Surfaris – Wipe Out

Louie Louie, Johnny B. Goode, and Wild Thing belong in a list that are staples for any garage band. Wipe Out belongs with them and your 15-year-old nervous singer doesn’t need to sing. It’s a song that everyone has heard and always was a popular one to play live. I also love that manic laughter intro.

The Surfaris were a surf rock band formed in 1962 in Southern California. That was absolutely the perfect time and place for a surf band. This song was not intended to be an A-side. They were recording a song called Surfer Joe and decided they needed to write something for the B side. Ron Wilson’s drumming is often hailed as one of rock’s most famous. It’s one that beginner drummers can actually do with a little work.

The song was written by band members  Bob Berryhill, Pat Connolly, Jim Fuller, and Ron Wilson. It was released in 1963 and did very well for a song meant to be a B-side. It peaked at #2 on the Billboard 100, #5 in Canada, and #5 in the UK in 1963.

It’s been covered by 106 different artists per secondhandsongs. One cover was by The Fat Boys featuring The Beach Boys in 1987 and it peaked at #2 in the UK, #2 in New Zealand, and #12 on the Billboard 100 and Canada.

Here is the single…Surfer Joe and the B side…Wipe Out.

…

Unknown's avatar

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

34 thoughts on “Surfaris – Wipe Out”

  11. Clean sound, that surf rock. Nowadays I hear this and ‘Tequila’ and laugh, thinking about that Drew Carey Show episode featuring ‘the Lewis And Oswald Experience!’

    ‘Wipe Out’ has that unmistakeable drum intro, but the ‘Surfer Joe’ vocalist sounds about 17 years old at most. I hadn’t seen this cool old black and white video either. Just look at those kids, all just having fun- and nary a Smartphone to be seen.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Yep…doing an involuntering split….been there done that. we went skating around 10 years ago…I only skated 25 minutes…I couldn’t walk for days.

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment