Playlist for a surf trip up the coast. 20 songs to get a car full of surfers psyched for waves.

So I thought I’d put together a playlist for a surf trip up the coast. 20 songs to get a car full of surfers psyched for waves, petty misdemeanours and other highway adventures. After a lazy afternoon of deliberation I resorted to Google. A mob calling themselves digitaldream.com had listed the 100 best surf rock songs of all time based on “impact, influence, popularity, originality and adherence to the original surf rock guitar & harmony sound.”

It was an impressive criteria but the songs were outdated and, frankly, a little weird. My Blonde Headed Stompie-Wompie Real Gone Surfer Boy probably would make an impression on a car load of surfers – but not a favourable one. Still, I did get a few ideas from the classics and it was enough to kick me into action.

The first song is crucial in the compilation business. Blow it and its all over. So I took a deep breathe and pasted the most obvious surf travel song of all time into the slot. It was a crazy-brave move but it felt right. Emboldened by my decision I slammed the first five songs in no time flat. Here they are surf music fans…

1. 1. Surfin Safari – The Beach Boys. Can be enjoyed nostalgically (woodies on the roof, honeys in the back, cruising for surf, singing sweet songs.) Or ironically: “Lets go surfing now, everyone’s learning how.” Aren’t they just. That’s why we’re in the car – to get away from the fuckers.

1. 2. Steve and Dano – Radio Birdmen. Note the blend. We’ve moved from the Beach Boys to punk rock via Dennis Tek’s guitar solo – a souped up steal from Hawaii Five O. Will restore faith with fellow travellers who thought Beach Boys was a lame start.

1. 3. Wonderful Life – Celibate Rifles. Birdmen offspring from Sydney’s surf-drenched Northern Beaches. Probably a bit early for car trivia but you could try this one. Rifles singer, Damien Lovelock, recorded a song with which ASP world champ? Extra points for name of band and song. (A: Pam Burridge, Pam and the Pashions, Summertime All Over The World).

1. 4. Everlong – Foo Fighters. A guaranteed pleaser among almost any crowd of surfers. Masterfully used in the opening sequence of the Occumentary. Close your eyes and you’re gouging huge turns, just like Occy. Note: driver should keep eyes wide open.

1. 5. Let Their Be Rock – Henry Rollins and the Hard Ons. Rocks bigger than Uluru. The Hard Ons thrash gloriously, Rollins howls from the bottom of his feet. Note the astonishing vocals in the outro. Link to surfing? An ACDC cover band played at a Tracks party once.

That’s it for now. Boards are on the roof, petrol is in the tank and we are on the motherlovin’ highway. We’ve ticked off the Beach Boys, are down with Pammy and the Pashions, have mind-surfed like Occy, and are punching the roof in excitement like Henry Rollins. But have we peaked too soon? Is the writer/DJ drunk on power? Or just stuck in the 90s? Stay tuned. Suggestions welcome.

Note: For part two click HERE