Surf Mania album was originally released in 1963 on the Sutton label with only ten tracks. It was reissued in 1998 by Bacchus Archives with six additional songs from the same recording session. This review is of the expanded version of the album.

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A low, double-picked guitar opens up the album in classic surf fashion in ‘Moonshine’ while Kalini Wipe Out’ bounces along in a lighthearted manner. ‘Bullwinkle (Part I)’ starts off with some simple strums before springing into a wild frenzy. ‘Sunset Beach’ is another strong composition with a catchy hook. ‘Longboard  Surf’ is an obvious rewrite of the Surfaris’ ‘Wipe Out’yet still manages to distinguish itself from its obvious roots. Possibly the album’s best moment, ‘Moment of Truth, ’ touches on every criterion of a bonafide surf composition. A cover of the early Beach Boys’ classic, ‘Luau’ takes some liberties with the melody to the point where I’m not quite sure if it was intended to be a cover or an original. The terrible ‘Surfin’ Tragedy’ makes yet another appearance, while ‘Steel Pier’ (from the Impacts’ Wipe Out album) makes a rare manifestation here. An equally as uncommon composition, ‘Delano Surf Beat’ can also be found on G.N.P. Crescendo’s collection Original Surfin’ Hits. ‘Continental Surf’ is a rockling little number followed by the similarly themed ‘Chicago Surf’ - both are strong tracks. ‘Bullwinkle (Part II)’ doesn’t differ much from the first one, while a cookie-cutter version of ‘Intoxica’ follows. The Surf Teens close up shop with ‘Panic Button' which is a curious mishmash of both ‘Intoxica’ and ‘Church Key’.

 

With a whopping 16 tracks, Surf Mania is the perfect album to put down on the turntable as background music or at a party. There’s nothing here that’s too unique or new – even the few originals – but that’s not to say the music isn’t any good. On the contrary, what the Surf Teens have here is one of the best little surf albums out there. 3-and-a-half stars.