With Apple Music, the cloud and sharing, it is now possible to get almost any piece of music you want from the Internet and reminisce about those days when you used to be killing it. I recently got all misty-eyed and decided to download some tracks I thought were cool from some of my favourite surf flicks. This is that soundtrack.
Lousy Weekend by Daniel Johnson
This was from the seminal movie Doped Youth. As Groovy Avalon (Slater) prepared to play the Battle of the Bands, the movie cut to him surfing some sick little double up lefts around the corner, set to the inimitable sounds of Daniel Johnson. One of the better sections of one of the best surf movies of all time.
Gimme Some Lovin’ by Ganggajang
This song from Mad Wax was the soundtrack to the incredibly fresh surfing from a young upstart Australian surfer called Ross Clarke Jones. It revealed, via scratchy VHS, the new Aussie band of the moment called Ganggajang, as well as the inimitable low-slung ripping of Clarke-Jones. It was rumoured that he wasn't even supposed to be in the movie, but forced himself into the lead character, Wizz, which turned out serendipitous for everyone.
On A Blue Phone At The Green Iguana by Damien Lovelock
This is the song from the opening scene of Green Iguana by Jack McCoy. Everything about it was good. There was red-hot surfing and funky sounds, that classic McCoy quirkiness and lots of colour and vibe. It was such a feel good movie, and the Billabong team, at that point in time, was a group of incredibly talented surfers and characters, which were galvanised by McCoy into the most classic of surf movies.
The Ghost of Tom Joad by Rage Against The Machine.
It’s just a clip, and not part of a surf movie, but Zach De La Rocha does such a rollicking version of the somber Springsteen classic that it totally deserves a mention. This RATM version has been on heavy rotation ever since I saw it.
Heaven Sent by Inxs
Heaven Sent was the backing for Occy’s showcase section in the Green Iguana. Occy in his prime was a joy to behold, and the eeriness of the soundtrack, by Michael Hutchence, a man who died literally wanking over a door-knob made for some more of that McCoy magic. This was a time when Occy was an absolute giant in the surfing world, and McCoy still managed to succinctly capture some of his absurd humour.
Don't Go Now by Ratcat
Doped youth Again. This section showcased some amazing surfing from Luke Stedman. It’s an easy song to sing along to, and Steds absolutely kills it to add to the legend that Doped Youth has become. Who could forget Steds talking about a mani-pedi while his teeth glint in the sun?
Tunnel Of My Love by The Sunnyboys
This tune comes straight outta Kong’s Island. What a great movie and sick section. This incredible song backs the trio of Kong, Rabbit and Chappy as they go exploring the Island (through the magic waterfall, up the magic cliff etc) and come out the other side to an incredible sight of perfect right-hand dredging tubes that somehow looked like Kirra. The Sunnyboys were in their prime around this time, and two of the band members surfed, so the connection was easy to make.
Scene Of A Perfect Crime by Concrete Blonde
This song introduced the world to St Leu in Reunion, one of the funnest, most rippable lefts in the world. A standout is Occy, killing it in all sorts of conditions. It’s a haunting track, slower than you would expect for a segment on Occy, but it works. Johnette Napolitano’s golden voice brings the pace down to a point where we can actually see what Occ is doing, how he gets his speed up, and where his power comes from.
