Mike Clifford's very non-surf rendition of 'The Golden Breed' opens up the album in a cumbersome way. The Backwash Rhythm Band takes over for 'Hawaiian Circus' - a happy percussive track featuring a prominent xylophone. 'In the Curl' is a bongo-laden with some excellent surf guitar moments and is an album highlight. The instrumental version of 'What Turns You On' is a sincere twangy number, while 'Golden Time' is a Tiajuana-brass-like tune with tons of Dicke Dale influence. 'Coral Below' shows off Dave Allen's classic tone (circa 1965) and is just about the best track off the record. The Rip-Tides, who had recently been heard on the obscure Mondo Hollywood soundtrack singing the excellent 'Last Wave Of The Day' appear for the first time here singing a very Beach Boys-esque vocal version of 'What Turns You On.' 'High Rise' borrows. 'Over the Falls' is truly one of the finest surf instrumentals ever to be laid to vinyl. 'Wiamia Bay' is a spooky jam that feels a little more 1968 than anything else on the album. 'Surfers Paradise' borrows the backing track from the Hondells 1965 track 'My Little Bike' off their Hondells album, adds a new electric guitar solo over top, and winds up being one of the most effective surf instrumentals of all time. The Rip-Tides return for an excellent reprise of 'Golden Breed.'

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A great late release in the surf music canon, The Golden Breed Original Soundtrack is the period at the end of the original genre's run. Fairly easy to find, this album boasts some phenomenal moments, and I highly recommend checking it out!