Surf rock may have started as a regional fad, full of sun-soaked melodies and twangy guitars. But several visionary artists helped push it beyond its confines. Soon, it became a nationwide phenomenon, bottling up some beach air and sending it to even the most landlocked of states. The three seminal 1960s records below played a large role in expanding surf rock’s reach.
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‘Surfers’ Choice’ — Dick Dale And His Del-Tones
Dick Dale And His Del-Tones’ Surfers’ Choice is often considered the grandfather of all surf rock albums. This record brought the Southern California sensibility to the masses, establishing the boundaries of the sub-genre.
The echoey guitars used on this record made the “wet” sound of rock what we know it as today. If you’ve ever heard a song and thought, “This is what the beach sounds like,” you have Dale to thank for setting the ground rules.
‘(The) Ventures In Space’ — The Ventures
While Dale helped take surf rock around the country, The Ventures took it far beyond. (The) Ventures In Space explored the outer reaches of our universe via the lens of SoCal rock. The same titular twangy guitars are present here, but with a space-age twist.
The Space Race was encapsulated in this culturally relevant record. The Ventures not only capitalized on the growing popularity of the sub-genre but also on the sentiments around the country. While it would be several years before the Space Race was officially called, this rock album helped increase the fervor for space travel across the U.S.
‘Surf City’ — Jan & Dean
Jan & Dean earned the first surf rock No. 1, so naturally they had to be on this list. Though many people credit the Beach Boys with catapulting surf rock into the mainstream, this duo is equally, if not more, responsible. Brian Wilson helped pen “Surf City”, intertwining the careers of these two surf rock heavyweights.
This album, named after their No. 1 hit, is excellent cover to cover. It has many songs that surf rock fans know and love, adding a layer of nostalgia to this listening experience. If you’re looking for a titular surf rock record, this is the ultimate choice. It’s surf rock at its most basic, creating a blueprint of sorts for every other band to build on.
(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
More The List
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CIRCA 1966: Singer Mick Jagger of the rock and roll band "The Rolling Stones" performs onstage in circa 1966. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Aerosmith Aerosmith, Steven Tyler, Vorst-Nationaal, Brussels, Belgium, 31st October 1993. (Photo by Goedefroit Music/Getty Images) -
UNSPECIFIED – JANUARY 01: John LENNON between 1970 and 1973. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images) -
1972: (L-R) Jim Hodder, David Palmer, Denny Dias, Donald Fagen, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and Walter Becker of the rock band "Steely Dan" pose for a portrait in 1972. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images -
Kyu Sakamoto. (1941-1985) Japanese singer, best known outside Japan for his international hit song "Ue o Muite Aruko" (known as "Sukiyaki" in English-speaking markets), which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies. It reached number one in the United States Billboard Hot 100 in June 1963, making Sakamoto the first Asian recording artist to have a number one song on the chart. (Photo by Sjöberg Bildbyrå/ullstein bild via Getty Images) -
Picture taken in 1974 in Stockholm shows the Swedish pop group Abba with its members (L-R) Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus posing after winning the Swedish branch of the Eurovision Song Contest with their song "Waterloo". – Sweden's legendary disco group ABBA announced on April 27, 2018 that they have reunited to record two new songs, 35 years after their last single. The quartet split up in 1982 after dominating the disco scene for more than a decade with hits like "Waterloo", "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia" and "Super Trouper". (Photo by Olle LINDEBORG / TT News Agency / AFP) / Sweden OUT (Photo credit should read OLLE LINDEBORG/AFP via Getty Images)
