Wipe Out (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Wipe Out" | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single by The Surfaris | ||
| Released | 1962 | |
| Recorded | 1962, Cucamonga's Pal Recording Studio | |
| Genre | Surf music, hard rock | |
| Writer | Bob Berryhill, Pat Connolly, Jim Fuller and Ron Wilson | |
| Cover versions | ||
|
The Saints, The Beach Boys, The Ventures, The Residents, Steve Vai, The Fat Boys |
||
"Wipe Out" is a tune written by Bob Berryhill, Pat Connolly, Jim Fuller and Ron Wilson. The tune was first performed and recorded by The Surfaris, who were elevated to international status with the release of the "Surfer Joe" and "Wipe Out" single. The tune also featured in the films Surf's Up and Dirty Dancing.
The term 'wipeout' refers to a fall from a surfboard, especially one that looks painful.
Contents |
[edit] Recording and single release
Bob Berryhill, Pat Connolly, Jim Fuller and Ron Wilson wrote the tune almost on the spot as a suitable B-side was needed for the intended "Surfer Joe" single. In late 1962, while the band was in Cucamonga's Pal Recording Studio recording the single, one of the band members suggested that a gimmick sound indicating a wipe out off a surfboard be emulated. The suggestion was made that during the introduction before the music starts, a cracking sound, imitating a breaking surfboard, should be made.
Also in the introduction is a manic voice babbling, "ha ha ha ha ha wipe out". The spoken voice at the beginning of the song is the voice of the band's manager of the time, Dale Smallin.
Ron Wilson's energetic drum solo (a sped up version of his Charter Oak High School marching band's drum cadence) was beaten out on malt-shop tables all over the country which also helped "Wipe Out" to become one of the best-remembered instrumental tunes of the period. The afterthought track spent four months on the national Billboard chart in the autumn of 1963, reaching #2 and kept out of the top slot only by Stevie Wonder's Fingertips. The smash hit returned to the Hot 100 in 1966, reaching #16 in its second national chart run. Meanwhile, original A-side "Surfer Joe" only attracted airplay in the wake of Wipe Out's success, and peaked at #62 during its six-week run.
Another Southern Californian surf group calling themselves the Surfaris had formed around the same time. They renamed themselves the Original Surfaris following the popularity of "Wipe Out".
Following the death of television personality Morton Downey, Jr., news reports and obituaries incorrectly[1] credited him as the composer of "Wipe Out".[2] As of 2009, Downey's official website continues to make this claim.[3]
In September 2009, it was used for the Local on the 8s segment on The Weather Channel.
[edit] Cover versions
The tune has been covered by several artists including the American rap group The Fat Boys in which the tune was released on their 1987 album Crushin' making guest appearances with the pop group The Beach Boys on the track. A promo clip was also filmed for The Fat Boys version of the tune. This cover version reached #12 in the U.S. charts and #2 in the UK charts in 1987.
Rock and roll revival act Sha Na Na performed Wipe Out at the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
The Saints, an English band covered the tune (produced by Joe Meek) in the mid-1960s.
Joe Piscopo featured the tune on his 1985 album New Jersey as "Music Minus One," a parody of the play-along recording series. The drums are the "minus one," which means that this version frequently goes silent for a few seconds.
The 2006 Dancehall riddim "Wipe Out" is based on the Surfaris tune. Several well known Jamaican musicians (Lady Saw, T.O.K., Elephant Man, Beenie Man and others) recorded vocals over this instrumental.[4]
Gary Hoey covered this tune on his Monster Surf album in 2005.
The Queers performed a cover of "Wipe Out" on the Acid Beaters split-cd with The Manges in 2003.
The Korean rhythm video game Pump It Up featured a track called "Mr. Larpus" that was based on this tune.
The Ventures covered the tune on their live album The Ventures on Stage in 1965.
The Toy Dolls also covered the tune with an additional video made in 1984.
Ce'Cile Flava covered this tune with the title "Goody" on her album Bad Gyal in 2008. [5]
Serbian doo wop band Vampiri recorded a cover version on their 1992 album Tacno u ponoc.
In the video game Final Fantasy VII, one of the game's music tracks, "Electric de Chocobo", contains most of the melody of the tune about a minute into the cut.
In November, 1998, Phish played a cover of the tune and then from that point, jokingly, throughout the duration of the show, slipped back into the tune in the middle or between other tunes, and then encored with it. The show was released on Live Phish Volume 6.
Steve Vai has also done a cover, but with a new twist to the tune. It is featured on his album Mystery Tracks Vol. 3 as well as Radio Disney: Kid Jams.
Sacred Reich has included a part of the tune (including the drum solo) in their tune "Surf Nicaragua".
New Model Army has been known to play the tune live, often seguing from their song "Inheritance" during a show.
Two covers feature in the film Surf's Up. One by The Queers and another by Big Nose.
"Wipe Out" was used in a medley arranged for band, titled Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame.
In the middle of the 1990's, Animal from The Muppet Show recorded a version of Wipe Out.
In the 1970's a band called "Timothy P. and The Rural Route Three" performed an a cappella version of the song, closely imitating the sound of the instruments in the original.
The Smashing Pumpkins also released a cover of the tune in their Live Smashing Pumpkins album series.
[edit] Cultural references
- In the 1996 film Flipper, this song is played as a background as Sandy takes a ride in a ferry.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ "Wiping Out a Myth". article. Orange County Register. 2002. http://www.buriedlede.com/journalism/wipeout.html. Retrieved 2007-06-24.
- ^ Morton Downey Jr. Dies, Combative Talk Show Host Was An Icon Of The 1980s - CBS News
- ^ Morton Downey Jr.'s Home Page
- ^ Review : Various - Riddim Driven ~ Wipe Out
- ^ Video : Goody by Ce'Cile
