Surfari's Stomp. The Story of The Surfari's....Show # 237 (Surf Show)

Known as the band that created the surf anthem "Wipe Out," The Surfaris formed in Glendora, California in 1962. The band was originally made up of Jim Fuller (lead guitar), Bob Berryhill (rhythm guitar), Pat Connolly (bass), and Ron Wilson on drums. After one of their first recording sessions (one that produced "Wipe Out" the song "Surfer Joe"), Jim Pash was added to their ranks as a saxophone player. Ken Forsai would also play bass for the group, as would Jack Oldham from 1966-1967. The Surfaris wrote "Wipe Out" in 1963, their biggest and well known song in the studio on the spot. It was an instrumental song that was composed by the original four members of the group and at first was going to be titled "Switchblade". The drumming in the song is seen as an energetic and well known drum solo performance by Ron Wilson. The song went to # 2 on the music charts. The B-side of "Wipe Out" was a song titled "I'm A Hog For You Baby," which has been covered by The Kinks and can be found on their Picture Book box set. The single that followed "Wipe Out," was "Point Panic," which did not do as well chart wise. The Surfaris recorded a number of albums, but by 1966 they broke up. Although they have broken up, The Surfaris have reunited on more than one occasion and as of 2008, are still playing with a slightly different line up.

As a bonus, Greg of the band The New Waves has made his song Macabre Surf" available for download via his website, The Ugly Vision. The song was composed by Greg himself, and is definitely a track worth checking out.

Surf Play List:

1. The Squiers - The Sultan
2. The Beach Boys - Heads You Win, Tails I Lose
3. The Gamblers - Moon Dawg!
4. The Tornadoes - Bustin' Surfboards
5. Fabulous Playboys - Cheater Stomp
6. Richard Allen - The Rising Surf
7. Burnin' Sands - Typhoon
8. Reverb Syndicate - Lunar Attack
9. The Eradicators - Friends & Enemies
10. The Robots - Robots Rock
11. Ramontures - She's The One
12. Surf Punks - My Beach
13. Surfdusters - Save the Waves
14. Phantom Surf - Banzi Run
15. Rotations - Heavies
16. Snow Men - Ski Storm
17. Fender IV - Malibu Run
18. Mongols - Nautoloid Surf
19. Astronauts - Montezuma
20. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Bennet Cerf
21. The Treblemakers - The Grudge
22. Atomic 7- Phantom 101
23. The New Waves - Macabre Surf
24. Modelos - Tidal Wave
25. The Wipeouters - Rocket Full of Power
26. Los Straitjackets - Calhoun Surf
27. Surfaris - Point Panic
28. Surfaris - I'm A Hog For You Baby
29. Jack Nitzsche - The Lonely Surfer
30. Dick Dale & His Deltones - The Victor
31. The Ventures - The 2000 Pound Bee (Parts 1 & 2)

This Is Radio Clash...The Clash Special Part Two (1980-1985)...Show # 236

This week I did part two of my special on the UK band The Clash. This weeks show focused on the later stages of the band from 1980-1985. In 2007, I did an extensive history on the Clash for this blog. The following links are to my three part history on the band:

All The Young Punks: Story of The Clash Part One
Revolution Rock: The Story of The Clash Part Two
Ghetto Defendants: The Story of The Clash Part Three

Here is an interesting interview and some performances that The Clash did in 1981 for the Tom Synder Show. This was just after the release of Sandinista! and during the Bond's concerts that the band did in New York.







Clash Play List Part II (1980-1985):


1. The Magnificent Seven (Sandinista! 1980)
2. The Leader (Sandinista! 1980)
3. Rebel Waltz (Sandinista! 1980)
4. Louie Louie (Sandinista! Outtake 1980)
5. Know Your Rights (Combat Rock 1982)
6. Overpowered By Funk (Combat Rock 1982)
7. The Beautiful People Are Ugly Too (Rat Patrol From Fort Bragg 1982)
8. Radio Clash (This Is Radio Clash Single 1981)
9. Midnight To Stevens (Clash On Broadway 1991)
10. The Call Up (Sandinista! 1980)
11. This is England (Cut The Crap 1985)
12. Somebody Got Murdered (Sandinista! 1980)
13. Sound of the Sinners (Live US Festival 1983)
14. Bankrobber (Live At Bonds 1981)
15. Charlie Don't Surf (Sandinista! 1980)
16. Police On My Back (Live at Shea Stadium 1982)
17. Should I Stay or Should I Go (Alternate Version) (Rat Patrol From Fort Bragg 1982)
18. Straight To Hell (Combat Rock 1982)

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on February, 16th 2009. Part one of my Clash special can be found here:
Clash Special (1976-1979)


Next week will be my third annual surf show, it will also be my final themed show for the month of February. If there is anything you would like to hear, leave a comment so I can play it on next week's show.

