ARTIST: The Surfaris 
TITLE: The Best of the Surfaris
YEAR RELEASED: Compilation
CHART ACTION: None
SINGLES: Charting singles: Wipe Out (#2, #10 R&B), Surfer Joe (#62), Point Panic (#49)
OTHER SONGS YOU MAY KNOW: No.
LINEUP: Ron Wilson, Jim Fuller, Bob Berryhill, Pat Connolly, Jim Pash
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: Band gets a fluke national hit, sustains enough of a career to have several albums and compilations. I chose this one. It’s all you need and a LOT more.
SOME WORDS, PHRASES AND CLAUSES ABOUT THIS RECORD: “Wipe Out” was a fluke hot, thanks to a hypnotic guitar line and a great drum solo. “Surfer Joe” is a novelty that isn’t that great – and was just a B-side that people flipped on occasion.
The rest of these songs follow along the “Wipe Out” formula somewhat or trying to write songs similar to the Beach Boys or Jan & Dean. (“Hot Rod High” – oh, God) Some have drum solos, some don’t. Do you need any more than “Wipe Out”?
Don’t ponder too long. I heard all of these. I know the answer. At least all the songs are short.
NOTES & MINUTIAE: The sounds at the beginning of “Wipe Out” were supposed to be a surf board breaking – and it was a board broken by Berryhill’s dad. The maniacal laughter came from their manager.
IS THERE A DELUXE VERSION: No. But watch for re-recordings, etc.
GRADE: D+: If this didn’t have “Wipe Out”…but if it didn’t have “Wipe Out” it wouldn’t exist. Just find an original copy of “Wipe Out”
But Is It Any Good? 