Go Guitar!

Surf & Instrumental Music

Instrumental Rock'n'Roll

Before the British Invasion, instrumental groups owned an immense popularity in the U.S. and throughout the world. Those bands were wild, young and savage and spread the true spirit of Rock'n'Roll music into the worldwide music scene. Most bands acted completely without vocals and added at least one instrument taking over the 'singing' part - mostly hot electric guitars. And Teenagers kept on dancing – who would need lyrics anyhow?! Recent years have seen a huge amount of CD reissues in that field and a great amount on vinyl! Nevertheless, the few adult exponents of that style, Link Wray, Duane Eddy and The Ventures, should not be neglected! 

Woodies, Boards and the Fiberglass Jungle - Roots of the California Surfin' and Hot Rod Scene

At this stage we could just copy the wonderful books about the California music scene written by John Blair (Check 'em out in our mailorder) Well, we're not talking about Surf music sung with nice voices like The Beach Boys and Jan & Dean did, we're talking about the real Surf style and that is? Bingo! Instrumental Surf! A broad trend that dominated grassroots teenage music in America during the years 1961-1965, actually creaks down into four distinct phases. It started as early as 1961-1962, with such transitional records as 'Mr. Moto' by The Belairs (on Felsted label), 'Stick Shift' by The Duals (on Sue label), 'Moon Dawg' by The Gamblers (World-Pacific label), 'Church Key' by The Revels (on Impact), and 'Fiberglass Jungle' by The Crossfires - later to become The Turtles - (on Capco) which had what later would be called a surf sound, but no overt connection with surfing. This was instrumental music, a direct outgrowth of the hard rock, sax-and-guitar instrumentals that were 1959's biggest trend (Duane Eddy & The Rebels, Johnny & The Hurricanes, The Viscounts, The Ventures, The Rock-A-Teens, The Royaltones, The Fendermen etc.), a style taken over by local dance bands everywhere.

Dick Dale - The Guitar Legend

The catalyst that turned these thousands of instrumental bands into surf bands was Dick Dale, whose Eastern-influenced, staccato guitar sound with reverb was designed to simulate the feel of being on a surfboard riding pipelines and tubes. Dale's popularity at Southern California dances became immense in 1961 and 1962, and he was soon imitated by a whole wave of surf bands including The Chantays, The Rumblers, The Tornadoes, The Pyramids, The Marketts, The Surfaris, The Challengers and Dave Myers & The Surftones. This music established the audience for surf-related music, in California at least. Dale perfectionized his instrumental reverb sounds throughout the sixties in creating amplifiers (Fender Showman) and guitars for Leo Fender's company.

California Style

But it took Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys to give it a commercial cast to which the rest of the world could relate. They pioneered surf lyrics in songs that were about going to the beach, surfing, partying, etc. In short, they had built surfing into a universal metaphor for being young and having fun. Their inspiration, however, had come from The Regents - Ba-Ba-Ba-Barbara Ann - and of course Jan & Dean, whose truly pioneering 1959 records such as 'Baby Talk' (on Dore label) had introduced the California style of falsetto and doo-wop-derived nonsense phrases used heavily in the early Beach Boys records. The vocal surf bands who followed made up the golden age of surf music. Even Hollywood followed with easy Teenage Beach Party movies starring Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon with tremendous commercial success. 

Surf & Instrumental Music Instrumental Rock'n'Roll Before the British Invasion, instrumental groups owned an immense popularity in the U.S. and throughout the world. Those bands were wild,... read more »
Close window
Go Guitar!

Surf & Instrumental Music

Instrumental Rock'n'Roll

Before the British Invasion, instrumental groups owned an immense popularity in the U.S. and throughout the world. Those bands were wild, young and savage and spread the true spirit of Rock'n'Roll music into the worldwide music scene. Most bands acted completely without vocals and added at least one instrument taking over the 'singing' part - mostly hot electric guitars. And Teenagers kept on dancing – who would need lyrics anyhow?! Recent years have seen a huge amount of CD reissues in that field and a great amount on vinyl! Nevertheless, the few adult exponents of that style, Link Wray, Duane Eddy and The Ventures, should not be neglected! 

Woodies, Boards and the Fiberglass Jungle - Roots of the California Surfin' and Hot Rod Scene

At this stage we could just copy the wonderful books about the California music scene written by John Blair (Check 'em out in our mailorder) Well, we're not talking about Surf music sung with nice voices like The Beach Boys and Jan & Dean did, we're talking about the real Surf style and that is? Bingo! Instrumental Surf! A broad trend that dominated grassroots teenage music in America during the years 1961-1965, actually creaks down into four distinct phases. It started as early as 1961-1962, with such transitional records as 'Mr. Moto' by The Belairs (on Felsted label), 'Stick Shift' by The Duals (on Sue label), 'Moon Dawg' by The Gamblers (World-Pacific label), 'Church Key' by The Revels (on Impact), and 'Fiberglass Jungle' by The Crossfires - later to become The Turtles - (on Capco) which had what later would be called a surf sound, but no overt connection with surfing. This was instrumental music, a direct outgrowth of the hard rock, sax-and-guitar instrumentals that were 1959's biggest trend (Duane Eddy & The Rebels, Johnny & The Hurricanes, The Viscounts, The Ventures, The Rock-A-Teens, The Royaltones, The Fendermen etc.), a style taken over by local dance bands everywhere.

Dick Dale - The Guitar Legend

The catalyst that turned these thousands of instrumental bands into surf bands was Dick Dale, whose Eastern-influenced, staccato guitar sound with reverb was designed to simulate the feel of being on a surfboard riding pipelines and tubes. Dale's popularity at Southern California dances became immense in 1961 and 1962, and he was soon imitated by a whole wave of surf bands including The Chantays, The Rumblers, The Tornadoes, The Pyramids, The Marketts, The Surfaris, The Challengers and Dave Myers & The Surftones. This music established the audience for surf-related music, in California at least. Dale perfectionized his instrumental reverb sounds throughout the sixties in creating amplifiers (Fender Showman) and guitars for Leo Fender's company.

California Style

But it took Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys to give it a commercial cast to which the rest of the world could relate. They pioneered surf lyrics in songs that were about going to the beach, surfing, partying, etc. In short, they had built surfing into a universal metaphor for being young and having fun. Their inspiration, however, had come from The Regents - Ba-Ba-Ba-Barbara Ann - and of course Jan & Dean, whose truly pioneering 1959 records such as 'Baby Talk' (on Dore label) had introduced the California style of falsetto and doo-wop-derived nonsense phrases used heavily in the early Beach Boys records. The vocal surf bands who followed made up the golden age of surf music. Even Hollywood followed with easy Teenage Beach Party movies starring Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon with tremendous commercial success. 

Close filters
 
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
No results were found for the filter!
Surf Beat! - The Merciless Power Of Water, Tuned Cars and the Sun (CD)
Various: Surf Beat! - The Merciless Power Of Water,... Art-Nr.: BCD17742

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

1-CD (Digipak) with 36-page booklet, 33 tracks. Total playing time approx. 75 min. Summer, sun, the beach and a great attitude to life - all this is reflected in a fascinating Bear Family Records® CD compilation, and the cool sounds of...
$18.05 $20.31
Duane Eddy - Rocks
Duane Eddy: Duane Eddy - Rocks Art-Nr.: BCD17249

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

1-CD Digipak with 56-page booklet, 32 tracks. Playing time: 72:12. The instantly identifiable 'King of Rock 'n' Roll Guitarists' with all Duane Eddy big hits and the other potent rockin' tracks which influenced generations of guitar...
$16.92 $19.18
Surfin' With - Competition Coupe (CD)
The Astronauts: Surfin' With - Competition Coupe (CD) Art-Nr.: BCD15442

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

1-CD with 8-page booklet, 24 tracks. Playing time approx. 52 mns. There's just no reasonable explanation why one of the greatest surf bands ever came from, of all places, the relatively sea-less state of Colorado - but that's a fact....
$15.79 $18.05
Flying Fingers (CD)
Joe Maphis: Flying Fingers (CD) Art-Nr.: BCD16103

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

1-CD with 24-page booklet, 24 tracks. Playing time approx. 59 mns. A dream package for lovers of great pickin'. Joe Maphis not only played fast, but all those notes took shape and told a story. He was one of the founding fathers of rock...
$15.79 $18.05
That Scratchy Guitar From Memphis (CD)
Travis Wammack: That Scratchy Guitar From Memphis (CD) Art-Nr.: BCD15415

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

1-CD with 8-page booklet, 21 tracks. Playing time approx 52 mns. Listen up all you guitar players and instrumental fans, you REALLY need to hear this guy. He truly was one of the greatest! When producer Roland Janes sent a copy of...
$15.79 $18.05
Yakety Sax (CD)
Boots Randolph: Yakety Sax (CD) Art-Nr.: BCD15459

only 1x still available
Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

1-CD with 12-page booklet, 26 tracks. Playing time approx. 59 mns. Homer of Homer & Jethro told Chet Atkins about Boots Randolph, and Chet signed him. A saxophone player never quite had enough to do in Nashville, but Boots came to town...
$15.79 $18.05
Link Wray Rocks (CD)
Link Wray: Link Wray Rocks (CD) Art-Nr.: BCD17600