Clash City Rockers ...The Clash Special 1976-1979...Show #235

This week I did part one of my special on the UK band The Clash. This weeks show focused on the early stages of the band from 1976-1979. I played recordings that were released or originally recorded between the time frame of 1976-1979. So for example, I played "London Calling" Live at Shea Stadium, but the song was originally recored in 1979. In 2007, I did an extensive history on the Clash for this blog. The following links are to my three part history on the band:

All The Young Punks: Story of The Clash Part One
Revolution Rock: The Story of The Clash Part Two
Ghetto Defendants: The Story of The Clash Part Three

As a bonus, I found an interesting article that Clash guitarist Mick Jones did for Gibson guitars in 2007. He discusses his musical influences, the beginning and end of The Clash, and his guitar gear. A very interesting read:

From the Archives: Stay Free: The Gibson Interview with Mick Jones of the Clash!

Clash Play List (1976-1979):

1. London Calling (Live At Shea Stadium 1982)
2. 1977 (The Clash 1979)
3. Tommy Gun (Give'Em Enough Rope 1978)
4. Jail Guitar Doors (The Clash 1979)
5. White Riot (The Clash 1977)
6. Deadly Serious (Live 1976)
7. City of the Dead (From Here To Eternity 1999)
8. Hateful (London Calling 1979)
9. One Emotion (Clash On Broadway 1991)
10. Safe European Home (Give'Em Enough Rope 1978)
11. (Whiteman) In Hammersmith Palais (The Clash 1979)
12. The Man in Me (London Calling: 25th Anniversary: The Vanilla Tapes 2004)
13. Oh Lonesome Me (London Calling: 25th Anniversary: The Vanilla Tapes 2004)
14. Stay Free (Give'Em Enough Rope 1978)
15. Spanish Bombs (London Calling 1979)
16. Koka Kola (London Calling 1979)
17. Janie Jones (The Clash 1977)
18. Remote Control (The Clash 1977)
19. I'm So Bored With the USA (The Clash 1977)
20. Career Opportunities (The Clash 1977)
21. Police & Thieves (The Clash 1979)
22. Guns of Brixton (Live NYC Palladium 1979)
23. I'm Not Down (London Calling 1979)
24. Capital Radio Two (Cost of Living EP 1979)

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on February, 10th 2009.

Part two of my Clash Special can be found int he link below:
The Clash (1980-1985)

Vancouver Rocks!...The Story of Northwest Company and Vancouver Special...Show #234

This week I did a show focusing on music that has come from Vancouver, BC, in Canada. I played a mix of old and new music coming from this coastal city ranging from 60s garage rock groups, 70's punk/new wave, and more modern bands.


The band Northwest Company came from Vancouver in the late sixties. The band were known originally as The Bad Boys, but changed their name upon the suggestion of a local Vancouver radio DJ. The name Northwest Company came from a 19th Century Canadian fur trading company. The band consisted of Ray O'Toole (lead guitar/vocals), Vidor Skofteby (rhythm guitar), Gowan Jorgenson (bass), Richard Stepp (drums/vocals), and Rick McCartey on lead vocals. Coming from Hanley in Vancouver, the band were known for their raucous garage sound and their stage show. In 1967, the band recorded five songs that would be used as singles. The band recorded songs such as "Eight Hour Day", "Get Away From it All", and "Hard to Cry". These tracks were very raw and "Hard to Cry" even sounds fueled by the influence of The Kinks.

In 1971, Northwest Company recorded two more singles, one of them being "Rock N' Roll Lover Man". This song would be known as their signature song and has a Small Faces influence. Despite releasing several singles, the band did not get recognized on a larger scale. After releasing one more single, Northwest Company called it quits in 1983. Several of the bands songs have been featured on early Canadian garage rock compilations such as The History of Vancouver Rock and Roll. More Recently in 2003, Northwest Company released Eight Hour Day on Neptoon Records. The album is a collection of all of the bands material, including demos, unreleased recordings and live performances. It can be found on the Neptoon Website.

Play List:

1. Shades - New Clientelle
2. Active Dog - Nothing Holding You
3. Collectors - We Can Make it
4. Northwest Company - Hard To Cry
5. Northwest Company - Eight Hour Day
6. One Way Street - Listen To Me
7. William Tell & The Marksmen - Mary Jane
8. The Worst - I Don't Want You
9. Upper Crust - (We're the) Upper Crust
10. Exxotone - Big Shot
11. Young Canadians - I Hate Music
12. DOA - I Hate You
13. No Fun - Mindless Aggression
14. Private School - Rock & Roll Radio
15. Rude Norton - Sea Cruise
16. Dishrags - Past is Past
17. Wasted Lives - Wirehead
18. The Organ - Oh What A Feeling
19. Duotang - Broken Rule
20. New Town Animals - Three Steps Backwards
21. New Pornographers - Letter From An Occupant
22. Pluto - Cool Way To Feel
23. The Pack AD - Gold Rush
24. The Jolts - DXM
25. Smugglers - Barkerville
26. The Evaporators - You Got Me into This, Now You Get Me Out!
27. The Furies - What Do You Want Me To Be
28. Modernettes - Barbra
29. Pointed Sticks - Real Thing
30. Pointed Sticks - The Witch

* Note on "Broken Rule" by Duotang. The band Duotang recorded their first release for the Vancouver based label Mint Records, but the band originates from Winnipeg.

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on February, 2nd 2009.

Northwest Video:

Rock and Roll Music

Next week I will be a show focusing on the early stages of The Clash. Leave a comment if there is any song you would like to hear. Also in addition to next weeks show, I will be doing a show focusing on the later stages of The Clash on February 17.