Great surf compilation covering 1961-1965 (mostly 1963), including well-known and somewhat lesser-known classics. About half the album is authentic instrumental surf music, and the other half is surf-themed pop by the vocal groups like The Beach Boys Jan & Dean, and The Trashmen.This vocal side of surf music is very saccharine and detached. I wasn't there, but to me, it's just novelty music about surf culture, and its jaunty mood stands in stark contrast to the driving instrumentals coming from that culture and forming part of the soundtrack of the lives of its participants.I mean, Dick Dale would get out of the water, plant his board, get on stage still dripping wet, pick up a guitar, and recreate the surfing experience with sound. Contrast that with the Beach Boys, who were masterful at most everything they did, and certainly tried to dress the part, but the only time they really sounded like a surf band was in their instrumentals on the Surfin' U.S.A. album (1963). None of those tracks are featured here, and two of them were covers of Dick Dale songs anyway.Nevertheless, all those vocal hits were popular for a reason, so I recommend picking up this compilation if you see it. You'll get some songs you recognize and some maybe you don't, but they're all pretty good examples of both ends of the surf spectrum.