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

1-CD (Digipac) with 36-page booklet - 34 tracks. Total playing time: approx. 79 minutes. • Link Wray - there had to be a release of this great rocker in our highly acclaimed ROCKS! series! • Recordings officially licensed by various...
$16.92 $19.18
The Ventures Play Telstar - The Lonely Bull (LP, 10inch, Ltd.)
The Ventures: The Ventures Play Telstar - The Lonely Bull... Art-Nr.: BAF11020

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

BEAR FAMILY Vinyl Club Exclusive - limited collector's edition Limited to 500 copies! • 10inch LP (limited edition - colored vinyl) • 12 tracks. Unique 10inch in our 11000 collectors series • Reproduction of the rare original album cover...
$22.58 $28.24
Voodoo Suite - Exotic Suite (CD)
Perez Prado: Voodoo Suite - Exotic Suite (CD) Art-Nr.: BCD15463

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

1-CD with 32-page booklet, 14 tracks. Playing time approx. 67 mns. By 1954, the Mambo craze Prado sparked entitled him to the luxury of a serious project, namely his four-part Voodoo Suite, which called on the talents of such Hollywood...
$15.79 $18.05
Rhythm Is Our Business (CD)
Paul Wuerges: Rhythm Is Our Business (CD) Art-Nr.: BCD16327

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

1-CD DigiPac (4-seitig) mit 16-seitigem Booklet, 22 Einzeltitel. Spieldauer ca. 53 Minuten.
$16.92 $19.18
The Twang's The Thang - Duane Eddy Plays Songs Of Our Heritage (CD)
Duane Eddy: The Twang's The Thang - Duane Eddy Plays Songs... Art-Nr.: BCD15807

the very last 2 available
Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

(Bear Family Records) 23 tracks (57:04) with 24 page booklet. Rare first issue with 15x22 cm poster (folded) Two more original Jamie LPs, lovingly remastered from the original tapes. Titles include Cripple Creek, Song Of John Henry,...
$22.58
Deep In The Heart Of Twangsville (6-CD Deluxe Box Set)
Duane Eddy: Deep In The Heart Of Twangsville (6-CD Deluxe... Art-Nr.: BCD16271

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

6-CD box (LP-size) with 70-page hardcover book, 157 tracks. Playing time approx. 406 mns. Duane Eddy is the best-selling rock instrumentalist of all time. The recent resurgence of interest in his RCA Victor recordings has paved the way...
$113.11 $135.75
Sidewinder (CD)
Al Casey: Sidewinder (CD) Art-Nr.: BCD15889

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

1-CD with 20-page booklet, 10 tracks. Playing time approx. 37 mns. Al Casey was the guitarist who taught Duane Eddy much of what became the Twangy Guitar sound that changed the world. He was also the guitarist who played the famous lick...
$15.79 $18.05
Especially For You - Girls, Girls, Girls (CD)
Duane Eddy: Especially For You - Girls, Girls, Girls (CD) Art-Nr.: BCD15799

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

(Bear Family Records) 25 tracks 1960-1961 with 16 page booklet. Two original Jamie LPs, lovingly remastered from the original tapes. Titles include Peter Gunn, Fuzz, Yep, Trouble In Mind, Tuxedo Junction, Along Came Linda, Sioux City...
$22.58
Rock With A Sock (CD)
Mickey Baker: Rock With A Sock (CD) Art-Nr.: BCD15654

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

1-CD with 28-page booklet, 28 tracks. Playing time approx. 77 mns. Mickey Baker is the greatest R&B session guitarist of all time (as well as half of Mickey & Sylvia). He has made plenty of solo records through the years and this set...
$15.79 $18.05
Mambo Mania - Havanna 3 A.M. (CD)
Perez Prado: Mambo Mania - Havanna 3 A.M. (CD) Art-Nr.: BCD15462

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

1-CD with 32-page booklet, 24 tracks. Playing time approx. 76 mns. Cuban-born bandleader Perez Prado became the 'Mambo King' of the 1950s, best remembered for his trademark 'Unh!' But there was more to Prado than vocal grunts. A...
$15.79 $18.05
Live - Astronauts Orbit Campus - Everything's A-OK (CD)
The Astronauts: Live - Astronauts Orbit Campus - Everything's... Art-Nr.: BCD15443

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

1-CD with 8-page booklet, 24 tracks. Playing time approx. 52 mns. There's just no reasonable explanation why one of the greatest surf bands ever came from, of all places, the relatively sea-less state of Colorado but that's a fact....
$15.79 $18.05