Various Surfin Burt's Surfin Surfari! (LP, colored Vinyl, Ltd.)

(Stag-O-Lee Records) 18 tracks, colored vinyl in orange, limited to 500 copies.

In 1961, the first drops of the new surf wave spilled into the ether. A group of Californian teenagers called The Belairs released "Mr. Moto", the first flawless surf instrumental and many more were to follow.

It was an attitude towards life, it was about freedom, rebellion against the stuffy 50s, about partying and of course about the next wave. All this took place preferably in sunny California. The first hit of the genre was "Misirlou" by Dick Dale, released in 1962. The track clearly highlights the three main components of surf: a sustaining guitar theme (just no vocals!), exotic harmonies and chord progressions, and a fair amount of wildness and volume!

Leo Fender then developed two innovations for Dick Dale without which surf music would not have become what it is: the Fender Reverb - a separate spring reverb unit - and the Fender Showman amplifier. This equipment, especially for purists, is still part of the basic equipment of a surf guitarist who takes his job seriously. Of course, there were plenty of bands that released just one or two 7" singles that were distributed locally or sold at gigs. It takes a man with a nose to pick out the gems and pay the appropriate prices for the small vinyl. Our man's name is DJ Crille, himself a resident at the Komet! Club in Hamburg (near Reeperbahn), and a recognized surf specialist. On the side he is also responsible for the Vocal Group Madness! LP and the Born To Hula double LP in the DJ Set series -both on Stag-O-Leever. "Surfin Burt's Surfin Safari!" is practically the perfect wave.