Wipeout (The Sufaris) Record Review

Although this is technically a Sufaris' album, the only songs on the record by the Sufaris are "Wipe Out" and "Surfer Joe".  The rest of the songs on the album are by The Challengers who are never actually credited on the album.  To make the story even weirder, legend has that all of the royalties went to the Challengers and the Sufaris received nothing. Considering how the music business was run in the nineteen-sixties, I doubt either band was paid anything.

All that aside, this is a fun rock n roll record.  Calling the Challengers a surf band does not do them justice. These guys were a tight instrumental r&b outfit as evidenced by cuts like "Torquay" and "You Can't Sit Down". Their sense of humor shines through on covers of "Tequila" and Duane Eddy's "Yep" and Richard Delvy's inventive drumming is a highlight throughout the album. Plus on top of the Challenger's tunes you get the two Sufaris' originals.

It is interesting to note that surf music was the first rock n roll genre to bring drums to the forefront. No wonder Keith Moon was a surf music freak in his early days. As always, BYOB and crank it up.

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