Wipeout (The Surfaris)

1 OCTOBER 1966


The Surfaris' classic instrumental 'Wipeout' was at its Billboard Hot 100 chart peak of #16... for 1966, that is. This single had previously been released in 1963 (on three different labels), when it sold a million and hit #2 on the charts. The surf-rock craze was still going strong back then, and although that craze had faded by '66, the re-release of this track during that year resulted in another 700,000 sales. The Surfaris even had a third crack with this one and released 'Wipeout' again in 1970, but it did not chart.

A-side: 'Surfer Joe'
Released: January 1963
Recorded: 1962, Cucamonga's Pal Recording Studio
Highest chart position (1963): #5 (UK), #2 (US); #16 (US, 1966)
Length: 2:12 
Label: DFS, Princess, Dot